Whirlwind
| Other Name(s) | Whirl Wind Whirlwind Racer Whirlwind Railway Monster Whirlwind |
|---|---|
| Type | Roller Coaster Track ride |
| Park Section | North, West |
| Opened | 1909 |
| Closed | 1933 (For expansion of other areas) |
| Designer | Harry G. Traver |
| Materials | Steel, Wood |
| Vehicle Type | Car |
| Inversions | 0 |
The Whirlwind was a wooden[1] and steel racer roller coaster at Olentangy Park built in 1909.[2][3] It was designed by Harry G. Traver, who also invented the Circle Swing and Tumble Bug. By 1916, it was "[suffering] a bit from nonsupport."[4] The Whirlwind racer remained in operation until 1933, when it was dismantled to make room for the Baseball Diamond and Horseshoe Courts.[5]
It was built in the northwest corner of the park,[6][7] west of the Shoot-the-Chutes and north of Fair Japan and later, the Swimming Pool and Band Shell.[8]
Roller coasters were relatively new when the ride was built, so the park posted ads in The Billboard magazine seeking a "scenic railway" in 1908.[9]
Gallery
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A panoramic photo of new rides nearing completion in the Columbus Sunday Dispatch on March 28, 1909. Rides and attractions shown: Whirlwind, Shoot-the-Chutes, the Midway including the Temple of Mirth, original Ye Olde Mill and second Dancing Pavilion.
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A vintage postcard (postmarked 1916) showing the Whirlwind and Shoot-the-Chutes. Photo from around 1909-1910.
References
- ↑ "Whirl Wind." Roller Coaster Database, Accessed on April 15, 2022. https://rcdb.com/3157.htm
- ↑ "Olentangy Park." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch, May 9, 1909. Page 5.
- ↑ "Olentangy Park Opens April 25th." The Union County Journal (Marysville, Ohio), April 22, 1909. Page 3. Accessed through Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-union-county-journal-olentangy-park/152965546/
- ↑ "Park in Full Operation." The Columbus Evening Dispatch, May 1, 1916. Page 16.
- ↑ "Haenleins' Opening Good in Olentangy." The Billboard, June 30, 1934. Vol. 46. Issue 26. Page 55. Access through the Internet Archive.
- ↑ Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. Sanborn Map Company, - 1922 Vol. 3, 1922, 1922. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn06656_008/.
- ↑ General Map, The Olentangy Amusement Co., Columbus, Ohio, 1924.
- ↑ "Lincoln Green Gambols Open for Every Tot." Columbus Evening Dispatch, June 22, 1914. Page 3.
- ↑ Advertisement, The Billboard, September 19, 1908. Vol. 20. Issue 38. Page 28. Accessed through the Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/sim_billboard_1908-09-19_20_38/page/28/mode/2up