For the past 19 years, area residents have visited Dixieland Fun Park in Fayetteville to enjoy an amusement park-like atmosphere without having to travel a long way or pay out the nose. In the off-season, Dixieland has undergone some changes, adding some variety to their entertainment options and also trying to give their visitors more bang for their buck.

The batting cages have been removed and an amphitheater is being built in its place. The venue will host shows for the whole family, including musical and comedy acts presented by Dixieland’s own entertainers. There are other plans for the venue but nothing set in stone to announce just yet. In the meantime, The Round House, located in between the Junior Track and Route 66, will host shows. This week, during the Dixie Days events, the theater is hosting magician Ken Scott and local musicians (Friday) and Pull Ya Pantz Up and Don’t Do Drugs, a company that usually tours schools with positive messages for kids (Saturday).

By the time Dixieland opens full time for the summer, two new attractions should be open near the Lakeside Pavilion. The Great Air Race will feature four individual zip line type rides that race each other, while Impulse will be a high speed thrill ride.

Also coming this summer is a show called Ooze Clues, a trivia game involving Dixieland’s own slimy concoction, and a Western style comedy show.

Continuing their country/western mining town theme, the park now has an official mascot in Miss Dixie, joining Miner Mike and others

The days of paying for going on rides by the ticket are gone. Visitors to Dixieland, Fayetteville’s amusement park, now pay one price to enjoy the rides and entertainment at the park depending on their height. All day admission for visitors 44” or taller is $19, while a junior fun pass, for visitors 31”-43” is $12. A links pass gives a visitor unlimited play on the miniature golf courses for $5 with a paid admission and children under 31” are admitted for free. After 6 p.m. on days when the park is open until 10 p.m., a starlight pass if $10 for visitors under 44” and $14 for visitors over 44”.

Dixieland has also changed their hours. This week, spring break, they are open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. through Thursday, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 1-9 p.m. on Sunday. After that, they will only be open on Saturdays from 12-10 p.m. and from 1-8 p.m. on Sundays until school lets out for the summer. When school starts back up in August, Dixieland will go back to weekend hours and later this fall, they will close their doors until February.

Aside from the batting cages, everything that visitors have enjoyed in the past is still at Dixieland and the staff at Fayetteville’s amusement park hopes that their park is the first place people think of when they are looking for fantastic family fun this spring and summer.

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