Red Rooster Amusement Park in Ararat is in its second season, offering rides, food, and family-friendly entertainment to the local community.
Owner Donna Levesque and her husband, Stephen, relocated to the area in 2016 from Atlanta. They purchased the property from Janes Hodges, a former principal at Blue Ridge Elementary School who had owned the land for 60 years.
Part of the couple’s inspiration for opening the park came from their own history.
“We first met at a local fair,” Levesque said. “So that was one of the things we wanted to bring to life here. In addition to that, it really is about the kids and about making their lives very special. Because, you know, as we get older, life gets a lot harder and more challenging, so you want to create those memories for children that are lasting.”
Levesque believes the park’s mix of rides, a restaurant, and private event space offers value to both residents and tourists.
The park operates seasonally from Easter through Halloween. “We started with the Easter egg hunt—we had that this year and gave away two bicycles,” she said. “All the eggs were scattered across the field and every egg had a prize. Then we end with a Halloween party.”
When the current season was only about two months in, Levesque estimated more than 500 people had already visited. Many others stop by just for the food.
“You can come up to the window or order online,” she said. “Some people eat here, and some take it to go.”
In addition to individual guests, the park has hosted private events, including a wedding and a visit from Friendly Worship Center.
“They brought about 40 children for a private event,” Levesque said.
Rides and Expansion Plans
Red Rooster currently features seven amusement rides, with plans to expand to 14.
Among the attractions is a vintage Allan Herschell carousel with 20 horses and two chariots. Another favorite is a sun-and-moon Ferris wheel that accommodates both children and adults.
“Then I have the king swing ride—it has 16 swings,” Levesque said. “I have a Hampton tugboat ride with eight boats that go around and little bells that kids ring. They love that ride.”
The park also includes a tubs-of-fun ride, a motorcycle ride, and a 1957 Allan Herschell sky fighter.
“People love that ride—especially people in the ride business. It’s in perfect condition and the kids love it because it goes around and up and down,” she said.
Four of the rides were purchased from a seller in Michigan. Levesque is now working on installing a 200-foot waterslide, which she hopes to open within the next month.
“People are messaging me all the time asking when it’ll be ready,” she said. “There’s just so much to do, but it’s going to be awesome when we get it done.”
Other ongoing improvements include updating the private event building.
“I’ve added string lights in the ceiling. I’m setting up chairs and tables—it’s a rustic type of thing. I’ll put some whiskey barrels and old crates in there. I wanted to have a down-home feel,” she said.
As a family business, Levesque said the park does not serve alcohol, though she would consider it for private events.
She also hopes to offer fishing in the on-site pond, though she’s unsure if it will be ready this season.
Park Operations
Red Rooster is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m. All other times are available for private event bookings.
Admission is $20 per child with the purchase of a pizza, which includes unlimited rides for the day. Individual ride tickets are also available.
“But if they’re going to stay here for any length of time and want to re-ride the rides, I suggest they get the $20 wristband,” Levesque said.
Safety, she emphasized, is a top priority.
“When you come up to my window with two kids and say, ‘OK, I want two wristbands and to order my pizza,’ and then maybe you get on your phone working, your kids can go with the ride runner,” she said. “I see it all the time—grandmas, parents—turning their kids loose like a big playground.”
Levesque said she’s grateful for the trust guardians place in the park.
“It always amazes me and makes me feel good that people trust me and my business to keep their children safe,” she said.
Community Response
Community response to Red Rooster has been mixed. While many families support the park, some nearby residents have raised concerns about noise.
“The only complaints I have are about the PA system and music. Some people don’t like the music, and some love it,” she said.
Levesque said she has spoken with Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith and confirmed the park is operating within local ordinances.
“Unless I’m having an event or I’m open, it’s not playing. It’s always off by 10 p.m. because that’s when I close,” she said. “But there are still some individuals that are not receptive to it.”
She believes some resistance may stem from opposition to change.
“But some people love it, and some people don’t,” she said. “That’s hard for me to wrap my head around because it’s really all about kids for the most part. So it’s like, how can anybody not embrace something that’s for children?”
The park is also the setting for Levesque’s children’s book, Big Freddy’s Big Day at Red Rooster Amusement Park, published in June. A follow-up, Big Freddy’s Fishing Trip, is due later this year.
For more information, visit www.redroosteramusementpark.com or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/RedRoosterAmusementPark.
