Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) is one of the oldest existing roller coaster manufacturing companies in the world. Based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, it was established in 1904 by Henry B. Auchy and Chester Albright under the name Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The company manufactured carousels, wooden roller coasters, and roller coaster trains ("toboggans") from 1904 to 1979. The only product it still manufactures is roller coaster trains.
History Philadelphia Toboggan Company was incorporated on January 20, 1904 as a roller coaster design and construction firm.Pennsylvania Department of State, "Philadelphia Toboggan Company "; accessed 2017.08.01. Notable designers included Joe McKee, John A. Miller, Herbert Schmeck, Frank Hoover, and John C. Allen. Herbert Shmeck was with the company for 35 years, serving as its president until 1954. When Shmeck resigned as president, Allen became the president in his place. Allen had been with the company since 1931.
The company also manufactured carousels from 1904 to 1934. It expanded with the acquisition of the inventory of the Dentzel Carousel Company in 1927.Dentzel Carousel Company; accessed 2022.11.12. Lead carvers included Daniel Carl Muller, Leo Zoller, John Zalar, and Frank Caretta.
Beginning before World War II, the company produced Laffing Sal animatronics. The company also manufactured Skee-Ball games from 1946 to 1977.
When Allen retired as president in 1976, the company stopped designing roller coasters, but continued to work on coaster construction projects until 1979, when it exited the coaster construction industry permanently.Rutherford, Scott. The American Roller Coaster, MBI Publishing, 2000, p. 12
On November 27, 1991, Tom Rebbie and Bill Dauphinee purchased Philadelphia Toboggan Company from Sam High and incorporated a new company, Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster, shortly thereafter.Pennsylvania Department of State, "Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster, Inc. "; accessed 2017.08.01. Rebbie was appointed president. In 2007, he bought out Dauphinee to become the sole owner, and changed the company's name to Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. (PTCI). The company continues to manufacture roller coaster trains, queue gates, and fin brakes.Seifert, Jeffrey. "This Month in History," Amusement Today, Volume 15, Issue 8.2, p. 3
List of roller coasters
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters has built approximately 144 roller coasters around the world. As of 2026, only 24 remain in operation.
Serial number Name Park Country Status Opened Closed Details1 Figure 8 Toboggan Pine Beach Park (Norfolk, Virginia) United States 1904 1906 or laterDesigned by Henry B. Auchy2 Toboggan Figure 8 Vinewood Park (Topeka, Kansas) United States 1904 UnknownDesigned by Henry B. Auchy3 Forest Toboggan Olentangy Park (Columbus, Ohio) United States 1904 1937 Designed by Henry B. Auchy4 Figure 8 White City (New Orleans, Louisiana) United States 1904 1912Designed by Henry B. Auchy5 Figure Eight Toboggan Pabst Park (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) United States 1904 1910 or laterDesigned by Chester E. Albright6 Toboggan Slide Elitch Gardens (original location) (Denver, Colorado) United States 1904 19257 Figure Eight Delmar Garden Amusement Park (University City, Missouri) United States 1905 1908 or later8UnknownUnknown (Fort George, New York) United States 1905Unknown9 Figure Eight Euclid Beach Park (Cleveland, Ohio) United States 1904 190910 Figure 8 Idlewood Amusement Park (Richmond, Virginia) United States 1906 1909 Designed by Henry B. Auchy11 Forest Coaster White City (Glenside, Pennsylvania) United States 1906 1911 12UnknownDreamland (Coney Island, New York) United States 19071911Designed by Chester E. Albright. Burnt down.13UnknownSix Gun Territory (fomerly known as Willow Grove Park) (Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) United States 1909Unknown14UnknownDelmar Garden Amusement Park (University City, Missouri) United States 1910Unknown15UnknownElitch Gardens (original location) (Denver, Colorado) United States 1910Unknown16 / 26 Jack RabbitFormerly known as Forest Scenic Railway (1912 to 1918) Point Breeze Park (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) United States 1912 1923 Heavily modified and given a new name and serial number in 191817UnknownGolden City Park (Canarsie, New York) United States 1915UnknownDesigned by Joseph A. McKee, who was also the construction supervisor.18UnknownLake Orion (Detroit, Michigan) United States 1915UnknownDesigned by Joseph A. McKee. Construction supervisor was C. Mitchow.19 North Wind CoasterFormerly known as Jack RabbitLuna Park (Cleveland, Ohio) United States 1915 1929 Designed by Joseph A. McKee. Construction supervisor was Harry C. Baker.20 Jack Rabbit Willough Beach Park (Willoughby, Ohio) United States 1915 1924 Designed by Joseph A. McKee. Construction supervisor was Harry C. Baker.21UnknownRevere Beach (Revere, Massachusetts) United States1916Unknown.Designed by Joseph A. McKee. Construction supervisor was Edward E. Rhoads.22 Jack Rabbit Shellpot Park (Brandywine Hundred, Delaware) United States 1916 Unknown Designed by Joseph A. McKee. Construction supervisor was Austin McFadden.23 / 91 The Wild One Formerly known as Giant CoasterSix Flags America (Woodmore, Maryland)Formerly located at Paragon Park (Hull, Massachusetts) United States1986 1917 at Paragon Park2025 1985 at Paragon ParkDesigned by John A. Miller. Construction supervisor was William Strickler. Herbert Schmeck redesigned much of the ride in 1932 and assigned it a new serial number after it was partially destroyed by fire. It was relocated to Wild World (later known as Six Flags America) with assistance from Dinn Corporation in 1986.24 Forest Ride Ross Grove (Aspinwall, Pennsylvania) United States 1917 Unknown 25UnknownEuclid Beach Park (Cleveland, Ohio) United States1917Unknown26a Jack Rabbit Rocky Springs Park (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) United States 1918 192727 Forest Ride Six Gun Territory (formerly known as Willow Grove Park) (Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) United States 1919 192628 Jack Rabbit Clementon Park & Splash World (Clementon, New Jersey) United States 1919 2002 Designed by John A. Miller. Stood out of operation from 2003 to 2007.29 Deep Dipper Carlin's Park (Baltimore, Maryland) United States 1919 1949 Designed by John A. Miller30 Dips Buckroe Beach Park (Hampton, Virginia) United States 1920 1985 Designed by John A. Miller. Construction supervisor was Herbert Schmeck.31 Deep Dipper Frederick Road Park (Baltimore, Maryland) United States 1920 1922 Designed by John A. Miller and Harry C. Baker. Destroyed by fire.32 Bay Shore Dip Formerly known as Dixie FlierBay Shore Park (Hampton, Virginia) United States 1920 1933 Designed by John A. Miller. Construction supervisor was Herbert Schmeck.33 Giant Coaster Formerly known as PippinRocky Glen (Moosic, Pennsylvania) United States 1920 1950 Designed by John A. Miller. Construction supervisor was Herbert Schmeck.34 Alpine Dips Sanatoga Park (Sanatoga, Pennsylvania) United States 1921 1937 Designed by John A. Miller. Construction supervisor was Herbert Schmeck.35 / 88 WildcatFormerly known as Thriller (unknown year to 1929) and Wasco Dips Enna Jettick Park (formerly known as Lakeside Park) (Auburn, New York) United States 1921 1941 Designed by John A. Miller and Herbert Schmeck. Construction supervisors were Frank F. Hoover, Schmeck, and M. J. Mueller. Heavily modified in 1930 and given a new serial number.36 Wildcat Formerly known as Giant Coaster and Deep Dips Merrimack Park (Methuen, Massachusetts) United States 1921 1938 Designed by John A. Miller. Construction supervisor Herbert Schmeck.37 Roller Coaster Woodlawn Park (Trenton, New Jersey) United States 1922 Unknown Designed by John A. Miller. Construction supervisor was C.S. Ellis.38 Dips Schuylkill Park (Tremont, Pennsylvania) United States 1922 1937 Designed by John A. Miller. Construction supervisors were Herbert Schmeck and L. J. Mueller.39 / 97Wildcat