Abandoned places are some of my favorite photographic subjects, and the Patriotic Palace was not a disappointment. Through the dirt and neglect, you can usually imagine what a place used to be, but there seems to be more mystery surrounding this one, an I have so far been unable to reconstruct it’s history.
When my family and I passed this Abandoned Amusement park on our way to Chattanooga, we made a note to stop and visit it on our way home. The Patriotic Palace is located on Interstate 75, exit 141, a lonely and sad reminder of….what? I’m really not sure, as I have been unable to find any specific information regarding this amusement park.
And not that I spent a crap ton of time on google or anything, but the few searches I did on this lonely little “amusement park” turned up nothing but posts by other people who stopped to take photos, just as I did, or stories of the adjacent Fireworks Superstore burning down in 2014.
If anyone knows the history of the amusement park side of this place, I would love to hear it.In the mean time, here are several photos
Tressie Davis is a blogger and photographer located in Chelsea, MI.
Going downhill fast, was there yesterday: https://www.facebook.com/phil.gregg.39/posts/10208518660235947?pnref=story
As far as I ever knew it was just there for pictures and to look at. I don’t remember it being a functional park
When i was in my teens we used to sneak in the and hold huge paintball skirmishes every weekend. The story I remember as a child was a kid was killed on one of the rides and they shut it down due to insurance reasons…a huge lawsuit that bankrupt the owners!
That’s sounds similar to the same story about the abandoned amusement park in Lake Shawnee WV
Also, here is a pic of the place before the main building burned courtesy of a picasa member.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hInpA2TOjEo/SHmOGqCF3GI/AAAAAAAABBs/UAqieP5FIrICMDB_ETj83kn0uyErNRDIQCCo/s600/tennessee3.jpg
Just wanted to say I am driving to TN from downriver MI and saw this and had to stop. Looks the same as your pictures and there was a trailer back there..
Sad…and cool. We still haven’t been back that way – thank you for the update!
Thank you so much for the comments – I very much enjoyed the shots you posted on Facebook, always love seeing another artists take on the same subject. Great find on the pic of the main building too!
This site was actually a fireworks super store that burned down July 7, 2014.
Thanks for the comment Rebecca! Other than the fire, I was unable to find any concrete info on this place. Interesting location for sure
I used to work at the fireworks store. Your pictures are just the parking lot. The people that built the fireworks store built the entire 141 exit. He did plan on making an amusement park, but it was on the other side of the interstate and you have to drive past the large adult superstore to find that. Non of the ferris wheels were ever used when they were installed. Just decorations. But he had them all over the exit. I used to love passing the exit as a kid because it was all lit up like an amusement park.
I was told by a local that back in the 60s the park was on the side of the Mt there is still a ferris wheel and roller-coaster pipes there
So cool – I wonder if any locals have more “before” pics, such an interesting place. Thanks for your comment!
If you go directly across 75 from where the “patriotic palace” is; you will see a Ferris wheel barely visible sticking out of the hillside!
Wish I were closer! Next time we head that way I will be looking 🙂
my brotherinlaw was fourwheeling in the area and came across an old amusement park…near Stinking Creek…would this be it?
Not sure – I’m not actually familiar with the area. We saw this place as we were driving by, and looked for it on our way back home to Michigan in order to take pics.
yes
Do you know anything about that other ferris wheel?, I can’t find anything on it.
I don’t know anything about it, sorry! Maybe someone else will chime in
The amusement park was on the other side of interstate 75. The Farris wheel that you see is from the park. It was called Coal Town. Owned by the Thacker family in the Jacksboro/Caryville area. It closed in the early 1980’s.
Thank you for the additional info!
Was just up there about 3 months ago, fireworks store has moved in and done some renovation. I didnt stop to make pics but did notice the new signs, etc.
Awesome! Would love to see new pics if you have a chance to grab a couple – being in Michigan I won’t likely have an opportunity to swing by 🙂
Next chance i get, don’t worry i will.
Thank you!!
I was there today. No fireworks store… no renovations. I did take pics.
It was never an amusement park.. it was a fire works business that was there for years.. and the owners bought the Farris wheels and such and had them brought in..
Good info, thank you. Either way, a very cool location if you are fascinated by abandoned places (like me) 🙂
I remember when that was all built new. Can’t remember the exact year but it was early to mid nineties if I remember correctly. I lived in Jellico, TN until 1992 then moved to LaFollette. Passed by it a lot. Haven’t passed by that way in many years now. Used to stop at the fuel station there all the time.
Please don’t go back, I just went there today to take pictures of it with my kids and I and my mom and for a man she is caring for that is a disabled vet and his daughter was with us, we started to get yelled at, this man and woman was calling us names and yelling at my kids took pictures of my kids and told us they called the cops on us for trespassing, it was a very very scary ordeal. They took a picture of my moms license plate and everything. We talked nicely to the man and he was still yelling at us. Beautiful people but horrible people.
I work off the same exit as your photos. I started in about 2010 and had heard of an old amusement park that had closed down years before less than a half a mile from my work, which is on the opposite side of the exit from your photos. When I visited the site, the only thing that remained was the asphalt and a small man-made lake from the amusement area. The land has since been purchased and used by a dynamite company. Some of my co-workers from the area said the park used to be called “Coaltown” as coal mining was a prominent industry in Campbell and Scott County Tennessee back in the 1970’s and before. There is an old ferris wheel mounted on the hill side in the woods on the opposite side of the exit from your photos. I captured an image of it this October with the changing leaves that I have posted on my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/joe.daugherty.14
Anyway, I ran across your blog and photos while trying to do some research so I thought I would add my comments to your list. I enjoyed your photos and the blog. Thanks!
Thank you for your comment, and the trees in your FB photo are STUNNING I love it!!
In the 70s it was called Loco Joes. It had carnival lights that lit up the area. They were all over the ferris wheels. The souvenir shop was all Indian themed. Huge wooden Indian at the foor entrance. They sold tobacco, fireworks, snacks, ice cream assortment of souvenirs like Indian jewelry, raccoon skin hats, cowboy hats, Indian vests, novelty toys like cap guns. The WEIRDEST was the LIVE BEARS that were kept in a caged area next the the shop! I have alot of childhood memories from there. 🙂
Hi Pennie, thank you for clarifying, as I remember passing by this when I was a child during the 70s and 80s.