Photo: #The Tilt-a-Whirl is produced in Fairbault, Minnesota. The ride has been churning those strong of stomach for 60 years. This one is going to be auctioned off this fall.
Photo: #Josh Murphy, and daughters, Kate, 6, and Lauren, 3, take a spin on the Tilt-a-Whirl at the Paul Bunyan Amusement Park in Bemidji.
Photo: #Gary Trueblood has owned the Paul Bunyan Amusement Park for 46 years.
Photo: #Gary Trueblood's favorite ride is still the train.
Photo: #The Paul Bunyan Amusement Park in Bemidji is going out of business at the end of this summer. The owners say it's too expensive to keep it open.
Photo: #Melissa Murphy of Rochester has been coming to the amusement park for 35 years. She brought her family to ride the rides and get a photo op with Paul Bunyan for the last time (he will still be there, of course).
Photo: #Kate Murphy takes a ride on the big swings.
Larger view
Josh Murphy, and daughters, Kate, 6, and Lauren, 3, take a spin on the Tilt-a-Whirl at the Paul Bunyan Amusement Park in Bemidji. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Murphy)
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The last ride on the Tilt-a-Whirl

by Kateri Jochum, Minnesota Public Radio
August 7, 2006

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Bemidji, Minn. — A visit to an amusement park belongs to summer like a pair of shorts, ice cream cones or a day at the lake. According to the International Amusement Park Association, big operations continue to thrive.

But in recent years, small town carnivals have been closing down all over the state. The Paul Bunyan Amusement Park in Bemidji is just one example of a slice of summer whose ride is coming to an end.

We went along with Melissa and Josh Murphy of Rochester, who were enjoying the park one last time with their daugthers, age 6 and 3.

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