Shoot-the-Chutes: Difference between revisions
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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). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Columbus_Ohio/dl9ANHu511sC?hl=en&gbpv=0 ''Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards''.] Arcadia Publishing. [http://olentangypark.com/wiki/index.php/Special:BookSources/0738519626 ISBN 0738519626].</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). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Columbus_Ohio/dl9ANHu511sC?hl=en&gbpv=0 ''Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards''.] Arcadia Publishing. [http://olentangypark.com/wiki/index.php/Special:BookSources/0738519626 ISBN 0738519626].</ref> | ||
On August 20, 1934, 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.'' 17 June 1934. Pg. 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.'' 24 June 1934. Pg. 19.</ref><ref>Walkmeyer, Gene. "Daredevils Thrill Olentangy Audience." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' 25 June 1934. Pg. 16.</ref> | |||
The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916,<ref>"Park in Full Operation." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' 1 May 1916. Pg. 16.</ref> and was operational at least until 1933. 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.'' 1 April 1938. Pg. 1.</ref> The pool remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles.<ref name="historian">Barret, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." ''Columbus and Central Ohio Historian.'' Vol. 1. April 1984. Pg. 11.</ref> | |||
== Injuries == | == Injuries == | ||
Revision as of 20:11, 13 June 2024
| Other Name(s) | Chutes |
|---|---|
| Type | Water ride Track ride |
| Park Section | North |
| Built | 1909 |
| Opened | 1909 |
| Closed | Unknown |
| 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] The ride was planned for as early as 1905.[2] The zoo elephant, Tandy, was trained to ride the chute.
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.[3]
On August 20, 1934, 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.[4] 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.[5][6]
The ride started to suffer from "nonsupport" by 1916,[7] and was operational at least until 1933. Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo about the park's closure in 1937.[8] The pool remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles.[9]
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.[10]
Gallery
-
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 second Dancing Pavilion. -
A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the Whirlwind and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.
References
- ↑ "Olentangy Park, Founded in 1893, Long Was Amusement Mecca for Central Ohio." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 1 April 1938. pg. 1, 6.
- ↑ The Billboard. 7 October 1905. Vol. 17 Iss. 40. Pg. 25.
- ↑ Barrett, Richard E. (2002). Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738519626.
- ↑ "Plymouth's 'Hell Divers' Will Defy Death to Thrill Crowds at Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. 17 June 1934. Pg. 20.
- ↑ "Hell Drivers Again to Appear at Park." The Columbus Dispatch. 24 June 1934. Pg. 19.
- ↑ Walkmeyer, Gene. "Daredevils Thrill Olentangy Audience." The Columbus Dispatch. 25 June 1934. Pg. 16.
- ↑ "Park in Full Operation." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. 1 May 1916. Pg. 16.
- ↑ "$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 1 April 1938. Pg. 1.
- ↑ Barret, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." Columbus and Central Ohio Historian. Vol. 1. April 1984. Pg. 11.
- ↑ "Park Employe Injured." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 6 September 1914. Pg. 3.