Tyre Sampson’s parents opened “Tyre’s Snack Shop” in Madison, Illinois, which features some of his favorite snacks.
Tyre Sampson was a promising 14-year-old football player from St. Louis, Missouri.
Tragically, he passed away in March 2022 after falling from the Orlando FreeFall ride at ICON Park in Florida.
When the incident occurred, he was on a spring break trip with his football team.
Tyre was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 383 pounds at the time of the accident. He was allowed to board the ride despite exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended weight limit of 287 pounds.
Investigations revealed that the safety sensor on his seat’s shoulder harness had been manually adjusted to accommodate his size.
The family pursued legal action against the ride’s operators and manufacturers. This resulted in a $310 million settlement.
The ride’s manufacturer, Funtime Handels, was held fully responsible for the accident.
Tyre Sampson’s Father Said That The Snack Shop Is Just One Of Several Ways To Give Back To The Madison Community!
In honor of Tyre’s memory, his parents, Nekia Dodd and Yarnell Sampson, have taken several initiatives to create a positive impact.
Yarnell has been a vocal advocate for stricter amusement park safety regulations.
He has worked to raise awareness about the importance of proper safety measures to prevent similar tragedies.
On March 26, 2025, three years after the tragic accident, his family opened a snack shop in Madison, Illinois, to honor his memory.
The shop, located at 422 Madison Ave., features Tyre’s favourite foods and aims to support the neighborhood by donating 10% of its profits to the community.
As per Tyre’s father, the shop is giving away free food and other items during its grand opening week. He also said:
I thought it would be cool to have Tyre’s memory to live in Madison, where he used to roam these streets and have fun at…
He shared that the snack shop was for children and adults to enjoy together.
Further, he expressed that losing a child is an unimaginable pain, but the shop is a way to bring light to a tragic situation.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tyre was a student at City Garden Montessori School in St. Louis, Missouri.
- He began playing football at the age of 13 in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.
