The Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park in Rossville, GA (affectionately known locally as “Lake Winnie“) is a beautiful park located on a 9 acre lake. The park is family owned celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and is filled with history, nostalgia and character. The park’s best known attraction is the Cannon Ball wooden roller coaster built in 1967. On National Roller Coaster Day 2025 on August 16th we felt like getting some rides on the park’s historic Cannon Ball coaster was a great way to celebrate.

Cannon Ball was designed by famous wooden roller coaster designer, John C. Allen, who was also responsible for several other famous wooden coasters such as Blue Streak at Cedar Point, The Racer at King’s Island and The Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia. Cannon Ball is ACE (American Coaster Enthusuasts) Landmark Coasters along with the 3 other Allen coasters mentioned.

Cannon Ball is an “out and back” design with a height of 70 feet and reaching 50 mph. Those specs may not initially blow you away, but this ride is pure fun. Cannon Ball is filled with airtime, showing the genius of the design, and once you crest the lift hill it doesn’t let up until you hit the brakes. You quickly understand the meaning of the name as it’s like you were shot out of a cannon as you fly over the airtime hills on the course. The ride as is quite different based on your seat on the train with the front feeling more controlled and the last row being unhinged, especially on a hot and fast afternoon, with one of the wildest rides I’ve done anywhere.

The controls of Cannon Ball are essentially manual. You’ll see big red levers in both the load and unload area that control brakes. The only button to be seen is one that was added to the lever that releases the lap bars. The operators are also amazing and full of personality in that they are full of energy. They usually give high fives to rides as the train pulls out of the station and it’s a bit mesmerizing as you watch them operate the levers to dispatch and slow the train (click links for video).

Lake Winnie also has several other rides you shouldn’t miss if you head out to ride Cannon Ball. These include the 99 year old Boast Chute flume ride and the train that goes right through Cannon Ball. The train narration will tell you all about the tremendous history of this park such as having one of the World’s oldest mini golf courses. The park is also very pleasant to visit with great staff and affordable food and beverages. You can even bring a cooler you can bring a cooler inside the park with homemade food and drinks to enjoy in the picnic grounds, what other park allows that? If you’re looking for a taste of nostalgia be sure to visit Lake Winnie to ride Cannon Ball!