Matt and the Rocket Kiddie Ride

Another moon landing?
Not quite—it’s just Matt enjoying the Satellite Explorer rocket ship kiddie ride! 🚀 This photo was taken several years ago when our grandson was around three years old. Now, he’s about to turn 17! It’s incredible how quickly time flies. It feels like we took this little trip to New Albany, MS just yesterday. Cherished memories like these are such a joy to look back on!
One of our favorite activities when the grandchildren were little was taking short trips to New Albany. They loved exploring the downtown area, enjoying a meal at Latham’s with a bottled Coke alongside their hamburger or hotdog, and, of course, stopping by Sugaree’s for a special cookie or a Ding Dong treat. Another highlight was tossing sweet gum balls off the bridge over the Tallahatchie River. Such simple moments, but they created lasting memories we’ll always cherish!

Union County Heritage Museum
Another favorite spot for us to visit was the Union County Heritage Museum. The grandkids were always fascinated by the preserved wild animals on display and loved exploring the outdoor exhibits. No matter how many times we went, they never grew tired of the adventure!
One of the outdoor exhibits at the Union County Heritage Museum is an old one-room schoolhouse, and it’s such a fascinating glimpse into the past. The walls are filled with interesting things like rules for teachers and students. Back then, the boys were responsible for keeping the coal or wood buckets filled for the stove—a big responsibility!
It reminds me of a story my dad used to tell about when he and his friends put “pop rocks” in the coal stove at school. These weren’t the candy kind we know today, but pieces of sandstone that were hollow inside. When heated, they’d pop like firecrackers, causing a commotion in the classroom. Needless to say, he almost got kicked out of school for that little prank!

The Falkner Inn
The Falkner Inn, located on the site of William Faulkner’s birthplace, is such a charming spot! Later this fall, my friends and I are planning a little getaway to stay there and spend a couple of days exploring New Albany. (By the way, I still can’t explain the difference in the spelling of Faulkner vs. Falkner—there’s bound to be an interesting story behind it!)
New Albany has so much to offer—boutiques, the Union County Heritage Museum, the park, and plenty of fantastic places to eat like Niko’s Restaurant and Tallahatchie Gourmet. It’s the perfect spot to relax, shop, and, of course, enjoy some delicious food!.
While visiting the museum, imagine my surprise when I saw the Satellite Explorer rocket kiddy ride that Matt had ridden at the old seed and feed store years ago.
I’m so glad the Satellite Explorer kiddie ride found a permanent home! When the seed and feed store closed, I wasn’t sure what would happen to it. It’s such a nostalgic piece of our memories. Here’s a photo of Matt on the ride at the old store—such a sweet reminder of those simpler times! 🚀
Kids could spend hours exploring the old seed and feed store—it was like an adventure waiting to happen! The store had everything from live animals like rabbits and chicks to horse tack, plants, and all sorts of treasures that kids loved getting into. The best part? The kiddie ride still worked, and Matt happily spent several dimes riding the Satellite Explorer while we were there. Such great memories of a special place!
I did a little research on the rocket kiddie ride and discovered it was created by All Tech Industries in Florida back in 1965. Isn’t it incredible that something like that still operates after all these years? It’s a real testament to its craftsmanship and charm. I hope the museum lets kids take a ride—it would be such a fun way to keep this nostalgic piece of history alive! 🚀
There’s a company called Ride Restorations in Illinois that specializes in refinishing vintage kiddie rides and pedal cars. They do incredible work bringing these nostalgic pieces back to life. Here’s an image of a beautifully restored rocket kiddie ride they worked on—it’s amazing how they preserve these iconic treasures for future generations to enjoy!
Thank You!
Many thanks to the Union County Heritage Museum for preserving this wonderful piece of nostalgia! It’s such a treat for us “old folks” to see and remember the joy of these classic rides. After all, who doesn’t have fond memories of hopping on a coin-operated horse or some other kiddie ride growing up? It’s a delightful reminder of simpler times and cherished childhood moments. 😊🎠
My earliest memory of a kiddie ride was the coin-operated horse at Katz Drug Store in Memphis, TN. What made it so special was the real saddle—it felt like you were riding a real horse! Another highlight of visiting Katz was heading downstairs to see the talking Mynah bird. Those two things stand out so vividly in my memories of those trips to Katz Drug Store—such simple joys that left a lasting impression! 🐴🦜
Discovering Local Treasures at The Falkner Inn
I’m so excited about my upcoming stay at The Falkner Inn and can’t wait to visit the Union County Heritage Museum again! Some of my friends have never been, so it’ll be fun showing them around. It’s a great reminder that we don’t always need to travel far to find interesting places—sometimes the real treasures are right in our own backyard!
Jeannie, I enjoyed so much this Matt and The Rocket Kiddie Ride post…as I do all your posts!! The back story of the post, the nostalgia info. about the rocket, the photos…just awesome. So neat that the rocket ride was saved for future generations to enjoy in the museum! I love when things that might have seen a better day, things that did nothing but make people happy, are taken in, and cared for by someone! I wish all of life was that way:) Also…hope you have an awesome trip w/friends to show them all of these places/sights!
Thank you Bonnie))) Who knows, maybe one day he will actually see this post…lol
Yes! Ha!