Figure Eight Toboggan: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox ride | {{Infobox ride | ||
| name = Figure Eight Toboggan | | name = Figure Eight Toboggan | ||
| othernames = Figure Eight Toboggan<br />Figure 8 | | othernames = Figure Eight Toboggan<br />Figure 8 | ||
| type = Roller Coaster<br />Track Rides | | type = Roller Coaster<br />Track Rides | ||
| section = North | | section = North | ||
| built = 1902 | | built = 1902 | ||
| opened = 1902 | | opened = 1902 | ||
| closed = | | closed = 1928 | ||
| manufacturer = | | manufacturer = Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) | ||
| fires = | | fires = | ||
| vehicletype = Car | | vehicletype = Car | ||
| materials = Wood | | materials = Wood | ||
| designer = | | designer = Henry B. Auchy | ||
| replacedby = [[Tumble Bug]] (part) | |||
| cost = {{Tooltip |text = $15,000|tooltip = $560,695 in 2025 dollars}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
The [[Figure Eight Toboggan]] was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park and the first mechanical ride built after the | The [[Figure Eight Toboggan]] was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park and the first mechanical ride built after the Dusenbury Brothers bought the park in 1899.<ref>"Olentangy Then and Now." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' May 3, 1914. Page 46.</ref> It cost {{Tooltip |text = $15,000|tooltip = $560,695 in 2025 dollars}} to build.<ref>Advertisement, ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' July 27, 1902. Page 17.</ref> Opening in July [[1902 Season|1902]],<ref name="aug1">"Olentangy Park—Tassin's New Comedy." ''Friday Columbus Dispatch.'' Aug. 1, 1902. Page 7.</ref> "roller coaster" was a new term for rides where riders coasted on rollers inside their toboggan "cars."<ref name=":0">"Brevities." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' Aug. 18, 1902. Page 8.</ref><ref>''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Clay Record.]'' 1903. Clay Record Publishing Company. Accessed through Google Books.</ref> The ride was in the shape of a figure-eight and was located on the north plateau south of the location of [[Fair Japan]], the original [[Miniature Railway]], and [[Swimming Pool]].<ref>"Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." ''Columbus Evening Dispatch,'' January 2, 1905. Page 5.</ref><ref name=":1">"Columbus Railway & Light Co." ''Street Railway Review.'' Vol. 26. Issue 2. Page 70. </ref><ref name="sanborn1922">''[https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn06656_008/ Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.]'' Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map.</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> and was operational until it was partially removed in 1928 to make way for the [[Tumble Bug]].<ref>"Figure Eight Gives Way to a 'Bug'." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' April 5, 1929. Page 5.</ref><ref>"Bathrooms and Rink." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' April 14, 1929. Page 85.</ref><ref name="historian">Barrett, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." ''Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1.'' April 1984. Page 11.</ref> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
The ride had a wooden frame and was described as | The ride had a wooden frame and was described as a "figure-eight" design<ref>Postcard. [https://digital-collections.columbuslibrary.org/digital/collection/ohio/id/11430/ "Olentangy Parks' Figure Eight roller coaster, postcard."] ''Columbus Metropolitan Library.'' Image from the Columbus Metropolitan Library Collection. Last modified on Jan. 6, 2021. Accessed through the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Digital Collections.</ref> and, at times, a "three-way figure eight toboggan slide."<ref name=":1" /> This described how the riders go around the loops three times. The cars would travel freely on a multi-level track, and wooden side rails were included to keep them on track.<ref>"Olentangy Park." ''Sunday Columbus Dispatch.'' May 10, 1903. Page 6.</ref> | ||
The Roller Coaster Database says it was designed by Henry B. Auchy and manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC).<ref>"Forest Toboggan." ''Roller Coaster Database.'' | The Roller Coaster Database says it was designed by [[Henry B. Auchy]] and manufactured by [[Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)]].<ref>[https://rcdb.com/3156.htm "Forest Toboggan."] ''Roller Coaster Database.'' Last modified in 2016. Accessed on July 22, 2021.</ref> The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus made the Spur Haul Up Chain used to power the ride.<ref>Photograph. [https://www.ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p267401coll32/id/9127/rec/381 "Jeffrey Chain Used in Amusement Park Ride."] ''Ohio History Connection Selections.'' Photograph from the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company Collection. Original date: Sept. 14, 1910. Last modified July 29, 2011. Accessed through OhioMemory.com.</ref> | ||
== Injuries == | == Injuries == | ||
A person fainted on the ride in August 1902, landing the term "roller coaster" in quotation marks in its reporting in the ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.''<ref name=":0" /> | A person fainted on the ride in August 1902, landing the term "roller coaster" in quotation marks in its reporting in the ''Columbus Evening Dispatch.''<ref name=":0" /> | ||
In May 1906, Thomas Callis, a pipe organist and insurance salesman, was spooked by the flashing lights and accidentally stepped off a nearby platform and injured his right ankle | On Sept. 21, 1902, Albert Jenkins received several broken ribs and a broken leg on the ride. He was released from the hospital on Oct. 30, 1902.<ref>"Jenkins Leaves Hospital." ''Thursday Columbus Dispatch.'' Oct. 30, 1902. Page 6.</ref> | ||
In May 1906, Thomas Callis, a pipe organist and insurance salesman, was spooked by the flashing lights and accidentally stepped off a nearby platform and injured his right ankle badly enough that amputation was considered. He was sent to Grant Hospital for treatment.<ref>"Peculiar Accident." ''The Columbus Sunday Dispatch.'' May 20, 1906. Page 6.</ref> | |||
==Notes== | |||
[[E. Joy Morris]] is reported to have had built a "roller coaster" or "toboggan" at the park by 1903. It is unknown which roller coaster. Morris also built the first [[Merry-Go-Round (1)|Merry-Go-Round]].<ref>Stafford, Tom. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-coaster-designer-mo/176657165/ "Coaster Designer Morris A Man of Joy."] ''Springfield News-Sun (Springfield, Ohio).'' Aug. 16, 2004. Page 14. Accessed through Newspapers.com.</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
{{Rides}} | |||
{{Park Sections}} | |||
[[Category:Rides]] | [[Category:Rides]] | ||
| Line 33: | Line 43: | ||
[[Category:Track Rides]] | [[Category:Track Rides]] | ||
[[Category:Added in 1902]] | [[Category:Added in 1902]] | ||
[[Category:Closed in 1928]] | |||
[[Category:Rides made by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)]] | |||
[[Category:Rides by Henry B. Auchy]] | |||
{{#seo:|description=The Figure Eight Toboggan was opened in 1902 and was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park after the Dusenbury Brothers bought the park.}} | |||
{{#seo:|keywords=Figure Eight, Figure Eight Toboggan, Figure 8, roller coaster, Olentangy Park, Olentangy Amusement Park, Olentangy Park Columbus, Columbus amusement park, amusement park, Clintonville, defunct amusement park}} | |||
Latest revision as of 17:12, 6 October 2025
Figure Eight Toboggan
| Other Name(s) | Figure Eight Toboggan Figure 8 |
|---|---|
| Type | Roller Coaster Track Rides |
| Park Section | North |
| Built | 1902 |
| Opened | 1902 |
| Closed | 1928 |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) |
| Designer | Henry B. Auchy |
| Materials | Wood |
| Vehicle Type | Car |
| Cost | $15,000$560,695 in 2025 dollars |
| Replaced By | Tumble Bug (part) |
The Figure Eight Toboggan was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park and the first mechanical ride built after the Dusenbury Brothers bought the park in 1899.[1] It cost $15,000$560,695 in 2025 dollars to build.[2] Opening in July 1902,[3] "roller coaster" was a new term for rides where riders coasted on rollers inside their toboggan "cars."[4][5] The ride was in the shape of a figure-eight and was located on the north plateau south of the location of Fair Japan, the original Miniature Railway, and Swimming Pool.[6][7][8] The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916[9] and was operational until it was partially removed in 1928 to make way for the Tumble Bug.[10][11][12]
Description
The ride had a wooden frame and was described as a "figure-eight" design[13] and, at times, a "three-way figure eight toboggan slide."[7] This described how the riders go around the loops three times. The cars would travel freely on a multi-level track, and wooden side rails were included to keep them on track.[14]
The Roller Coaster Database says it was designed by Henry B. Auchy and manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC).[15] The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus made the Spur Haul Up Chain used to power the ride.[16]
Injuries
A person fainted on the ride in August 1902, landing the term "roller coaster" in quotation marks in its reporting in the Columbus Evening Dispatch.[4]
On Sept. 21, 1902, Albert Jenkins received several broken ribs and a broken leg on the ride. He was released from the hospital on Oct. 30, 1902.[17]
In May 1906, Thomas Callis, a pipe organist and insurance salesman, was spooked by the flashing lights and accidentally stepped off a nearby platform and injured his right ankle badly enough that amputation was considered. He was sent to Grant Hospital for treatment.[18]
Notes
E. Joy Morris is reported to have had built a "roller coaster" or "toboggan" at the park by 1903. It is unknown which roller coaster. Morris also built the first Merry-Go-Round.[19]
References
- ↑ "Olentangy Then and Now." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 3, 1914. Page 46.
- ↑ Advertisement, Sunday Columbus Dispatch. July 27, 1902. Page 17.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park—Tassin's New Comedy." Friday Columbus Dispatch. Aug. 1, 1902. Page 7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 18, 1902. Page 8.
- ↑ Clay Record. 1903. Clay Record Publishing Company. Accessed through Google Books.
- ↑ "Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." Columbus Evening Dispatch, January 2, 1905. Page 5.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Columbus Railway & Light Co." Street Railway Review. Vol. 26. Issue 2. Page 70.
- ↑ Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map.
- ↑ "Park in Full Operation." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 1, 1916. Page 16.
- ↑ "Figure Eight Gives Way to a 'Bug'." The Columbus Dispatch. April 5, 1929. Page 5.
- ↑ "Bathrooms and Rink." The Columbus Dispatch. April 14, 1929. Page 85.
- ↑ Barrett, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1. April 1984. Page 11.
- ↑ Postcard. "Olentangy Parks' Figure Eight roller coaster, postcard." Columbus Metropolitan Library. Image from the Columbus Metropolitan Library Collection. Last modified on Jan. 6, 2021. Accessed through the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Digital Collections.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." Sunday Columbus Dispatch. May 10, 1903. Page 6.
- ↑ "Forest Toboggan." Roller Coaster Database. Last modified in 2016. Accessed on July 22, 2021.
- ↑ Photograph. "Jeffrey Chain Used in Amusement Park Ride." Ohio History Connection Selections. Photograph from the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company Collection. Original date: Sept. 14, 1910. Last modified July 29, 2011. Accessed through OhioMemory.com.
- ↑ "Jenkins Leaves Hospital." Thursday Columbus Dispatch. Oct. 30, 1902. Page 6.
- ↑ "Peculiar Accident." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. May 20, 1906. Page 6.
- ↑ Stafford, Tom. "Coaster Designer Morris A Man of Joy." Springfield News-Sun (Springfield, Ohio). Aug. 16, 2004. Page 14. Accessed through Newspapers.com.