Shoot-the-Chutes: Difference between revisions

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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>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-olentangy-park/152965546/ "Olentangy Park Opens April 25th."] ''The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio).'' April 22, 1909. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com.</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 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.
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>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-olentangy-park/152965546/ "Olentangy Park Opens April 25th."] ''The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio).'' April 22, 1909. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com.</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 was planned for as early as 1905.<ref>''The Billboard.'' Vol. 17. Issue 40. Oct. 7, 1905. Page 25.</ref> The boats were supplied from the "Marine Slide" built at Minerva Park, that closed several years earlier.<ref name="minerva">Stuart, R. G. "[https://www.minervapark.gov/media/3026 The Marine Slide Part Two]." ''The Villager.'' November 1997. Page 3. Published by the Minerva Park Community Association.</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, going as fast as 60 mph,<ref>"If You Would On Outing Go." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' Sept. 16, 1923. Page 64.</ref> 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. ''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Columbus_Ohio/dl9ANHu511sC?hl=en&gbpv=0 Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards.]'' Arcadia Publishing. Accessed through Google Books.</ref>
== Description ==


The ride started to suffer from "non-support" 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.
The Shoot-the-Chutes was a water ride invented by Paul Boyton,<ref>"Francis, David W. 2002. ''Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards.'' Page 42.</ref>.  


The lagoon, also known as a "lake" or "pool,"<ref>''[https://www.ebay.com/itm/235251834706 City of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.]'' Franklin Survey Co. 1937. Vol. 1. Map. Accessed through Ebay.com.</ref><ref name="sanborn1922" /> remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles (called "Watercycles"),<ref name="historian">Barrett, 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.
Flat-bottomed boats were brought up an incline pulled by a belt and rotated at the top. Up to four parkgoers would board a boat and it was pushed to slide down the main part of the incline, going as fast as 60 mph,<ref>"If You Would On Outing Go." ''The Columbus Dispatch.'' Sept. 16, 1923. Page 64.</ref> to splash and skip like a stone in the pond at the bottom. Part of this effect was achieved by a slight upward curve at the end of the ramp. Each boat was controlled by a park employee who stood at the back of the boat.<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. Accessed through Google Books.</ref><ref name="minerva" />


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>
== The Ride's Run at the Park ==
 
The Shoot-the-Chutes was one of many rides and attractions built for the 1909 season. It started to suffer from "non-support" by 1916.<ref>"Park in Full Operation." ''The Columbus Evening Dispatch.'' May 1, 1916. Page 16.</ref>
 
The lagoon, also known as a "lake" or "pool,"<ref>''[https://www.ebay.com/itm/235251834706 City of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio.]'' Franklin Survey Co. 1937. Vol. 1. Map. Accessed through Ebay.com.</ref><ref name="sanborn1922" /> remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles (called "Watercycles"),<ref name="historian">Barrett, 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. The signage at the top of the ride was updated around 1920 and the zoo elephant, Tandy, was trained to ride the boats.
 
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 = $2.5 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>


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>
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>

Revision as of 16:18, 30 July 2026

Shoot-the-Chutes
Other Name(s) Chutes
Shoot-the-Shoots
Type Water ride
Track ride
Park Section North
Built 1909
Opened 1909
Closed 1924
Speed 60 mph
Vehicle Type Boat
Riders per Vehicle 4

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 boats were supplied from the "Marine Slide" built at Minerva Park, that closed several years earlier.[5]

Description

The Shoot-the-Chutes was a water ride invented by Paul Boyton,[6].

Flat-bottomed boats were brought up an incline pulled by a belt and rotated at the top. Up to four parkgoers would board a boat and it was pushed to slide down the main part of the incline, going as fast as 60 mph,[7] to splash and skip like a stone in the pond at the bottom. Part of this effect was achieved by a slight upward curve at the end of the ramp. Each boat was controlled by a park employee who stood at the back of the boat.[8][5]

The Ride's Run at the Park

The Shoot-the-Chutes was one of many rides and attractions built for the 1909 season. It started to suffer from "non-support" by 1916.[9]

The lagoon, also known as a "lake" or "pool,"[10][3] remained until the park's closure, being used for water bicycles (called "Watercycles"),[11] tug-of-war, and automobile events. The signage at the top of the ride was updated around 1920 and the zoo elephant, Tandy, was trained to ride the boats.

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$2.5 million in 2025 dollars show of Chrysler products at the park.[12] 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.[13][14][15]

Despite its unusable state, the structure remained standing and is visible in a photo in an article about the park's closure in 1937.[16]

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.[17]

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.[18][19]

Desperate Desmond performed the "Slide for Life" from the head to the foot of the Shoot-the-Chutes ride during July and August 1912.[20]

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.[21]

  • 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, first 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.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map.
  4. ↑ The Billboard. Vol. 17. Issue 40. Oct. 7, 1905. Page 25.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Stuart, R. G. "The Marine Slide Part Two." The Villager. November 1997. Page 3. Published by the Minerva Park Community Association.
  6. ↑ "Francis, David W. 2002. Ohio's Amusement Parks in Vintage Postcards. Page 42.
  7. ↑ "If You Would On Outing Go." The Columbus Dispatch. Sept. 16, 1923. Page 64.
  8. ↑ Barrett, Richard E. 2002. Columbus Ohio 1898-1950 in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. Accessed through Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Park in Full Operation." The Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 1, 1916. Page 16.
  10. ↑ City of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio. Franklin Survey Co. 1937. Vol. 1. Map. Accessed through Ebay.com.
  11. ↑ Barrett, Richard E. "Olentangy Park: Four Decades of Fun." Columbus and Central Ohio Historian No. 1. April 1984. Page 11.
  12. ↑ "Plymouth's 'Hell Divers' Will Defy Death to Thrill Crowds at Olentangy." The Columbus Dispatch. June 17, 1934. Page 20.
  13. ↑ "Hell Drivers Again to Appear at Park." The Columbus Dispatch. June 24, 1934. Page 19.
  14. ↑ Walkmeyer, Gene. "Daredevils Thrill Olentangy Audience." The Columbus Dispatch. June 25, 1934. Page 16.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ "$2,000,000 Housing Project to Replace Olentangy Park." Columbus Evening Dispatch. April 1, 1938. Page 1.
  17. ↑ "Thirty-five Accept." Columbus Evening Dispatch. May 9, 1910. Page 10.
  18. ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 24, 1911. Page 16.
  19. ↑ "Olentangy." Columbus Evening Dispatch. Aug. 25, 1911. Page 14.
  20. ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Aug. 4, 1912. Page 5.
  21. ↑ "Park Employe Injured." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. Sept. 6, 1914. Page 3.


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