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Log flume (ride)

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Pirate Falls at Legoland Windsor, Berkshire, UK.
The Logger's Revenge at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Log flumes (colloquially known as "log rides") originally referred to a special construct used to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain to a sawmill by using flowing water. Today, however, the term is also used to refer to an amusement ride consisting of a water flume and artificial hollow logs or boats. Passengers sit in the logs, which are propelled along the flume by the flow of water.

The ride usually culminates with a rapid descent and splashdown into a body of water, which may happen more than once (normally the largest drop being just before the end). It provides people with an entertaining way to get wet and cool off on a hot summer day, with certain seating sections usually being splashed with more water for a more exciting and wet ride.

Most log flume rides have a height restriction.

History

Walter Knott and Bud Hurlbut ride the Timber Mountain Log Ride at Knott's Berry Farm in 1969
Flumeride, at Liseberg, Sweden. Log flume rides usually consist of troughs with one or more drops.

The first log flume amusement ride is said to be El Aserradero ("The Sawmill" in Spanish), built by amusement company Arrow Development (later known as Arrow Dynamics, and now part of S&S/Arrow) in 1963 at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. The ride proved to be so popular that a second separate flume was opened in 1968. The designer, Bud Hurlbut, drew his inspiration from stories of lumberjacks riding logs down rivers. Another notable log flume is Splash Mountain at the Disney theme parks, based on characters in Song of the South. Log flumes are now a staple at many amusement parks.

Log flumes are a variant of the chute rides that were popular in the United States in the early 20th century and that continue to be built today, usually called Shoot-the-Chutes. The chutes ride consists of a boat that slides down a long chute and splashes into a lake. The oldest existing ride of this type is Boat Chute, constructed in 1926 and 1927, located at Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[1]

Ride design

Log flumes are generally out in the open, though some may contain enclosed or tunneled sections. Enclosed flumes are sometimes referred to as River Caves[dubious – discuss] (such as the "Niagara Falls" flume ride in Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, Malaysia) to set them apart from typical log flumes. "Log Chute" at Mall of America's indoor park Nickelodeon Universe contains sections within a large rocky structure and some out in the open. Disney's Splash Mountain consists of a single trough running in a continuous circuit through the middle of a show building with Audio-Animatronic scenes playing on the left and right of the main flume, with only the largest drops and a few turns positioned place outside the show building.

To increase the probability of being soaked, the flume can be designed to be turbulent, or to run underneath waterfalls. Water cannons (typically coin-operated by passersby) aimed along the path are sometimes installed alongside the flume. Additionally, the exit path from the ride may cross over or go near to the flume, such that departing riders are drenched by the boat currently en route.

Partial list of log flume rides

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Africa

North America

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South America

Asia

Australia

New Zealand

Europe

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See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Log flumes (attraction).
  1. ^ Lake Winnepesaukah. "The Boat Chute". Archived from the original on January 3, 2006. Retrieved May 17, 2006.
  2. ^ Hersheypark Rides - Coal Cracker
  3. ^ a b Thrill Rides at Knoebels
  4. ^ Hersheypark Rides - Tidal Force
  5. ^ Thunder Creek Mountain - Dorney Park
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ Hersheypark Rides - Tiny Timbers
  8. ^ Williams, Patrick (8 December 2011). "Aussie World's first water ride". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  9. ^ Rocky Hollow Log Ride (Dreamworld)
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