Shoot the Chutes
It’s a hot summer day and you find yourself on the apex of a theme park favorite, the water flume ride. Whitewater cascades down the slope as you peer down. It seems much steeper than it did on the ground now that you’re at the top.
You wonder if this was a good idea, but it’s too late now.
Gravity will take hold momentarily. But first; the stomach-churning second of physics that registers to one’s body as a dropping, falling sensation. Then comes pure acceleration as you slide down the chute into the water below, skipping and splashing to a gradual stop.
Any fears you had at the top of the lift-hill have now transformed into joy as you laugh and over dramatize how soaked you got.
This is a familiar summer ritual at theme parks all around the world. But this isn’t “Splash Mountain” or “Tidal Wave.” It’s not even the knock-off versions with the “iffy” looking water you see at the county fair.
It’s called the “Shoot the Chutes,” and was the great-granddad of all water drop rides over a hundred years ago!
This archaic amusement is immediately recognizable as a water flume type ride.
It has a chain lift and tall wooden superstructure, with a channel of water circling around to a sloped drop. Whereas the flume rides of today usually splash down in a channel of water to come to a stop, (and make a huge wave for dramatic effect,) the antique versions had one small difference.
The ride vehicles were little flat-bottom boats that held about ten people. The chutes shooted the boats into a giant splashdown pool. They freely skipped like a stone across the water; bouncing and splashing in a dramatic fashion until coming to a stop. There was a “captain” who rode in the back to make sure the boat stopped safely and gondolier it back to unload riders and return to the chain lift.
There were variations of this basic design at other “Shoot the Chutes” type rides all over the country. Some had riders ride up the chain lift in the boat, and others had a separate funicular style elevator. It went up a dry side of the flume to the top for loading into the boat. Others had an elaborate “boathouse” type enclosed loading area at the top. Some even had a café or observation deck up there. Another common feature was a bridge spanning across the bottom of the slope so people could observe the boats sliding down the chute and get splashed.
Many years ago there were a few “Shoot the Chutes” here in LA. There was one at the Venice Pier, the Pike in Long Beach and there was even one just south of downtown Los Angeles!
“Chutes Park” used to be where “the Reef” Arts complex sits currently. It opened around 1890 and had a Baseball stadium, roller coaster, theater; and of course, a “Shoot the Chutes” ride. I’m not sure what the downfall the Chutes ride was; but it was gone by 1915. The concert hall and baseball stadium hung around for a few years after though.
I think it’s pretty rad that a common theme park ride has roots so far back. I guess I always figured most rides of today originated from the 1930s or something. Despite being from so long ago, it would seem surprisingly sophisticated even to modern eyes. Especially considering another common ride at the time was a big barrel with seats and a handle. A guy would literally just roll you down a slope. (but more on that next time.)
