Celebrating all four seasons is one of the perks of living in the Midwest. While Cleveland’s winter activities include drinking Christmas Ale and visiting the Christmas Story House, When it comes to winter, there are few outdoor activities as thrilling as flying down a toboggan chute at 50 miles per hour. While there aren’t many remaining in the Midwest, the tallest, fastest toboggan chute in Ohio is located at the Chalet in Strongsville, outside of Cleveland.
The Chalet lies within in the Mill Stream Run Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. With 18 reservations spanning more than 24,000 acres to explore, the Metroparks offers plenty of winter activities including snowshoeing, ice fishing, winter hiking, and the unique excitement of tobogganing.
A Frosty First
Cleveland’s toboggan chutes aren’t only fun, they’re historic. Other chutes in the region could only operate if there was a snowfall. When the park opened in 1967 it was the world’s first refrigerated chute system, allowing it to operate without snow as long as the weather stayed below 50 degrees. First named Winter Funland, the park and its toboggan chutes became an instant seasonal favorite in Northeast Ohio.
By 1987, the chutes had experienced years of freezing and thawing causing disrepair. They were nearly demolished before an outpouring of public support saved them. New chutes were erected the following year with an updated chilling system, and they are still in use today.
“They actually were going to destroy those and stop doing toboggan chutes altogether. There was a public outcry to our park commissioners.” – Amy McRitchie, Chalet Facilities and Concessions Manager
The Science Behind Toboggan Chutes
Cleveland’s twin refrigerated toboggan chutes were the first of their kind anywhere in the world, but how do they work? Each chute is 700 feet long, including 90 feet from the top of the hill to the straightaway, the 510-foot straightaway, and 100 feet of nonrefrigerated chute at the end. The chutes feature a 70-foot vertical drop at a 33-degree angle with the ground. Each chute is 20 inches wide.
The refrigeration system includes a cooling unit and a pump. Similar to an ice rink, the pump carries cooled diethylene glycol to the chutes through underground piping. The diethylene glycol chills the concrete allowing water on the surface to freeze. Sprinkling the chutes with water forms ice.
If you watch the speed radar at the chutes, you’ll know that toboggan speeds can vary. An empty toboggan weighs 45 lbs. and it can carry up to four riders. The weight, number of riders, temperature, and humidity all affect the speed. Speeds can get as high as 50 mph on the chutes!
Riding the Toboggan Chutes
Whether you want to take the plunge one time or ride all afternoon, visiting the Chalet is convenient and fun. The toboggan chutes typically open the day after Thanksgiving and operate through February on Fridays through Sundays. The only requirements are that riders must be 42″ or taller and must wear gloves or mittens that cover their fingertips.
As of the 2022/23 season, reservations are made in advance. Your reservation time is the time to check in at the ticket booth and pick up your pre-purchased tickets. Tickets are currently $14 for adults and $12 for children (11 and younger).
The record for attendance was in the 2012-13 season, when 38,000 people bought passes to The Chalet.
After picking up your tickets, it’s time to head up the hill. For over four decades, riders carried their toboggan sleds up 108 steps to the top of the hill. They welcomed the addition of a toboggan lift in 2012 to automate that process so you only have to get yourself up the steps.
There’s a rush of anticipation as you board the toboggan sled, similar to riding a roller coaster. Up to four people can ride together in one sled or you can opt to race a friend in two separate sleds. Chalet staff show you how to stack your legs and hold the ropes (ensuring all fingers are inside the sled) before launching you down the drop.
You may have butterflies in your tummy as you fly 70-feet down with the chilly air whooshing by your cheeks. Catch a glimpse of the surrounding forest dusted with snow and whether the other sled is gaining on you before the ride electrifying ride slides to a stop.
After the ride, take your rosy cheeks and rush of adrenaline to the Chalet. You can warm up by the outdoor fireplace or inside with a snack or hot chocolate in a lodge setting. Grab a table upstairs with a view of the chutes or watch the action on a live feed
The Chalet has seen over 50 years of happy family memories, including marriage proposals and weddings. All these years later, it remains the only refrigerated tobogganing in the state of Ohio. Although the chutes operate in temperatures up to 50 degrees, cold days are still the most popular in the park proving that Clevelanders don’t just endure winter, they enjoy it.
Strongsville Toboggan Chutes & Chalet
16200 Valley Pkwy.
Strongsville, OH 44136
Sources
- “About Us.” Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland Metroparks.
- Anton, Jamie. “Chalet Commemorates Golden Anniversary.” Strongsville Post, The Post Newspapers, 23 Dec. 2017.
- Nehez, Bill. “Toboggan Slide at Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville.” ClevelandMemory.org, Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University.
- Nickoloff, Annie. “Strongsville’s Chalet Toboggan Chutes Celebrate 50 Years (Vintage Photos).” Cleveland.com, 5 Dec. 2017.
- “Show Me the Numbers” sign. Strongsville, Ohio. Viewed 8 February 2020.
- “Toboggan Chutes Did You Know” sign. Strongsville, Ohio. Viewed 8 February 2020.
- “Tobogganing.” Strongsville Toboggan Chutes & Chalet, Cleveland Metroparks
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Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
