The Mid-South Fair released a statement today saying that the fair and the city have reached an agreement pertaining to property used by Libertyland.
The Grand Carousel, which was owned by the city before Libertyland started in 1974, belongs to the city and will stay on the Fairgrounds until plans are made to finalize its location. The Zippin Pippin, on the other hand, will be sold as part of the Mid-South Fair’s auction on Wednesday. The reason, according to the statement, is that “although the Pippin was purchased by the City of Memphis Park Commission in 1947, the original wood structure has been replaced over the years at the expense of the Mid-South Fair.”
Two weeks ago, advocacy group Save Libertyland presented a case to the city council that the city owned all the rides and equipment used in Libertyland. Although the City Council ultimately voted to protect their interest in those assets, the Mid-South Fair’s statement says that the City Attorney is not pursuing ownership in that equipment.
Libertyland was closed last year after the Mid-South Fair chose not to operate it. The fair leased the land from the city of Memphis.
Read the Flyer’s previous coverage on the story here, here, here, and here.