The last ride on the Tilt-a-Whirl

Josh Murphy and daughters.
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

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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