Log Chute
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Log Chute (formerly known as "Paul Bunyan's Log Chute") is a log flume attraction located in Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America. It has been open since the Mall of America debuted in 1992. The majority of the ride takes place inside a landscaped cave/mine. It has two lift hills and two drops. The vehicles of this flume are designed to spray water away from the boats, only misting the riders, as the attraction is indoors. It is one of the most popular rides at the park.
The ride is based on the story of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, as well as on the general theme of American colonialism and logging. It begins in a large cave in which the first lift hill is located. After ascending the hill, the logs float through alternating short open-air and tunnel sections. The logs then re-enter the main cave, dropping out of it in the first drop shortly after. The riders then enter a large cave with huge, animated statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, before ascending to the ride's highest point (one of the highest spots in the park) and dropping down the larger of the two drops.
[edit] 1998 Accident
On Saturday, August 1, 1998, a 12-year-old boy fell off the log chute. As his log-themed boat neared the top of the chute, the boy began to panic and stood up to reach a railing. The ride was stopped, but the boat began to fall. Losing his grip, he fell off the chute, falling on to the landscaping rocks. O.D. Hopkins Associates, Inc., the manufacturer of the the ride, inspected it and found that the ride was in proper working order. The boy died from the injuries received after falling off the chute. It was the park's (then Camp Snoopy) first major accident.
[edit] 2007 Accident
On November 4, 2007, a conveyor belt malfunctioned, causing one log-themed boat to crash into another. There were only minor injuries. The ride was inspected and fixed. The ride reopened on November 15, 2007.
[edit] References
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