Rollo Coaster

Rollo Coaster
Ride entrance in August 2008
Idlewild and Soak Zone
LocationIdlewild and Soak Zone
Coordinates40°15′37″N 79°16′53″W / 40.2602°N 79.2814°W / 40.2602; -79.2814
StatusOperating
Opening date1938
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerPhiladelphia Toboggan Coasters
DesignerHerbert Paul Schmeck
Track layoutTerrain out and back
Lift/launch system
Chain lift
Height27 ft (8.2 m)
Drop25 ft (7.6 m)
Length900 ft (270 m)
Speed25 mph (40 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:15
Restraint styleLap bar with seat belt (since 2018)
Height restriction
42 in (107 cm)
TrainsSingle train with 4 cars; riders arranged 2 across in a single row with the exception of the first car which has 2 rows for a total of 10 riders per train.
Rollo Coaster at RCDB

Rollo Coaster is a wooden roller coaster located at Idlewild and Soak Zone near Ligonier, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1938 by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC). 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.

Its original train featured no restraints except for a grab bar. It was designated by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) as an ACE Coaster Classic for the preservation of its original historic ride experience. This designation was rescinded upon the addition of its new trains, which utilize stricter restraints than the designation allows for.

2016 incident and train redesign

On August 11, 2016, four riders boarded Rollo Coaster and the train was dispatched. The train traveled the course normally until the train reached the turn-around and as the train turned around a three year-old rider was ejected from the train, hitting a nearby fence. The train then went through the rest of the course normally. The ejected rider suffered head and chest injuries and was flown to the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

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. 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. 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. Based on this report, the state also recommended amusement parks with similar roller coasters voluntarily take the same actions. 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. It reopened in 2018 without further issue, and has been operating ever since.

Ride experience

The train cresting a hill in 2022

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. Since 2018, restraints include 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. It is located next to the carousel and Flying Aces.

References

  1. ↑ "Coaster Details - Rollo Coaster - Idlewild Park". American Coaster Enthusiasts. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Coaster Awards". www.aceonline.org. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Idlewild Investigative Report Redacted 2 May 2017" (PDF). Internet Archive. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ Berman, Beau (August 11, 2016). "3-year-old falls from Idlewild roller coaster, flown to hospital". WTAE-TV. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  5. ↑ Ortiz, Erik (August 11, 2016). "Young Boy Falls Off Roller Coaster, Rushed to Hospital". NBC News. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ Alexandersen, Christian (May 8, 2017). "Report released on how boy was ejected from Idlewild's Rollo Coaster". PennLive. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  7. ↑ Remmert, Walter (May 2, 2017). "Idlewild SoakZone Investigative Report Redacted 2 May 2017" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Division of Rides and Amusements. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 8, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  8. ↑ "PA Amusement Ride Safety Regulators Issue Findings on August 2016 Idlewild & SoakZone Park Incident" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. May 8, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  9. ↑ Himler, Jeff (April 12, 2018). "Idlewild roller coaster to reopen with more safety restraints, 2 years after boy fell". Tribune-Review. Retrieved April 13, 2018.