A ride that has been causing thrills and upset stomachs in the city since Canada’s centennial celebration has come to an end.
A used purchase by the city from the Winnipeg Beach recreation area in 1967, the rollercoaster at Chippewa Park has been almost a rite-of-passage for generations of local children.
Although it had major track upgrades last year and car renovations three years ago, an engineering report says the coaster is at the end of the line.
“When that engineering report came back it was recommended that they were way past their service life now even though we’ve been doing our best to keep them in service,” city parks manager Paul Fayrick said.
“You can only weld metal so many times before it actually is incapable of staying in service.”
Fayrick said the rollercoaster would need to be completely rebuilt, something that the city doesn’t have the capacity or the resources to do.
The roller coaster will not be available when the park opens in May. All of the other rides, however, will be ready to go when Chippewa opens with the Kite Festival.
Another part of the park’s history will make way for progress as the remainder of Chippewa’s historic cabins, built in the 1940s and 50s, will be torn down.
Fayrick said the cabins have deteriorated to the point where foundations have shifted and logs are rotten.
The land will be used as part of the RV park.
Lifeguards will be moved from the park’s main beach to Sandy Beach as more and more people are opting to swim at Sandy Beach instead.
“It’s becoming very popular,” Fayrick said.
