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21-511: The original concept of the Timber Mountain Log Ride was not a log flume , but rather a roller coaster which appeared to float in a trough. However, after discussions with Arrow Development co-founders Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon, the ride's designer Bud Hurlbut chose to use a log flume ride system. The development of scenes throughout the ride saw Walter Knott approve the ride for construction. The initial $ 3.5 million cost for

42-646: A 330-foot long mountain with a theme of a 19th-century lumber camp . The ride is housed in an eight-story building that contains 24,000 gallons of water and finishes in a 42-foot free fall. The ride features 24 animal animatronic and 39 human figure animatronic figures. The ride's forest scenes (2nd and 4th) feature a distinctive pinecone smell, giving riders the experience of an authentic forest setting. 33°50′43″N 118°00′00″W  /  33.8452°N 118.0000°W  / 33.8452; -118.0000 Log flume (ride) Log flumes (colloquially known as log rides ) are amusement rides consisting of

63-550: A 75-foot drop at the end. In addition, the ride is one of the few of its kind to use lap bars as a method of restraining riders. El Aserradero El Aserradero (meaning The Sawmill ) is a log flume located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington , Texas . El Aserradero was the first ever log flume attraction in the world and the fourth oldest ride currently operating at the park, built by Arrow Development , which later became Arrow Dynamics . The log flume replaced

84-407: A change in leadership at the park and Cedar Fair, it was decided to cancel the plans for another roller coaster. Instead, Knott's used those funds to begin a major refurbishment and upgrade to the Timber Mountain Log Ride. On January 6, 2013, the ride to closed undergo a five-month renovation done by Garner Holt Productions to include animatronic figures and new scenes, while retaining its theme of

105-422: A concession run by Hurlbut Amusement Company, most of the ride is inside a man-made mountain. Bud Hurlbut and his right-hand man Harry Suker were responsible for the theme of the ride. Upon his retirement, Hurlbut sold the ride to Knott's Berry Farm where it is still in operation. Log Chute at Mall of America 's indoor park Nickelodeon Universe contains sections within a large rocky structure and some out in

126-539: A lumber camp. The park's in-house staff also assisted in the renovation of the ride by adding roughly 100 sequoia trees, a distinctive feature of the mountain. The ride reopened on May 31, 2013. On July 11, 2019, Knott's Berry Farm celebrated the 50th anniversary of the park's most popular ride: the Timber Mountain Log Ride. As part of the 50th anniversary, Knott's added 2 new animatronics designed by Garner Holt. All 36 logs were retrofitted with individual seats (similar to Splash Mountain at nearby Disneyland ) as opposed to

147-562: A more fun and wet ride. Log flume rides are named for log flumes used in logging. Log flumes are a variant of the chute rides and old mill rides that were popular in the United States in the early 20th century. Shoot the Chute rides continue to be built today. Both of these types of rides took rather simple approaches to handling water flow. It was not until Karl Bacon of Arrow Development got involved and studied hydrodynamics that

168-425: A typical course, the boatful of riders floats through a small section of channel upon leaving the station, then engages a lift hill that takes them on a winding course in the water-filled trough. A second lifthill then culminates with an exciting drop and a splashdown finale. The amount of splash can be controlled by using rubber belting of differing widths and differing heights. To increase the chance of being soaked,

189-477: A water flume and (artificial) hollow logs or boats. Passengers sit in the logs, which are propelled along the flume by the flow of water. The ride usually culminates with a rapid descent and splashdown into a body of water, which may happen more than once (normally the largest drop being just before the end). It provides people with an entertaining way to get wet and cool off on a hot summer day, with certain seating sections usually being splashed with more water for

210-401: The 'Burro Ride', which operated from 1961 to 1962. From 1963 to 1968, El Aserradero only operated one flume. Then in 1968, due to the ride's popularity, Six Flags added a second flume to next to the original doubling the capacity of the attraction. The park billed the ride as "the most popular and exciting ride ever devised." During the 1970s, Six Flags Over Texas added themed animations along

231-476: The French company Reverchon Industries started building flumes and in 1979 Hopkins Rides entered the flume building business. Other manufacturers eventually followed with Intamin building its first log flume in 1986 and Mack Rides in 1987. Log flumes are generally out in the open, though some may contain enclosed or tunneled sections. The flume is usually made of fiberglass, concrete or galvanized steel. In

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252-512: The flume can be designed to be turbulent, or to run underneath waterfalls. Water cannons (typically coin-operated) aimed along the path are sometimes installed alongside the flume. Additionally, the exit path from the ride may cross over or go near to the flume, such that departing riders are drenched by the boat currently en route. One of the first elaborately-themed flumes was Timber Mountain Log Ride at Knott's Berry Farm . Originally built as

273-519: The lap sitting seat design. Most of the logs feature 3 or 4 individual seats. Another major improvement made to the ride was the addition of a soundtrack. An exclusive soundtrack was developed for the ride by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies . The ride now features a soundtrack exclusively about the log ride, giving a much improved ride experience. Originally known as the "Calico Log Ride" (considered groundbreaking in its time) it takes riders through

294-426: The log turns left and drops down. The second lifthill lifts up higher with audio playing in the back and then an exciting drop occurs and the riders return. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls is a popular log flume attraction heavily-themed around the animated character Dudley Do-Right . The ride was manufactured by Mack Rides and is located at Universal Islands of Adventure . It features multiple smaller drops before

315-423: The open. Splash Mountain consists of a single trough running in a continuous circuit through the middle of a show building with Audio-Animatronic scenes playing on the left and right of the main flume , with only the largest drops and a few turns positioned outside the show building. Luna Park's Wild River contains a few turns, then a lifthill which holds the riders (usually 4 or 5) upwards for 15 seconds then

336-480: The park, but the ride is in the Spain section along with the exit. Once guests load into one of the fiberglass logs, the log then travels to the first lift hill. The log is carried up the lift hill on a conveyor belt , then drops down a slide into the flume, which is the highest part of the ride. The log then floats around the curving flume, carried forward by the water and traveling slightly downhill. The log then reaches

357-426: The ride in which Lumberjacks could be seen sawing logs. Also added was a cover to the drop on flume 2, which later was removed along with the animations. El Aserradero's success inspired many amusement parks around the world to add a log flume of some type. On August 30, 2023, the park announced that the two flumes of El Aserradero would be combined into one, making it one of the longest log flume type attraction in

378-704: The ride was funded by the Hurlbut Amusement Company, with the ride later being sold to the park. Timber Mountain Log Ride opened on July 11, 1969 with John Wayne on its inaugural ride. During December 2012, Knott's Berry Farm decided to give the park's most popular attraction a major overhaul and upgrade. This was beginning of a major change in the park's direction with moving back into themed attractions rather than just thrills. The park's owner Cedar Fair had originally planned to add another major roller coaster in Knott's Ghost Town area. However, with

399-454: The use of water flow in an amusement ride was fully exploited. The first modern day log flume amusement ride constructed by Arrow was El Aserradero at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas , which opened in 1963 and is still in operation. The Mill Race , Arrow Log Flume number two, opened just a few weeks later at Cedar Point . Log flumes proved to be extremely popular and quickly became staples at amusement and theme parks throughout

420-495: The world. The ride was so popular that some parks started adding second flume rides to help reduce the long lines. Cedar Point added Shoot the Rapids in 1967, and Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia both added second flumes in 1968. When Six Flags Over Mid America opened in 1971, it featured twin flumes. In the 1960s and early 1970s Arrow had a monopoly on the log flume business, producing over 50 flumes by 1979. In 1976,

441-526: The world. It was also announced that the ride would undergo a new name as El Rio Lento. Quietly, Six Flags Over Texas had removed the announcement and all of any details of the El Rio Lento on their website and at the park, creating rumors of the ride being canceled. The park has not released a statement since the announcement on August 30. El Aserradero's entrance is located in the Texas theme section of

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