Oswego woman is millionth rider on Green Bay ride
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Zippin Pippin roller coaster in Green Bay reached a milestone this weekend, as an Oswego, Illinois woman became the one millionth rider to ride the replica of Elvis Presley’s favorite roller coaster.
A WLUK-TV report says Ashley Jolley of Oswego, boarded the roller coaster Sunday just after noon. She was surprised by Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt as workers threw confetti and presented her with a gift basket.
She then boarded the ride, joining the mayor in the front seat.
The Zippin Pippin operated for decades in Memphis, Tenn., where it became Presley’s favorite ride. Green Bay spent about $3.8 million to re-create the wooden roller coaster at Bay Beach.
It debuted in 2011, and has quickly outpaced the predicted average ridership of 200,000 riders per year.