Comments On: Memphis' Trampoline Pits by Vance Lauderdale

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

Vance Lauderdale — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:16:15 -0500

Chipskip, PLEASE send me some photos of those Tropical Freeze menu boards. I'd love to see them and post them on the blog. My email address is: askvance@memphismagazine.com

Many thanks!!!!!
Posted by Vance Lauderdale

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

chipskip — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:47:09 -0500

The owner of Tropical Freeze, Eleanora Waddell, died January 15, 2007 in Memphis. Several items from the shop were recently stored in Memphis. I have photos of some of the menu boards.
Posted by chipskip

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

Fred Shaw — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:27:41 -0500

The pits I remember, if I remember correctly, were located on the south side of Summer Ave. west of Waring next to the original McDonald's and directly across from Zayre's.

Posted by Fred Shaw

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

Judy (Ungar) Schott — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:22:28 -0500

I remember some pits that were located on the east side of Waring between Tutwiler and Summer. It was fun, but a bit scary. I don't think they lasted there too long.
Posted by Judy (Ungar) Schott

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

bkourvelas — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:36:13 -0500

K. Waddell, I would love to talk to you, also.
:-) Bonnie Kourvelas, WKNO-TV
Posted by bkourvelas

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

Vance Lauderdale — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:18:53 -0500

K. Waddell, your father and grandmother owned the Tropical Freeze? Wow! I've been trying to track down the owners for years. Does anybody in your family have a decent photograph of the place? PLEASE look around and let me know. A photo of the Tropical Freeze has been on my "wish list" for years.
Posted by Vance Lauderdale

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

wkatp — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:41:49 -0500

I would like to comment in response to Susan Lyle's comment on how delicious the ice cream at the Tropical Freeze was. I was very pleased to read that. My Father, Richard E. Waddell, and my Grandmother Mrs. Eleanor Waddell owned and ran the business on Poplar Avenue in Memphis Tenn. Thanks, K. Waddell
Posted by wkatp

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

Vance Lauderdale — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:12:32 -0500

Susan, I've seen that photo of the Tropical Freeze, with the kids standing on the roof, and gnashed my three good teeth in frustration that the photographer didn't show more of the building just below them. There's another photo in a White Station yearbook � this one a double-page color image � that shows class officers sitting in convertibles in front of a fountain, adorned with colored lights and seashells, which was in the northeast corner of the Tropical Freeze parking lot, but once again you can't see the building at all. Somebody, somewhere, surely has a nice clear photo of this very unusual establishment � probably tucked away in a scrapbook somewhere.
Posted by Vance Lauderdale

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

mlyle — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:19:31 -0500

Vance- I let my mother know she was in the picture, I could barely recognize her by the thumbnail, and thankfully you had the caption on the zoomed picture online! - Marty Lyle

She also wanted me to forward the following:>>
Vance, I actually was the associate editor of the yearbook and had been on the staff for two or three years. We took pictures of the junior class officers on the roof of the Tropical Freeze for the 1960 yearbook. Unfortunately, you can not see anything except the trunks of the palm trees! Other class officers were shown at McDonalds and the favorite, the Toddle House.
I wish the Tropical Freeze would return I have never had a better flavor ice cream. Susan Lyle

Posted by mlyle

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

diannelarson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:55:01 -0500

I was raised in Nashville and we had similar places. Only our tramps were individual sized, maybe 3' X 4'. I never saw or heard of any major injuries on the smaller version. I loved them and harassed my mother nonstop to take me to jump. But my memory is that, much like here, they did not stick around for long.
Posted by diannelarson

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

thewudd — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:08:22 -0500

i have seen some similar places minus the sand. they use big pads now and you sign some sort of waiver. they play a version of football on it and race back and forth. looks pretty fun.
Posted by thewudd

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

Vance Lauderdale — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:44:13 -0500

Susan, it's always amazing how many times I run a photo and somebody IN that photo contacts me. What are the chances? Did somebody tell you about this picture? I can't tell you how years I've been trying to find a decent photo of trampoline pits in Memphis. What luck that your yearbook editor decided to pose all the class officers at one of these places. Now, if you REALLY want to make me happy, help me turn up a good, clear photo of the Tropical Freeze � another Spartan hangout. I've found a few blurry shots of it in White Station yearbooks, but I want a GOOD photo. Know anybody who might have one?
Posted by Vance Lauderdale

Re: Memphis' Trampoline Pits

susie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:35:50 -0500

You were right. Those pictures were taken at Jump for Joy near Poplar and Perkins. (I am the girl front left.) We are currently planning our fiftieth reunion! Susan Wyatt Lyle, White Station High School Class of 1961
Posted by susie