Log Chute

Log Chute
Nickelodeon Universe
Status	Operating
Opening date	August 11, 1992
General statistics
Type	Log flume
Manufacturer	Hopkins Rides
Lift system	2 conveyor belt lifts
Drop	40 ft (12 m)
Height Restriction	36 in (91 cm) with adult, 47 in (120 cm) alone

Log Chute, formerly known as Paul Bunyan's Log Chute, is a log flume attraction sponsored by Xcel Energy (formerly sponsored by Brawny) at Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington, Minnesota. It opened on August 11, 1992 and is one of the mall's oldest surviving acquisitions from Knott's Camp Snoopy. The ride is based on the tall tale of Paul Bunyan and is set in a mountain lumber mill featuring two lift hills and two drops as passengers experience singing animatronics, including Paul Bunyan (modeled after the Brawny mascot) and Babe the Blue Ox.

The ride is also the site of Harmon Killebrew's 520-foot home run record at the former Metropolitan Stadium and is marked by one of the stadium's original chairs located on the wall above the ride.

Theme song

At various points throughout the ride a theme song can be heard. It has a catchy melody and words that seem to tell a fact of a historical figure, presumably Paul Bunyan. The words to the song are as follows:

Everywhere down in Lumberville,
born to every Jack and Jill.
You will hear the mighty call of a man named Paul.
He's the biggest lumberjack of all.
Yo ho! Look out below.
With the whack of an axe it falls.
Look out below, when you hear them call, "Timber!"

Accidents

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 onto the landscaping rocks. O.D. Hopkins Associates, Inc., the manufacturer of 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)'s first major 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 re-opened on November 15, 2007.^[1]

Trivia

• This is the only ride that is a complete original from Camp Snoopy. When parts of the park closed for its Nickelodeon re-branding, they decided to keep this attraction open due to it having a Minnesota theme, making it the oldest operating ride in the park.
• The Pepsi Orange Streak roller coaster goes through the ride. Riders on the Streak are allowed to wave to employees and boarding guests. The Streak also passes a miner waving to guests and climbs a chain lift hill through the mountain.
• On the first lift hill the logo of the Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in Buena Park, California is visible.
• Log Chute is the only ride in Nickelodeon Universe with animatronics.

References

1. StarTribune/Local, Updated: November 15, 2007 - 2:35 PM written by PAUL WALSH. http://www.startribune.com/local/11821951.html

Coordinates: 44°51′17.68″N 93°14′28.83″W / 44.8549111°N 93.2413417°W