Petticoat Junction Amusement Park

In 1963, the same year the famous TV show started, in Panama City Beach, Florida, the Churchwell family, whom were friends of the actor William Edgar Buchanan II ( Uncle Joe Carson in the TV series), got the OK from Paul William Henning  (deeply involved in Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres) to open Petticoat Junction Amusement Park. 

Above and below: Number 7, "Lois", a Mogul type locomotive (2-6-0) was built by H. K. Porter Co. in 1914 for the Argent Lumber Co. in Hardeeville, South Carolina.

The park had a couple of narrow gauge trains, restaurants, a gift shop, a Chevron gas station, the famous water tower and the Shady Rest Hotel. In 1984,  14 years after the show ended, the park closed, but, fortunately all the trains were saved and are kept at 9485 US-31 in Kimberly, Alabama.

Number 5, built by H. K. Porter Co. in 1912, used by the Armour Phosphate Co. at Columbia, Tennessee.

Number 9, built by H. K. Porter Co. in 1949 for the Carbon Limestone Co. in Hillsville, Pennsylvania.

The ghost town featured attractions like the  Silver Spike Saloon (complete with chorus girls), Calamity Jane’s Corral, classic old west gun fights and a small roller coaster.

It soon expanded with a merry-go-round a Tornado ride and a Magic Carpet restaurant.