Chance Rides Explained

Chance Rides, LLC
Type:Private
Foundation:Chance Manufacturing: 1961
Chance Rides Manufacturing: 2002
Location:Wichita, Kansas, United States
Key People:Harold Chance, Richard (Dick) Chance, Michael Chance, John Chance, Aaron Landrum
Industry:Amusement ride manufacturing
Products:Roller coasters, thrill rides, family rides, gentle rides
Subsid:Chance Morgan

Chance Rides is a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer. Originally founded in 1961, the current company was formed on May 16, 2002, when the former Chance Industries Inc. emerged from bankruptcy. The main office and manufacturing facility are located in Wichita, Kansas.

History

Chance Manufacturing was incorporated in 1961 by Richard H. (Harold) Chance. Harold Chance had been involved in the amusement business since 1946, building small trains for the Ottaway Amusement Company. He designed a narrow gauge replica of the C. P. Huntington, a well-known steam locomotive built in 1863 for the Central Pacific Railroad.[1] Titled by the same name, Chance's C. P. Huntington is the company's most successful product line. In 1967, Chance began producing Starliner Trams under the subsidiary Chance Coach. In 1970, Chance acquired the assets of the Allan Herschell Company. Richard G. Chance (Dick Chance) assumed control of the company and formed Chance Industries, Inc. in 1985 to oversee the various divisions – Chance Rides, Chance Coach, and Chance Operations. In December 1986, Chance then acquired Bradley & Kaye, a ride manufacturer specialized in children's rides and carousel figures.[2]

Modern era

For several years, Chance Rides Manufacturing products were sold under the brand Chance Morgan. In 2011, the company reintroduced the Chance Rides brand which encompasses Chance Morgan Coasters, Inc. and Chance Rides Manufacturing. On September 17, 2011, trade publication Amusement Today presented Chance Rides with the Golden Ticket Award for Supplier of the Year, in honor of the company's 50th anniversary.

In 2023, Chance Rides was sold to Missouri-based private equity firm Permanent Equity.[3]

Products

Trains

Chance Rides began to fabricate their 2 ft narrow gauge C. P. Huntington locomotive in 1961. These locomotives can be powered by gasoline, diesel, propane or electric engines; as of 2024, only the electric model is being offered. Its drive wheels are not powered, but roll on the rails while fake side rods reciprocate in and out of fake cylinders. Power is instead provided by the front and rear trucks.

With more than 400 examples built as of 2022, the C. P. Huntington has become the most popular park train since the Allan Herschell Company merged into Chance Industries in 1970 and production of the S-24 Iron Horse train ceased. Locomotives and coaches can be customized in a variety of ways.

Carousels

Chance Carrousels (deliberately spelled with two "R"s) were introduced in 1971 following the acquisition of the Allan Herschell Company the previous year. Chance modified the Herschell design giving it a more ornate style. After Chance purchased Bradley & Kaye in December 1986, Chance was able to use the molds and manufacturing rights to 62 carousel figures produced by Bradley & Kaye owner, David Bradley. He had carefully reproduced prized carousel animals from famous carvers over the previous 20 years and new molds were cast at the Chance facility under his direction, until Bradley died in 1988.[4] These famous reproductions with spectacular detail have been included on Chance carrousels since the late 1980s. With the merger of the D. H. Morgan line of carousels, some of the unique Morgan figures have been added to the collection as well. Although fiberglass, the magnificent detail and menagerie of different styles of horses and other figures have become a trademark of Chance Rides carrousels.

Ferris wheels

The first Ferris wheel from Chance, the Astro Wheel, was sold to showman Don Franklin and debuted at the 1967 Iowa State Fair. It featured 16 cars with two passengers per car.[5] The first park model, an 80-foot Giant Wheel, was built in 1975 at Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota.[6] It features 18 cars holding four passengers per car and is still in operation. The Giant Wheel/Century Wheel was introduced in various sizes in both park and portable models in 1988.[7]

In 2006, Chance worked with Ronald Bussink Professional Rides of Switzerland and Dutch Wheels BV, a division of Vekoma Rides, to produce larger wheels such as the Niagara SkyWheel which stands 53.30NaN0 tall.[8] It features 42 air-conditioned cars seating eight passengers per car.[9] According to Chance Rides director Angus Jenkins, the larger wheels are known as observation wheels as opposed to Ferris wheels, since they carry riders in enclosed cars rather than in open seats.[10]

On October 19, 2012, Chance Rides announced a long term license agreement with Bussink Design GmbH for the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell the R80XL Giant Wheel in North America.[11] Chance Rides will market the R80XL, which is over 2500NaN0 tall, under an affiliate company, Chance American Wheels. The first R80XL wheel was manufactured by Maurer German Wheels in Munich, Germany, and was delivered to the city early in 2013.[12] The first U.S. version built by Chance was the Capital Wheel at the National Harbor, Md. It opened May 23, 2014.[13] [14] Chance Rides/Chance American Wheels will continue to manufacturer and sell R60 wheels in North America under an exclusive license from Dutch Wheels BV.[8]

Notable wheels include:

Roller coasters

Chance Manufacturing's first coaster was the Toboggan, a portable ride in which a small vehicle climbed vertically up a tower then spiraled back down around the same tower. The ride was invented by Walter House of Amarillo, Texas, and Chance acquired the manufacturing rights and started producing it in 1969. It 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. Chance manufactured 32 of these units, two of which still operate at a permanent park.[24] In 1998 Chance introduced the Big Dipper children's coaster. With the integration of the D. H. Morgan line into Chance Rides in 2001, the company acquired track manufacturing technology and the ability to offer a variety of coaster designs. D. H. Morgan was an offshoot of Arrow Development, original developer of tubular steel track, first used on Disney's Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction. In 2006, Chance formed an alliance with Vekoma.[25] Chance Rides represented Vekoma in North America and manufactured the steel track for select projects. On October 17, 2012 Chance Rides and Vekoma discontinued their agreement to produce rides together for the North American market.[26]

List of roller coasters

As of 2023, Chance Rides has built 44 roller coasters around the world.[27]

Name Model Park Country Opened Status Ref
Toboggan Toboggan United States [28]
Toboggan Toboggan dventureland (New York)Adventureland United States [29]
Toboggan Toboggan Jenkinson's Boardwalk United States [30]
Toboggan Toboggan Great Adventure Amusement Park United States [31]
Star Wars Toboggan Parc Avenue (amusement park)Parc Avenue France [32]
Toboggan Toboggan Playland Park (Illinois)Playland Park United States [33]
Toboggan Toboggan United States [34]
Swiss Toboggan Toboggan Canada [35]
Toboggan Toboggan Shaheen's Fun-O-Rama Park United States [36]
Toboggan Toboggan Central Pier Arcade & Speedway United States [37]
Toboggan Toboggan Funtown Pier United States [38]
Toboggan Toboggan United States [39]
Toboggan Toboggan Sportland Pier United States 1966 [40]
Swamp Buggy Toboggan United States 1970 [41]
Toboggan Toboggan Parc Belmont Canada 1970 [42]
Toboggan Toboggan United States 1970 [43]
Toboggan Toboggan United States 1970 [44]
Swiss Toboggan Toboggan United States 1971 [45]
Toboggan Toboggan United States 1972 [46] & [47]
Arctic Cat Toboggan Canada 1974 [48]
Toboggan Cal Expo Amusement Park United States 1975 [49]
Swiss Toboggan Toboggan In The Game Funtrackers United States 1978 [50]
Toboggan Toboggan Stewart Beach Park United States 1980 [51]
Toboggan Toboggan United States 1980 [52]
Toboggan United States 1991 [53]
Wild & Wooly Toboggan
Formerly Toboggan
Formerly Earthquake McGoon's Brain Rattler 		Toboggan Little Amerricka
Seven Peaks Water Park Duneland
Dogpatch USA 		United States 1993
1989 to 1990
1969 to 1988 		[54]
[55]
[56]
Big Dipper United States 1998 [57]
Woodstock Express
Formerly Big Dipper 		Big Dipper United States 1999 [58]
[59]
Gold Rush Big Dipper United States 1999 [60]
Toboggan Toboggan Grand Prix Amusements
Arnolds Park 		Canada 1999
1998 		[61]
[62]
Big Dipper United States 2001 [63]
Toboggan Toboggan United States 2002 [64]
The Joker Funhouse Coaster
Formerly Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster 		Big Dipper Custom United States 2004 [65]
Toboggan Toboggan Clacton Pier
Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach 		United Kingdom 2009
1993 to 2000 		[66]
[67]
Hyper GT-X Coaster United States 2014 [68]
Toboggan Toboggan Parque de Diversiones Anita Nueva Aventura Mexico 2015 [69]
Family Roller Coaster (Wildlife World)Family Roller Coaster Big Dipper Custom Wildlife World United States 2016 [70]
Big Dipper Custom United States 2019 [71]
Toboggan Toboggan Parque de la Huaycha Peru 2022 [72]
Space Moon
Toboggan 		Toboggan Animalia
Adventureland 		Brazil
United States 		2023
1973 to 1979 		[73]
Hot Wheels Boneshaker: The Ultimate Ride Family Mattel Adventure Park (Arizona) United States 2024 [74]
Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer Hyper GT-X Looping Coaster Mattel Adventure Park (Arizona) United States 2024 [75]
Hot Wheels Boneshaker: The Ultimate Ride Family Mattel Adventure Park (Kansas) United States 2026 [76]
Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer Hyper GT-X Looping Coaster Mattel Adventure Park (Kansas) United States 2026 [77]

Current models

Past models

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Southern Pacific Railroad Steam Locomotive No. 1. California Department of Parks and Recreation. June 2, 2014.
  2. Web site: About the Author . Maker of Dreams . August 23, 2016 . In December 1986, when Chance Rides, Inc. acquired Bradley & Kaye, a Long Beach, California based ride manufacturer specializing in children’s rides and carrousel animals, Swinson saw a new opportunity for Chance Rides in the shopping center industry, which he was already familiar with because of his commercial real estate background. . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20150213010146/http://makerofdreams.com/about-the-author/ . February 13, 2015 .
  3. Web site: Wichita amusement park ride manufacturer sold to private firm . 2023-07-01 . www.kake.com . en.
  4. Web site: Beverly Park and Ponyland: The 'Kiddieland' that Inspired Walt Disney . Meares . Hadley . KCET . November 1, 2013 . February 5, 2015 .
  5. Book: Chance, Harold. The Book of Chance. 2004. Wichita Press. Wichita, Kansas. 0-9649065-0-3. 44.
  6. Book: Chance, Harold. The Book of Chance. 2004. Wichita Press. Wichita, Kansas. 0-9649065-0-3. 56.
  7. News: Ferris Wheel Comes Full Circle. May 20, 2001. New York Times. January 17, 2016.
  8. Dutch Wheels expands its activities into the North American market. October 31, 2012. Amusement Today. November 4, 2012.
  9. Web site: One of a Kind 'Giant Wheel' Debuts in Niagara Falls, Canada. PRWeb. August 23, 2020. July 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200731131014/http://www.prweb.com/releases/niagara/skywheel/prweb403069.htm. dead.
  10. Web site: Chance Rides of Wichita building 175-foot-tall observation wheel for resort outside D.C.. Voorhis. Dan. January 16, 2014. The Wichita Eagle. June 2, 2014. June 5, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140605055615/http://www.kansas.com/2014/01/16/3232787/chance-rides-of-wichita-building.html. dead.
  11. Web site: R80XL Giant Wheel – CHANCE RIDES.
  12. Chance Rides signs exclusive deal with Bussink Design . October 20, 2012 . Amusement Today . October 21, 2012.
  13. Web site: Capital Ferris Wheel En Route to National Harbor. CBS DC. February 18, 2014. September 2, 2018.
  14. Web site: Bussink Design sets new World Record with R80 XL! . Bussink Design . 15 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150403105022/http://www.r80xl.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=6&cntnt01returnid=62 . 3 April 2015 . dead .
  15. News: Rice . Bill . Much to do in Lake George . Schenedtady Gazette . June 10, 1989 . October 22, 2012 .
  16. Web site: Cleveland I-X Center . April 10, 2012 . About.com . October 21, 2012 . January 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130117091408/http://cleveland.about.com/od/partyvenuesandcaterers/p/ixcenter.htm . dead .
  17. Web site: I-X Center Facility Overview . 1999 . I-X Center . October 21, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121101063938/http://www.ixcenter.com/dynamic/Facility_Overview . November 1, 2012 .
  18. Web site: Soaring 125 feet over Canton: What's it like atop the Hall of Fame Village Red Zone wheel?. The Repository. March 17, 2023. Balint. Ed. April 30, 2023.
  19. Chance Giant Wheel Draws Guests to new addition at Hersheypark . Chance Rides. July 18, 1996.
  20. Chance Giant Wheel and other Chance products help Clementon Amusement Park cash in on family appeal . Chance Rides. August 6, 1997.
  21. Web site: Breathtaking views of Niagara Falls Aboard the First Chance Morgan R60 Giant Wheel . 2012-10-21.
  22. Web site: New R60 Giant Wheel Coming to Myrtle Beach, SC . 2012-10-21.
  23. Web site: Chance Rides Blog. August 8, 2012. Chance Rides. October 21, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121202020640/http://blog.chancerides.com/blog-0/bid/204508/Seattle-Great-Wheel-adds-Bling-on-the-Waterfront. 2012-12-02. dead.
  24. Book: Chance, Harold. The Book of Chance. 2004. Wichita Press. Wichita, Kansas. 0-9649065-0-3. 48.
  25. Web site: Vekoma Rides Manufacturing BV - Sales & Marketing. 25 February 2012 .
  26. Chance Rides & Vekoma Rides decide to discontinue North America coop . October 17, 2012 . Amusement Today . October 18, 2012.
  27. Web site: Chance Rides (Wichita, Kansas, United States). rcdb.com.
  28. Toboggan. Trimper's Rides. 301. 28 October 2013.
  29. Toboggan. Adventureland. 1588. 28 October 2013.
  30. Toboggan. Jenkinson's Boardwalk. 1858. 28 October 2013.
  31. Toboggan. Great Adventure Amusement Park. 2190. 28 October 2013.
  32. Toboggan. Parc Avenue. 2376. 28 October 2013.
  33. Toboggan. Playland Park. 2683. 28 October 2013.
  34. Toboggan. Old Chicago. 2783. 28 October 2013.
  35. Swiss Toboggan. Boblo Island. 2801. 28 October 2013.
  36. Toboggan. Shaheen's Fun-O-Rama Park. 4347. 28 October 2013.
  37. Toboggan. Central Pier Arcade & Speedway. 12578. 28 October 2013.
  38. Toboggan. Funtown Pier. 12580. 28 October 2013.
  39. Toboggan. Family Kingdom Amusement Park. 14692. 28 October 2013.
  40. Toboggan. Sportland Pier. 2809. 28 October 2013.
  41. Swamp Buggy. Six Flags AstroWorld. 745. 28 October 2013.
  42. Toboggan. Parc Belmont. 2731. 28 October 2013.
  43. Toboggan. Casino Pier. 12583. 28 October 2013.
  44. Toboggan. Queens Park. 18279. 24 December 2021.
  45. Swiss Toboggan. Santa's Village AZoosment Park. 2680. 28 October 2013.
  46. Toboggan. Hersheypark. 2030. 28 October 2013.
  47. Toboggan. Hersheypark. 2031. 28 October 2013.
  48. Arctic Cat. Crystal Beach. 6620. 28 October 2013.
  49. Unknown. Cal Expo Amusement Park. 9821. 28 October 2013.
  50. Swiss Toboggan. In The Game Funtrackers. 18725. 24 December 2021.
  51. Toboggan. Stewart Beach Park. 2635. 28 October 2013.
  52. Toboggan. Ghost Town Village. 15960. 28 October 2013.
  53. Toboggan. Lakemont Park. 247. 28 October 2013.
  54. Wild & Wooly Toboggan. Little Amerricka. 268. 28 October 2013.
  55. Toboggan. Seven Peaks Water Park Duneland. 1665. 28 October 2013.
  56. Earthquake McGoon's Brain Rattler. Dogpatch USA. 2174. 28 October 2013.
  57. Joust. Dutch Wonderland. 509. 28 October 2013.
  58. Woodstock Express. Michigan's Adventure. 15124. 24 December 2021.
  59. Big Dipper. Michigan's Adventure. 564. 28 October 2013.
  60. Gold Rush. Wild Adventures. 571. 28 October 2013.
  61. Toboggan. Grand Prix Amusements. 464. 28 October 2013.
  62. Toboggan. Arnolds Park. 517. 28 October 2013.
  63. Wile E. Coyote's Grand Canyon Blaster. Six Flags Over Texas. 1117. 28 October 2013.
  64. Toboggan. Conneaut Lake Park. 1671. 28 October 2013.
  65. Joker Funhouse Coaster. Six Flags Over Georgia. 2655. 28 October 2013.
  66. Toboggan. Clacton Pier. 7625. 28 October 2013.
  67. Toboggan. Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach. 813. 28 October 2013.
  68. Lightning Run. Kentucky Kingdom. 7982. 28 October 2013.
  69. Toboggan. Parque de Diversiones Anita Nueva Aventura. 20169. 24 December 2021.
  70. Family Roller Coaster. Wildlife World. 7410. 28 October 2013.
  71. Nickelodeon Slime Streak. Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park. 16775. 28 October 2013.
  72. Toboggan. Parque de la Huaycha. 21137. 24 December 2021.
  73. Space Moon. Animalia. 18343. 24 December 2021.
  74. Hot Wheels Boneshaker: The Ultimate Ride. Mattel Adventure Park. 19724. 24 December 2021.
  75. Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer. Mattel Adventure Park. 19394. 28 October 2013.
  76. Hot Wheels Boneshaker: The Ultimate Ride. Mattel Adventure Park. 21694. 24 December 2021.
  77. Hot Wheels Twin Mill Racer. Mattel Adventure Park. 21695. 28 October 2013.
  78. Web site: Chance Rides Carrousels. 2013 . Chance Rides, Inc. . 1 July 2013.
  79. Web site: Aviator . 2013 . chancerides.com . Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013 . 11 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130711005238/http://www.chancerides.com/rides/aviator.html . dead .
  80. Web site: CP Huntington Train – CHANCE RIDES.
  81. Web site: Electric C.P. Huntington Train – CHANCE RIDES . 2023-11-23 . www.chancerides.com.
  82. Web site: Century Wheel . 2013 . chancerides.com. Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013.
  83. Web site: DGW 35 Gondola Wheel – CHANCE RIDES. 2018-01-02. 2018-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20181004144927/https://www.chancerides.com/dgw35_gondolawheel/. dead.
  84. Web site: DGW 45 Gondola Wheel – CHANCE RIDES. 2018-01-02. 2018-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20181004103853/https://www.chancerides.com/dgw45_gondolawheel/. dead.
  85. Web site: Electric Cars . 2013 . chancerides.com . Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013 . 11 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130711005251/http://www.chancerides.com/rides/electric_cars.html . dead .
  86. Web site: Family Coasters — Big Dipper . 2013 . chancerides.com. Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013.
  87. Web site: Freestyle . 2013 . chancerides.com. Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013.
  88. Web site: Giant Wheel . 2013 . chancerides.com. Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013.
  89. Web site: Hypercoaster . . 2013 . chancerides.com . Chance Rides, Inc. . 1 July 2013.
  90. Web site: Hyper GT-X Coaster . 2013 . chancerides.com. Chance Rides, Inc. . October 21, 2013.
  91. Web site: GXL 200 Wheel – CHANCE RIDES. 2020-08-23. 2020-08-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806002822/https://www.chancerides.com/gxl200_wheel/. dead.
  92. Web site: Chance Rides Wheels . 2013 . chancerides.com. Chance Rides, Inc. . October 21, 2013.
  93. Web site: Chance Rides Revolution . 2013 . chancerides.com . Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013 . 11 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130711005301/http://www.chancerides.com/rides/revolution_index.html . dead .
  94. Web site: Unicoaster . 2013 . chancerides.com . Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013 . 12 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130712094354/http://www.chancerides.com/rides/unicoaster.html . dead .
  95. Web site: Unicoaster 2.0 – CHANCE RIDES.
  96. Web site: Wipout . 2013 . chancerides.com . Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013.
  97. Book: Chance, Harold. The Book of Chance. 2004. Wichita Press. Wichita, Kansas. 0-9649065-0-3. 35–67.
  98. Web site: Chaos . Burton . David . Amusement Ride Extravaganza . October 21, 2013.
  99. Web site: Inverter . Burton . David . Amusement Ride Extravaganza . October 21, 2013.
  100. Web site: Rides & Attraction — Music Fest . Helm & Sons Amusements . October 21, 2013.
  101. Web site: Observation Tower . 2013 . chancerides.com . Chance Rides, Inc. . 8 July 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130719180013/http://www.chancerides.com/rides/o_tower.html . 19 July 2013 .
  102. Web site: Chance Rides service bulletin . Leisure Technical Consultants Limited . October 21, 2013.
  103. Book: Hollis, Tim . Images of America: Six Flags Over Georgia . 2006 . Arcadia Publishing . Charleston, S.C. . 0-7385-4358-6 . 101.

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