A Toboggan is a portable roller coaster model that was produced by Chance Rides (then Chance Industries) from 1969 to the mid-1970s. The coaster features a small ride vehicle which can hold a maximum of two people. The ride stands 45 feet tall with a track length of 450 feet.
History The coaster was invented by Walter House of Amarillo, Texas. Chance acquired the manufacturing rights and began producing it in 1969. The coaster was designed to be a carnival ride, fitting on two trailers, but several units were purchased by amusement parks where they were set up as permanent attractions. When the ride was first sold in 1969, it had a price tag of $35,000. Chance built 32 Toboggans, four of which still operate as permanent attractions at amusement parks. A few can also be found at traveling carnivals throughout the world.
Ride experience Riders sit in an enclosed car. The car climbs vertically inside a hollow steel tower, then spirals back down around the outside of the same tower. Each vehicle has a single rubber tire with a hydraulic clutch braking system that governs the speed of the vehicle as it descends the tower. The rubber tire engages a center rail that begins halfway through the first spiral. There is a small section of track at the base of the tower with three small dips and two turns to bring the ride vehicle back to the station. A typical ride cycle lasts approximately 70 seconds.
Installations The following is a list of parks and traveling carnivals that are known to have operated a Chance Toboggan. +Ride namePark/carnivalYears operatedNotesTobogganAdventureland1973-1979Sold to Moreno's Park, a traveling carnival in 1979Space MoonAnimália Park2023-presentPurchased from Moreno's ParkTobogganArnolds Park1998Sold to Grand Prix Amusements in 1998Swiss TobogganBoblo Island Amusement Park1969-1978N/ACal Expo Amusement Park1975-1979TobogganCasino Pier1970TobogganCentral Pier Arcade & Speedway1972-1984Featured in the movie The King of Marvin GardensTobogganClacton Pier2009Purchased from Great Yarmouth Pleasure BeachTobogganConneaut Lake Park2002-2006Purchased from a traveling carnival in Texas. Remained SBNO until 2014, when it was dismantled and its remains left in a parking lot. It remained there until 2022.Arctic CatCrystal Beach Park1974N/ADeggeller ShowsN/ASold to Lakemont ParkEarthquake McGoon's Brain RattlerDogpatch USA1969-73Sold to Seven Peaks Water Park DunelandTobogganFamily Kingdom Amusement Park (then known as Grand Strand Amusement Park)1968-1970sN/AFamilyland1972-1982TobogganFuntown Pier1970sTobogganGhost Town Village1980TobogganGrand Prix Amusements1999-2005Purchased from Arnolds Park in 1998TobogganGreat Adventure Amusement Park1978TobogganGreat Yarmouth Pleasure Beach1993-2000Sold to Clacton's PierTobogganHersheypark1972-1977One of two identical Toboggans which operated at the parkTobogganHersheypark1972-1977One of two identical Toboggans which operated at the parkTobogganHuaycha Centro Recreativo2022-presentPurchased from Lakemont ParkSwiss TobogganIn The Game Funtrackers1978-1984TobogganJenkinson's Boardwalk1980sTobogganLakemont Park1991-2016Previously operated with Deggeller Shows. SBNO from 2017 to 2018.N/ALandgraf FranceN/AOperated for a season at Luna Park La PalmyreSwiss TobogganLittle Amerricka1993-presentPurchased from Seven Peaks Water Park DunelandN/AMerimbula's Magic MountainN/AZeppelinMoreno's ParkN/APurchased from Adventureland in 1979TobogganOld Chicago1975-1980TobogganPalace and Casino AmusementsN/AStar WarsParc AvenueN/A-2003TobogganParc Belmont1970s-1983TobogganParque de Diveriones Anita Nueva Aventura2015-presentTobogganPlayland ParkN/A-1979TobogganQueens Park1970-1972Swiss TobogganSanta's Village Amusement and Water Park (then known as Santa's Village)1971-N/ATobogganSeven Peaks Water Park Duneland (then known as Enchanted Forest)N/A-1990Purchased from Dogpatch USA, sold to Little AmerrickaTobogganShaheen's Fun-O-Rama ParkN/ASwamp BuggySix Flags AstroWorld1970-1972TobogganSkerbeck Family CarnivalN/A-2022TobogganSportland Pier1966-1970TobogganStewart Beach Park1980s-1989TobogganTrimper Rides1970s-2009N/AUpper Peninsula State FairN/AN/AXingqinggong ParkN/A
See also
Skydiver (ride) – Ferris wheel variant using passenger vehicles similar to the Toboggan
References
External links Listing of Chance Toboggan coasters at RCDB.com