Raging Wolf Bobs

Raging Wolf Bobs was a wooden roller coaster located at Geauga Lake amusement park in Ohio. Designed by Curtis D. Summers to resemble Bobs, a popular roller coaster at the defunct Riverview Park in Chicago, Raging Wolf Bobs was constructed by the Dinn Corporation and opened to the public in 1988. It operated until June 16, 2007, following an accident involving the derailing of a train that unexpectedly rolled backward on one of the track's hills. Later that season, park owners Cedar Fair announced the permanent closure of Geauga Lake, sealing the fate of Raging Wolf Bobs.

Raging Wolf Bobs
Raging Wolf Bobs viewed from north
Geauga Lake
LocationGeauga Lake
Coordinates41.352467°N 81.372197°W / 41.352467; -81.372197
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 28, 1988 (1988-05-28)
Closing dateJune 16, 2007 (2007-06-16)
Cost$2,500,000
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerDinn Corporation
DesignerCurtis D. Summers
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height80 ft (24 m)
Length3,426 ft (1,044 m)
Speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration2:00
Max vertical angle50°
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Raging Wolf Bobs at RCDB
Pictures of Raging Wolf Bobs at RCDB

History

Geauga Lake owner Funtime, Inc. planned to add a new roller coaster – the first in ten years – to celebrate the park's centennial anniversary in 1988.[1] Dinn Corporation was hired to install the new ride with the help of Curtis D. Summers, who modeled the design of the roller coaster after Bobs, a famous coaster from the 1920s which operated at Chicago's Riverview Park until 1967.[2][3] After an investment of $2.5 million, Raging Wolf Bobs opened to the public on May 28, 1988.[4] It was marketed with the slogan "The Legend of Terror Returns".[1]

Following the park's permanent closure in 2007, Raging Wolf Bobs was sold in an auction to an unnamed buyer for $2,500 on June 17, 2008. In 2011, the coaster's slow dismantling began, and it was completed by early 2014.

Remains of Raging Wolf Bobs in April 2013

Incident

On June 16, 2007, a train failed to climb a hill and rolled backward. The last car of a train partially derailed in the process, but there were no injuries.[5] The incident, which caused significant damage, sidelined the attraction for the remainder of the season. Geauga Lake owner Cedar Fair announced the permanent closure of the amusement park on September 21, 2007, ending the attraction's run at Geauga Lake. Several years prior to the accident, the ride was retracked by Martin & Vleminckx.[6]

See also

References

  1. Futrell, Jim; Hahner, Dave (June 1, 2015). Geauga Lake: The Funtime Years 1969-1995. Arcadia Publishing. p. 76. ISBN 9781439651612. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  2. "Geauga Lake-Sea World History". Aurora Historical Society. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  3. Carmen, Cheyenne (September 1, 2015). "Riverview Amusement Park, Chicago, illinois". DefunctParks.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  4. "Raging Wolf Bobs Opens at Geauga May 28!". ACE News. Vol. 10 no. 5, 6. Chicago, Illinois: American Coaster Enthusiasts. 1998. p. 3.
  5. "Roller coaster car derails at Geauga Lake". RideAccidents.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  6. "Coaster Repair & Refurbishment". Martin & Vleminckx. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
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