“Most of the parks big enough to buy one have bought one, and those that might not have one, had one at one time and removed it. “One of the challenges in the United States is market saturation,” says Futrell. Now log flumes can be found just about everywhere, including new parks in China and the Middle East, but the older rides are beginning to disappear, both because of the aging fiberglass construction and because of the ride’s ubiquity. “Really, what it’s designed to do is to make people happy.Some kept the simple logging theme, while others built more elaborate versions, like the Timber Mountain Log Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm. Disney’s Splash Mountain turned the flume ride into a perilous journey complete with animatronics, tunnels, and other flourishes.Īccording to Futrell, the other big innovation that helped spread the log flume came in the ‘80s when the Hopkins Rides company, formerly a manufacturer of ski lifts, began selling cheaper, sturdier log flumes that used cement troughs, which were a more affordable option than the usual fiberglass for smaller and midsize parks. Reitz may not know what it looks like yet, but the goal for Hot Wheels would be the same as for Apocalypse or any other theme-park ride. A ride “wouldn’t have to be anything crazy or scary.” “I remember the orange plastic track, making the loops with my friends,” Reitz said. The accident occurred at the Saw Mill Log Flume ride at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., USA Today reports.
Perhaps one day Reitz will work on something he has dreamed up: a ride based on Hot Wheels, the popular die-cast cars. But there’s no fear of ‘Wow, is it safe?’ ”Īfter that, Reitz and the other engineers can move on to something new, such as the world’s tallest drop tower, Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, which will open later this year at Magic Mountain, a Six Flags park in California. I want to make sure there’s nothing strange that’s going on. Subject: Six Flags Over Texas Amusement parks Log Flume Amusement rides. Category: Business and Industry, Cities and Towns, Daily Life. And finally, Reitz hops on for a few test rides, sitting in the front, back and middle of the train. Description: Passengers on Log Flume ride at Six Flags Over Texas, April 1965. Dummies are used to measure how much force the riders feel. Arrow Development also built several other log flumes at other amusements parks like Log Jamboree, which opened in 1968 at Six Flags Over Georgia. It was constructed by Arrow Development, and the ride is still in operation. They run empty trains to test how well it stops and whether it goes as fast as needed. The first modern day log flume ride opened in 1963 as the El Aserradero at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. Standing up and going definitely feels different.”Įngineers then check the computerized parts of the ride. “I think one of the things that is fantastic is that it’s a stand-up,” Reitz said. The ride opened June 7 at Six Flags America in Prince George’s County. Reitz, who grew up in Montgomery County, recently gave KidsPost a preview of what’s in store for his hometown park: Apocalypse, a stand-up coaster that loops, corkscrews and dives 10 stories at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. He’s one of a handful of people in the company who help dream up the next exciting, or possibly terrifying, ride to open at one of the parks.
Reitz is an engineer with Six Flags, which runs 19 amusement parks. Passengers sit in the logs, which are propelled along the. Only one of the two circuits operates on quieter days. Guests float around a watery circuit before plunging down a final hill into a drop zone below. Luckily it’s just one part of his job, and he’s not trying to set any records. Log flumes are amusement rides consisting of a water flume and (artificial) hollow logs or boats. Log Flume Opening Date 1 January 1971 Log Flume is a traditional water ride, which features two near-identical circuits. This wouldn’t be a problem for most 42-year-olds, but Reitz gets paid to ride coasters.
But now “when you start flipping me upside down more than three times, I have to take a break.” “I used to be able to ride 10 times in a row,” Reitz said. Michael Reitz admits that he can’t ride roller coasters as much as he could a few years ago.
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