Toboggan

Toboggan is a steel roller coaster in Hersheypark featuring a vertical lift tower where two-passenger cars climb to approximately 45 feet before spiraling down around the structure. The ride spans roughly 450 feet of track and is controlled by a specialized braking system using rubber tires to slow the cars.

Chance Industries manufactured this coaster model from 1969 to the mid-1970s, and Hersheypark acquired two identical units during that manufacturing period. The development of this design reflected industry efforts to create efficient rides that took up minimal space in parks.

The Toboggan represents a generation of compact steel coasters that brought mechanical innovation to smaller parks and traveling carnivals across the United States. This type of ride became popular with park operators who wanted attractions that did not require large amounts of space.

This coaster is relatively small and easy to locate within the park, making it convenient for visitors seeking shorter wait times. The ride completes quickly in under two minutes, which means the park can run many cycles per hour and keep throughput high.

Each vehicle has a hydraulic clutch braking mechanism that controls descent speed by gripping a center rail during the first spiral. This system is noteworthy because it allows the ride to self-regulate its speed without relying on external brake components.