SOMETIMES, ONE HAS TO BE PATIENT. In the summer of 1984, my mom moved to Green Bay and we discovered the Bay Beach Amusement Park. It was a collection of vintage Jacksonville Iron along with the fastest amusement park trains I'd ever seen (painted Chicago and North Western with obvious Hiawatha styling on the coaches, go figure) and a classic bumper car with the spring-loaded boards. Rides were 10 cents each. We were curious about why such a bargain was operating in a city park, so we asked at the park office. A citizen had deeded the rides to the city with the provision that the rides be priced at 10 cents. I asked if there were any plans for a roller coaster.

Not at that time, but now ...

Bay Beach Amusement Park not only pays its own way but pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into the city coffers each year, making it one of the city's biggest money makers, city officials say.

A roller coaster would only help that, they say.

Specifically, the Zippin Pippin, on the National Register as the last public place Elvis Presley was seen alive. I've ridden it, it's a good mid-sized 'coaster, currently dormant in Memphis.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette likes to move stories behind a subscription wall, but if you act quickly, you'll see the Bay Beach tariff (50 cents for the train and the Jacksonville Iron, 25 cents for the kiddie rides) and a photo gallery of the Pippin in the Memphis snow.