Roller Coasters in Mississippi

Like in Louisiana, there aren’t too many roller coasters in Mississippi! Sorry, deep south. We have a grand total of FOUR roller coasters in the Magnolia state, and most of them are pretty small. Let’s take a look. As always, make sure to check prices and hours before you go – things change frequently.

All links on coaster names are for ride videos – though they aren’t very good ones. You can (kinda) ride all four roller coasters in Mississippi from your couch!

Big Play Entertainment Center

You know it’s bad when you start the list with one of these indoor arcade places. Big Play Entertainment Center is in Biloxi, right on the Gulf of Mexico. There is indoor bowling, laser tag, arcade games, and a restaurant and bar, with go-karts and “carnival” rides outdoors. Among those are two roller coasters, the Galaxi-style Biloxi Beach Hurricane and the kiddie Tornado.

I honestly can’t find any pricing information about the roller coasters on the website, or really any information about the roller coasters. It’s only through reviews on Google that I see that they’re even open. From other reviews, it looks like it’s a points system that you use on a card, just no word on how much.

Paradise Pier Fun Park

Also in Biloxi is the Paradise Pier Fun Park, affiliated with the Margaritaville resort next door. In it, you’ll find Rolling Thunder, a figure-8 steel coaster with spinning cars and “hampster wheels” like we saw in the Michigan post. They have a decent selection of attractions, including some cool-looking spinning rides, a pirate ship, drop/bounce towers, kiddie rides, and a fun swings ride right next to the water. A large Ferris wheel is the biggest ride in the park, and something called an Aerobar is included in the lineup. It looks like a round bar table attached to a small hot air balloon! Leave it to Margaritaville to make an attraction that involves alcohol!

All rides except the Ferris wheel and Aerobar cost $9 individually. The Ferris wheel is $15 and the Aerobar costs $20 and includes a drink in a souvenir cup. Or you can buy an all-day pass for $40, which includes everything except the Aerobar.

There are indoor attractions too – an arcade, climbing wall, ropes course, a Maxflight simulator, and bowling. These are all in addition to the all-day pass as well and are priced individually on a credits system. For instance, the Maxflight simulator is 50 credits, or $10.

Brookhaven Exchange Club Fair

The last roller coaster on our list is only open for about a week each year as part of the Brookhaven Exchange Club Fair. It seems to usually be at the end of July/beginning of August. This year, it’s July 27-August 5, maybe? Hard to tell. Last year, tickets were $10.

If it exists anymore, the All American Coaster is a small affair, with an undulating oval track. According to the video at the link, there’s also a swings ride, a Ferris wheel, a “frolic” hanging/spinning ride, tilt-a-whirl, and some kiddie rides.

Water Parks in Mississippi

There are a few decent water parks in Mississippi! None of those little regional aquatic centers, though. But more hillside slides than I’ve seen anywhere else, which is fun of an old-fashioned sort.

• Geyser Falls Water Theme Park in Choctaw is an impressively-themed park with 9 slides, 2 kid’s areas, a lazy river, a wave pool, and a “Clearwater key” Caribbean-themed pool with clear blue water and a white sand beach. Saturdays cost $48, while the rest of the week is $38.
• Gulf Island Waterpark in Gulfport has 5 slides – including Mississippi’s only water coaster – 3 kids’ areas, a lazy river, a wave pool, and an activity pool with a can-you-cross-it area. Tickets are $47 for adults and $30 for kids three feet and under, though you can save by buying online ahead of time – as low as $20 for adults.
• Grand Paradise Waterpark in Collins has 6 slides, 2 kids’ areas, a lazy river, and a large wading pool with slides and water features. Daily admission is $32 for adults, $28 for kids, with military and senior rates. Sunday and Mondays are $25, and in June and July, Saturday nights from 6-9 are just $17.25.

• Pep’s Point Waterpark in Hattiesburg is really just a beach on a small lake, but there are two waterslides dug into the hillside. It’s all very old-fashioned. Tickets cost $16, and $10 for kids 40 inches and under.
• The Slip N Dip in Columbus might be my favorite name for a water park! This one basically has one pool, and one slide, the kind dug into the hillside. It costs $12 for anyone age 5 and over, or $5 for ages 2-4.

Did I miss anything? Have you been to any of these places? What are you looking forward to doing this year? Let me know in the comments below!