The History of Log Flume Rides

The beloved log flume ride seen at many amusement parks has its roots in the 19th century logging industry. After the Gold Rush failed to pan out for many fortune seekers, they turned to logging in the area instead. However, the lumberjacks struggled to move lumber through the difficult terrain of the country's western mountains. In the late 1800s, these lumberjacks created a complex system of wooden flumes that used a steady flowing stream of water to move timber down the mountains to reach various sawmills. Many lumberjacks would ride along — some claim it was for inspection purposes, but there seems to have been a thrill element involved, too. While the infrastructure was soon eclipsed by technological advances, it was still visible in many areas. Arrow Development, a company that developed amusement park attractions, took note of the lumberjacks’ flumes and began pitching a log flume attraction to different theme parks. In 1963, the first log flume ride debuted at Six Flags Over Texas. It was called El Aserradero and is still in operation today. The log flume ride became so popular with guests that Six Flags soon had to build a second attraction to accommodate the crowds clamoring for a ride. After seeing the success, Walter Knott of Knott’s Berry Farm decided to create his own log flume ride, but he wanted the attraction to be unique. Arrow Development worked with Knott to create The Timber Mountain Log Ride, an immersive experience that featured a thrilling 42-foot drop. Actor John Wayne and his son Ethan attended the opening of the attraction in 1969 and were the first two people to ride it. Disney’s first log flume ride, Splash Mountain, debuted at Disneyland in 1989, followed just a few years later by versions at other parks such as Walt Disney World. Many other amusement parks have added their own log flume rides over the years to the delight of guests. Today, log flume rides remain one of the most popular amusement park attractions.