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The [[Shoot-the-Chutes]], sometimes stylized as '''Chutes''', was a water ride installed at the north end of Olentangy Park in 1909.<ref>"Olentangy Park, Founded in 1893, Long Was Amusement Mecca for Central Ohio." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' April 1, 1938. Pages 1, 6.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park Opens April 25th." ''The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio),'' April 22, 1909. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-olentangy-park/152965546/</ref><ref name="sanborn1922">''Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.'' Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn06656_008/.</ref> The ride was planned for as early as 1905.<ref>''The Billboard,'' October 7, 1905. Vol. 17. Issue 40. Page 25.</ref> The zoo elephant, Tandy, was trained to ride the chute.
The [[Shoot-the-Chutes]], sometimes stylized as '''Chutes''', was a water ride installed at the north end of Olentangy Park in 1909.<ref>"Olentangy Park, Founded in 1893, Long Was Amusement Mecca for Central Ohio." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' April 1, 1938. Pages 1, 6.</ref><ref>"Olentangy Park Opens April 25th." ''The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio).'' April 22, 1909. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-olentangy-park/152965546/</ref><ref name="sanborn1922">''Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.'' Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn06656_008/.</ref> The ride was planned for as early as 1905.<ref>''The Billboard.'' Vol. 17. Issue 40. Oct. 7, 1905. Page 25.</ref> The zoo elephant, Tandy, was trained to ride the chute.


Invented by Paul Boyton,<ref>"Francis, David W. 2002. ''Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards.'' Page 42.</ref> the ride took riders in a flat-bottomed boat up an incline pulled by a belt, rotated at the top, where the boat was allowed to slide down the other side of the incline to splash in the pond at the bottom.<ref>Barrett, Richard E. 2002. ''Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards,'' Arcadia Publishing. Accessed through Google Books https://www.google.com/books/edition/Columbus_Ohio/dl9ANHu511sC?hl=en&gbpv=0</ref>
Invented by Paul Boyton,<ref>"Francis, David W. 2002. ''Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards.'' Page 42.</ref> the ride took riders in a flat-bottomed boat up an incline pulled by a belt, rotated at the top, where the boat was allowed to slide down the other side of the incline to splash in the pond at the bottom. Each boat was controlled by a park employee who stood at the back of the boat.<ref>Barrett, Richard E. 2002. ''Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards.'' Arcadia Publishing. Accessed through Google Books https://www.google.com/books/edition/Columbus_Ohio/dl9ANHu511sC?hl=en&gbpv=0</ref>


The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916.<ref>"Park in Full Operation." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' May 1, 1916. Page 16.</ref> The last ''Dispatch'' ad for the normal use of the ride was in June 1924. The lagoon, also known as a "lake" or "pool,"<ref>Franklin Survey Co. 1937. Map. ''City of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio,'' Vol. 1. Accessed through Ebay.com https://www.ebay.com/itm/235251834706</ref><ref name="sanborn1922" /> remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles,<ref name="historian">Barret, Richard E. 1984. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." ''Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1,'' April 1984. Page 11.</ref>, tug-of-war, and automobile events. Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo about the park's closure in 1937.<ref>"$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' April 1, 1938. Page 1.</ref>
The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916.<ref>"Park in Full Operation." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' May 1, 1916. Page 16.</ref> The last ''Dispatch'' ad for the normal use of the ride was in June 1924. Articles do mention the ride later on, but not in what context.


== Notable Events ==
The lagoon, also known as a "lake" or "pool,"<ref>Franklin Survey Co. 1937. Map. ''City of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio Vol. 1.'' Accessed through Ebay.com https://www.ebay.com/itm/235251834706</ref><ref name="sanborn1922" /> remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles (called "Watercycles"),<ref name="historian">Barret, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." ''Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1.'' April 1984. Page 11.</ref> tug-of-war, and automobile events.
 
In 1934, on a day dubbed Plymouth Day, "Lucky" Teter and his troupe of "Hell Drivers" put on a show at the park.  A driver drove at least one car down the Shoot-the-Chutes into the lagoon during a {{Tooltip |text = $100,000|tooltip = $2.4 million in 2025 dollars}} show of Chrysler products at the park.<ref>"Plymouth's 'Hell Divers' Will Defy Death to Thrill Crowds at Olentangy." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 17, 1934. Page 20.</ref> Starting at 60 mph, the car leaped and hit the water at 90 mph, leaped a 2-foot embankment, and purposely turned the car over in the dirt, going 20 mph.<ref>"Hell Drivers Again to Appear at Park." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 24, 1934. Page 19.</ref><ref>Walkmeyer, Gene. "Daredevils Thrill Olentangy Audience." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' June 25, 1934. Page 16.</ref><ref>Foster, Emily. "Bob and Carol Pattin, 1930s and 1940s north side residents, on Olentangy Park." ''The Ohio State University District: A Neighborhood History.'' United States: History Press, 2014.</ref>


There was a contest for automobile owners to climb the ride's incline during the 1910 North Side Chamber of Commerce outing, but no one signed up for it.<ref>"Thirty-five Accept." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' May 9, 1910. Page 10.</ref>
Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo in an article about the park's closure in 1937.<ref>"$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' April 1, 1938. Page 1.</ref>


For the Buckeye Republican Club outing on August 26, 1911, and the three weeks following, Professor S. B. Erieg performed "Slide for Life," where he slid while on fire down a wire strung from the Shoot-the-Chutes flagstaff to the lagoon.<ref>"Olentangy." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' August 24, 1911. Page 16.</ref><ref>"Olentangy." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' August 25, 1911. Page 14.</ref>
== Notable Events ==


Desperate Desmond performed the "Slide for Life" from the head to the foot of the Shoot-the-Chutes ride during July and August 1912.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch,'' August 4, 1912. Page 5.</ref>
There was a contest for automobile owners to climb the ride's incline during the 1910 North Side Chamber of Commerce outing, but no one signed up for it.<ref>"Thirty-five Accept." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' May 9, 1910. Page 10.</ref>


== After Ride Closure ==
For the Buckeye Republican Club outing on Aug. 26, 1911, and the three weeks following, Professor S. B. Erieg performed "Slide for Life," where he slid while on fire down a wire strung from the Shoot-the-Chutes flagstaff to the lagoon.<ref>"Olentangy." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' Aug. 24, 1911. Page 16.</ref><ref>"Olentangy." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' Aug. 25, 1911. Page 14.</ref>


On 1934, on a day dubbed Plymouth Day, "Lucky" Teter and his troupe of "Hell Drivers" put on a show at the park.  A driver drove at least one car down the Shoot-the-Chutes into the lagoon during a $100,000 (over $2.3 million in 2024) show of Chrysler products at the park.<ref>"Plymouth's 'Hell Divers' Will Defy Death to Thrill Crowds at Olentangy." ''The Columbus Dispatch,'' June 17, 1934. Page 20.</ref> Starting at 60 mph, the car leaped and hit the water at 90 mph, leaped a two-foot embankment, and purposely turned the car over in the dirt, going 20 mph.<ref>"Hell Drivers Again to Appear at Park." ''The Columbus Dispatch,'' June 24, 1934. Page 19.</ref><ref>Walkmeyer, Gene. 1934. "Daredevils Thrill Olentangy Audience." ''The Columbus Dispatch,'' June 25, 1934. Page 16.</ref>
Desperate Desmond performed the "Slide for Life" from the head to the foot of the Shoot-the-Chutes ride during July and August 1912.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' Aug. 4, 1912. Page 5.</ref>


== Injuries ==
== Injuries ==
Joseph Valkno, 17, was hit by a boat on the chute while working on the ride in September 1914. He broke his leg while trying to leap over the boat as it was diving into the pond.<ref>"Park Employe Injured." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch,'' September 6, 1914. Page 3.</ref>
Joseph Valkno, 17, was hit by a boat on the chute while working on the ride in September 1914. He broke his leg while trying to leap over the boat as it was diving into the pond.<ref>"Park Employe Injured." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.,'' Sept. 6, 1914. Page 3.</ref>


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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File:Shoot-The-Chutes Photo Facebook.jpg|alt=The Shoot-the-Chutes ride during its construction in 1909.|The Shoot-the-Chutes ride during its construction in 1909.
File:Shoot-The-Chutes Photo Facebook.jpg|alt=The Shoot-the-Chutes ride during its construction in 1909.|The Shoot-the-Chutes ride during its construction in 1909.
File:ParkPano NewspaperPhoto ColumbusEveningDispatch.jpg|alt=A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: Whirlwind, Shoot-the-Chutes, the Midway, including the original Ye Olde Mill and Dancing Pavilion.|A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the ''Columbus Sunday Dispatch'' on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: [[Whirlwind]], Shoot-the-Chutes, the [[Midway]] including the [[Temple of Mirth]], original [[Ye Olde Mill (1)|Ye Olde Mill]], and second [[Dancing Pavilion (2)|Dancing Pavilion]].
File:ParkPano NewspaperPhoto ColumbusEveningDispatch.jpg|alt=A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: Whirlwind, Shoot-the-Chutes, the Midway, including the original Ye Olde Mill and Dancing Pavilion.|A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the ''Columbus Sunday Dispatch'' on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: [[Whirlwind]], Shoot-the-Chutes, the [[Midway]] including the [[Temple of Mirth]], original [[Ye Olde Mill (1)|Ye Olde Mill]], and second [[Dancing Pavilion (2)|Dancing Pavilion]].
File:WhirlWind Shoot-The-Chutes Postcard Flickr unedited.jpg|alt=A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the Whirl Wind and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.|A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the [[Whirlwind]] and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.
File:WhirlWind Shoot-The-Chutes Postcard Flickr unedited.jpg|alt=A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the Whirlwind and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.|A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the [[Whirlwind]] and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.
</gallery>
</gallery>


Latest revision as of 23:09, 21 July 2025

Shoot-the-Chutes
Other Name(s) Chutes
Shoot-the-Shoots
Type Water ride
Track ride
Park Section North
Built 1909
Opened 1909
Closed 1924
Vehicle Type Boat

The Shoot-the-Chutes, sometimes stylized as Chutes, was a water ride installed at the north end of Olentangy Park in 1909.[1][2][3] The ride was planned for as early as 1905.[4] The zoo elephant, Tandy, was trained to ride the chute.

Invented by Paul Boyton,[5] the ride took riders in a flat-bottomed boat up an incline pulled by a belt, rotated at the top, where the boat was allowed to slide down the other side of the incline to splash in the pond at the bottom. Each boat was controlled by a park employee who stood at the back of the boat.[6]

The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916.[7] The last Dispatch ad for the normal use of the ride was in June 1924. Articles do mention the ride later on, but not in what context.

The lagoon, also known as a "lake" or "pool,"[8][3] remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles (called "Watercycles"),[9] tug-of-war, and automobile events.

In 1934, on a day dubbed Plymouth Day, "Lucky" Teter and his troupe of "Hell Drivers" put on a show at the park. A driver drove at least one car down the Shoot-the-Chutes into the lagoon during a $100,000$2.4 million in 2025 dollars show of Chrysler products at the park.[10] Starting at 60 mph, the car leaped and hit the water at 90 mph, leaped a 2-foot embankment, and purposely turned the car over in the dirt, going 20 mph.[11][12][13]

Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo in an article about the park's closure in 1937.[14]

Notable Events

There was a contest for automobile owners to climb the ride's incline during the 1910 North Side Chamber of Commerce outing, but no one signed up for it.[15]

For the Buckeye Republican Club outing on Aug. 26, 1911, and the three weeks following, Professor S. B. Erieg performed "Slide for Life," where he slid while on fire down a wire strung from the Shoot-the-Chutes flagstaff to the lagoon.[16][17]

Desperate Desmond performed the "Slide for Life" from the head to the foot of the Shoot-the-Chutes ride during July and August 1912.[18]

Injuries

Joseph Valkno, 17, was hit by a boat on the chute while working on the ride in September 1914. He broke his leg while trying to leap over the boat as it was diving into the pond.[19]

  • The Shoot-the-Chutes ride during its construction in 1909.
    The Shoot-the-Chutes ride during its construction in 1909.
  • A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: Whirlwind, Shoot-the-Chutes, the Midway, including the original Ye Olde Mill and Dancing Pavilion.
    A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: Whirlwind, Shoot-the-Chutes, the Midway including the Temple of Mirth, original Ye Olde Mill, and second Dancing Pavilion.
  • A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the Whirlwind and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.
    A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the Whirlwind and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.

References

  1. ↑ "Olentangy Park, Founded in 1893, Long Was Amusement Mecca for Central Ohio." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 1, 1938. Pages 1, 6.
  2. ↑ "Olentangy Park Opens April 25th." The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio). April 22, 1909. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-olentangy-park/152965546/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn06656_008/.
  4. ↑ The Billboard. Vol. 17. Issue 40. Oct. 7, 1905. Page 25.
  5. ↑ "Francis, David W. 2002. Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards. Page 42.
  6. ↑ Barrett, Richard E. 2002. Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. Accessed through Google Books https://www.google.com/books/edition/Columbus_Ohio/dl9ANHu511sC?hl=en&gbpv=0
  7. ↑ "Park in Full Operation." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 1, 1916. Page 16.
  8. ↑ Franklin Survey Co. 1937. Map. City of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio Vol. 1. Accessed through Ebay.com https://www.ebay.com/itm/235251834706
  9. ↑ Barret, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1. April 1984. Page 11.
  10. ↑ "Plymouth's 'Hell Divers' Will Defy Death to Thrill Crowds at Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. June 17, 1934. Page 20.
  11. ↑ "Hell Drivers Again to Appear at Park." The Columbus Dispatch. June 24, 1934. Page 19.
  12. ↑ Walkmeyer, Gene. "Daredevils Thrill Olentangy Audience." The Columbus Dispatch. June 25, 1934. Page 16.
  13. ↑ Foster, Emily. "Bob and Carol Pattin, 1930s and 1940s north side residents, on Olentangy Park." The Ohio State University District: A Neighborhood History. United States: History Press, 2014.
  14. ↑ "$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 1, 1938. Page 1.
  15. ↑ "Thirty-five Accept." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 9, 1910. Page 10.
  16. ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 24, 1911. Page 16.
  17. ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 25, 1911. Page 14.
  18. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 4, 1912. Page 5.
  19. ↑ "Park Employe Injured." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch., Sept. 6, 1914. Page 3.


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