Opening May 21, beloved Memphis Kiddie Park celebrates 70th season

BROOKLYN, Ohio — If you ever wondered what it would be like growing up in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, just ask Memphis Kiddie Park owner Russell Whitner.

Sure the Memphis Avenue attraction has a special place in a lot of Northeast Ohioan’s hearts, but there’s no stronger bond than with Whitner, who was literally born the same day his father, Stuart, first opened the children’s amusement park in Brooklyn.

That means on May 28 Whitner and Memphis Kiddie Park will both be celebrating a 70th birthday and 70th anniversary.

“My dad was assembling the merry-go-round, hanging the last horse, when my mom went into labor,” said Whitner, a 1970 Orange High School graduate who currently lives in Pepper Pike. “My grandparents took her to the hospital, while my dad finished putting the merry-go-round together.

“He took the factory guy to the train station and then went to the hospital. I was born at like 3 a.m. and my dad sold his first ticket later that day. It’s amazing.”

Memphis Kiddie Park opened with nine mechanical rides, including the train, merry-go-round, airplanes, hand cars, boats, Ferris Wheel, jeeps, Skyfighters and the Little Dipper.

The latter is recognized as the oldest continuously-operating steel kiddie coaster in North America.

“It truly was like growing up in a chocolate factory,” Whitner said. “It was just incredible fun. My dad was the kind of person who showed me everything and let me do things as soon as I was old enough.

“I really got attached to the place. He was upset at one point because I wouldn’t join peewee softball or whatever it’s called. I said, ‘Why would I do that? I could be at Kiddie Park every day with you?’”

These days Whitner and his wife, Elli, oversee the park. That plan came together exactly a decade ago when after retiring from a career of promoting the transition to digital film in movie theaters, he wanted to spend his retirement at his favorite place in the world.

“When I came back, we went ride by ride, building by building, totally restoring everything back to original condition,” Whitner said. “I thought that was going to be a three-year plan. It turned out to be 10 years.

“We just finished but every single ride has been taken apart and rebuilt. The buildings have new roofs and air conditioners. When you walk into Kiddie Park. it’s like walking into a time capsule. It’s like literally going back to 1952.”

Considering how close Whitner was to his father, he often thinks of him after hearing people’s family stories about visiting the park as a child and later bringing their own children and grandchildren.

“When I hear these things I think about, gee, if only he was still alive to hear and appreciate what he accomplished,” Whitner said. “I don’t think he had any idea when he built Kiddie Park that it would be anything more than a business. That it would ever turn into a Cleveland icon.”

As for the special 70th anniversary, the owner said Memphis Kiddie Park, which opens for the season on May 21, plans on having specials throughout the year.

When asked who looks better at 70, Whitner laughed, “Oh, Kiddie Park. We can change gears. Although, I guess that’s not true because I had two hips replaced so I’ve changed my gears too.”

Read more news from the Parma Sun Post here.