Rollo Coaster
{{Short description|Roller coaster in United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
|name=Rollo Coaster
|image= Rollo Coaster Entrance.jpg
|caption= Ride entrance in August 2008
|location=Idlewild and Soak Zone
|type=Wood
|status=Operating
|opened=1938
|manufacturer=Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
|designer=Herbert Paul Schmeck
|track=Out and Back
|lift=Chain lift
|height_ft=27
|drop_ft=25
|length_ft=900
|speed_mph=25
|inversions=0
|duration=1:15
|cost=
|gforce=
|restriction_in=42
|rcdb_number=272
|coordinates={{coord|40.2602|-79.2814|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
}}
Rollo Coaster is a wooden roller coaster located at Idlewild and Soak Zone near Ligonier, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1938 by Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC).{{cite web|title=Coaster Details - Rollo Coaster - Idlewild Park|url=http://www.aceonline.org/census/CoasterDetails.aspx?ID=13228|website=American Coaster Enthusiasts|accessdate=December 9, 2016}} It was Idlewild's first and only roller coaster for decades, until the larger Wild Mouse coaster was erected in 1993. The coaster temporarily closed in 2016 following an incident, but reopened in 2018.
History
Rollo Coaster opened in 1938, and was built with lumber sourced directly from the park, using a sawmill built nearby specifically for the project.
Built over a hillside, Rollo Coaster is an out and back coaster. It uses skid brakes operated manually with a lever. The train consists of four cars. The first car has two rows, and the other cars have one row. Each row has two seats. It is located next to the carousel and Flying Aces. Its original train featured nothing but a grab bar for restraints, but its current train features seatbelts and individual ratcheting lap bars.
While Rollo Coaster's only elements are several small hills, it uses the park's topography to its advantage. Built over steep terrain, the ride features many tight twists and turns, which intensify the ride and its sense of speed.
Rollo Coaster was once designated by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) as an ACE Coaster Classic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/?type=1|title=Coaster Awards|website=www.aceonline.org|access-date=August 12, 2016}} This designation was rescinded upon the addition of its new trains, which utilize stricter restraints than the designation allows for.
= Incident =
On August 11, 2016, a three-year-old boy was thrown from Rollo Coaster. The boy sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a Pittsburgh hospital by helicopter, where he was listed in critical condition with head and chest injuries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/08/11/child-falls-pennsylvania-roller-coaster/88569666/|title=Child falls from Pa. roller coaster in 3rd U.S. park incident in 4 days|last=Bacon|first=John|date=August 11, 2016|website=USA Today|publisher=|access-date=August 12, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/local/westmoreland/2016/08/11/Idlewild-for-reports-of-child-who-fell-from-roller-coaster-pennsylvania/stories/201608110188|title=Three-year-old boy falls from roller coaster at Idlewild|last1=Silver|first1=Jonathan|date=August 11, 2016|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|accessdate=April 13, 2018|last2=Goldstein|first2=Andrew|language=en}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wtae.com/article/3-year-old-falls-from-idlewild-roller-coaster-flown-to-hospital/7481590|title=3-year-old falls from Idlewild roller coaster, flown to hospital|last1=Berman|first1=Beau|date=August 12, 2016|work=WTAE|accessdate=April 13, 2018|last2=Brennan|first2=Kelly|language=en}} The boy was in the hospital for two months before being released.{{cite news|url=http://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/11272376-74/coaster-park-friday|title=Jeannette boy hurt at Idlewild back home|last1=Signorini|first1=Renatta|date=October 7, 2016|work=Tribune-Review|accessdate=April 13, 2018|language=en}}
The ride was closed pending an investigation and remained closed for the remainder of the 2016 season, as well as all of the 2017 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/child-falls-roller-coaster-idlewild-theme-park-rushed-hospital-n628421|title=Young Boy Falls Off Roller Coaster, Rushed to Hospital|last=Ortiz|first=Erik|date=August 11, 2016|website=NBC News|publisher=|access-date=August 12, 2016}} In May 2017, the Division of Rides and Amusements of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture released its investigative report, detailing how the ride's restraints were not extensive enough to secure a rider as small as the three-year-old boy had been.{{cite news|url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/05/report_released_on_how_boy_was.html|title=Report released on how boy was ejected from Idlewild's Rollo Coaster|last1=Alexandersen|first1=Christian|date=May 8, 2017|work=PennLive|accessdate=April 13, 2018}} In addition, the report noted several instances of excessive wear and movement of the train hitches and tracks, but it wasn't known whether these factors caused or influenced the accident. The report listed several requirements for the ride to be reopened, including the addition of seat belts, a reevaluation of minimum rider height, and a ride evaluation by a professional engineer.{{cite web|url=http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/consumer_protection/amusement%20rides/documents/idlewild%20%20soakzone%20investigative%20report%20redacted%202%20may%202017.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808155553/https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/consumer_protection/amusement%20rides/documents/idlewild%20%20soakzone%20investigative%20report%20redacted%202%20may%202017.pdf|archive-date=2023-08-08|url-status=dead|title=Idlewild SoakZone Investigative Report Redacted 2 May 2017|last1=Remmert|first1=Walter|date=May 2, 2017|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Division of Rides and Amusements|accessdate=April 13, 2018}} Based on this report, the state also recommended amusement parks with similar roller coasters voluntarily make take the same actions.{{cite web|url=http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/consumer_protection/amusement%20rides/Documents/05.08.2017%20-%20AG%20%20Idlewild%20report.pdf|title=PA Amusement Ride Safety Regulators Issue Findings on August 2016 Idlewild & SoakZone Park Incident|date=May 8, 2017|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture|accessdate=April 13, 2018}} Idlewild announced they had purchased a new train for Rollo Coaster from PTC, which included seat belts and lap bars, and that they expected the ride to resume operation for the 2018 season, pending a state inspection.{{cite news|url=http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/13526393-74/idlewild-roller-coaster-to-run-again-with-more-safety-restraints-to-run|title=Idlewild roller coaster to reopen with more safety restraints, 2 years after boy fell|last1=Himler|first1=Jeff|date=April 12, 2018|work=Tribune-Review|accessdate=April 13, 2018}} It reopened in 2018 without further issue, and has been operating ever since.
References
External links
- [http://www.idlewild.com Idlewild website]
{{ACE Coaster Classics}}
Category:Roller coasters in Pennsylvania