Cedar Point in Gilmer County

Well, most of you folks know the famous amusement parks such as Cedar Point, Busch Gardens, and Six Flags. This week the world renowned Glenville Lions Club Carnival is in town as it has been for decades during the first week of June. When our kids were small, we would take the girls and enjoy the excitement of the rides and shows. Yes, back then the carnival was part of the Gambill Amusements and was a nice little carnival for this small town. The rides were geared to kids and adults with a colorful array of games and shows on the midway. The Lions Club always has their hot dog trailer ready for the “attack of the hungry locals.” We would partake of the corn dogs, hot dogs, and Sarah always would have to have her cotton candy!

It was a treat to watch people at the carnival. One would see the “hill folk” come into town. These are the families that one did not see unless the carnival came into town. One year in the early 70’s, the girls and I rode the Ferris wheel and they tried to get me to ride the Tilt-a Whirl! None of these dangerous rides for this Dad! I happened to be watching a bony “hill lady” with curlers in her hair riding the Tilt-a-Whirl. Her curlers were flopping and flying out of her hair and she was laughing uncontrollably. As she was screaming, I noticed an object flying up into the air and landing on the ground under the amusement ride. I did not think anything about it until the ride stopped, the lady went over to the object that she lost, and placed it in her mouth! Her false teeth were launched by the ride!

Today’s carnival is sad in comparison to the past. On the gravel lot we have one adult ride (The Roundup) and the rest being a few kiddy rides. The carnival always is across from Foodland Plaza and today I asked Jason, my carryout, about the carnival. He said “when the carnival folks setup, they came over to Family Dollar to see if they could use their mechanical horse which is out in front of the store!” I know he was kidding but where are the Ferris wheels, Tilt-a Whirls, and the Giant Snake Exhibits? The only unchanged memory is the Lion’s Club Hot Dog Trailer.