Scenic Coaster
| Other Name(s) | Scenic Railway Forest Toboggan Forest Coaster |
|---|---|
| Type | Roller Coaster Track ride |
| Park Section | North Center East |
| Built | 1904 |
| Opened | 1906 |
| Closed | 1921 (remodeled) |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) |
| Designer | Henry B. Auchy |
| Architect | Coaster Construction Co. of Chicago |
| Materials | Wood |
| Height | 90 feet |
| Vehicle Type | Car |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Replaced By | Red Devil |
The Scenic Coaster, sometimes called the Scenic Railway, was a wooden roller coaster at Olentangy Park that operated from 1906 to 1921. It was designed by Henry B. Auchy[1] for the Columbus Zoological Company in 1904.[2] There, it was named the Forest Toboggan[1][3] or Forest Coaster. The ride was purchased when the company went defunct[4] and moved to Olentangy Park's northeast end and along North High Street[5][6] for the 1906 season.[7][5][8] It was not open at the time of the season's opening,[9] but opened by May 15, 1906.[10]
The ride was listed as Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters RC #3 in Carousel News & Trader.[3] Constructed by Coaster Construction Co. of Chicago,[11] it was 90 feet tall,[2] and its track was over a half mile long.
In September 1906, workers went on strike when management refused to increase their wages. A striker disabled the scenic coaster ride.[12]
The ride was remodeled in 1922 and turned into the Red Devil.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Forest Toboggan." Roller Coaster Database. Accessed on Oct. 6, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "New Taboggan." Columbus Evening Dispatch. July 11, 1904. Page 4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gardner, Richard A. and Barbara Williams. https://carouselhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Carousel-News-and-Trader-June-2010-PTC-issue.pdf "Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel History; 1904-1941."] Carousel News and Trader. June 2010. Vol. 26. Issue 6. Pages 15-44.
- ↑ Rashon, Sam. The Bark of Beechwold. January 1990. Accessed through the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Olentangy Park Opens on April 29." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 15, 1906. Page 7.
- ↑ Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map.
- ↑ The Billboard. Oct. 7, 1905. Vol. 17 Issue 40. Page 25.
- ↑ Long, W. C. 1906. "Columbus, Ohio." The Billboard. May 12, 1906. Vol. 18. Issue 19. Page 20.
- ↑ "Auspicious Day for Park Opening." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 30, 1906. Page 6.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 9, 1905. Page 4.
- ↑ The Billboard. Sept. 4, 1909. Vol. 21, Issue 36. Page 2.
- ↑ "Striker Cripples Scenic Railway by Taking Lens." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch." Sept. 2, 1906. Page 1.
- ↑ Photograph. NAPHA News. 2015. Vol. 37. No. 5. Page 4.