Trains . Chance Rides began to fabricate their 2 ft narrow gauge
C. P. Huntington locomotive in 1961. These locomotives can be powered by gasoline, diesel, propane or electric motors; as of 2025, only the electric model is being offered. Its drive wheels are not powered, but roll on the rails while fake side rods reciprocate in and out of fake
cylinders. Power is instead provided by the front and rear
trucks. With more than 400 examples built as of 2022, the
C. P. Huntington has become the most popular park train since the Allan Herschell Company merged into Chance Industries in 1970 and production of the S-24 Iron Horse train ceased. Locomotives and coaches can be customized in a variety of ways.
Carousels Chance
Carrousels (deliberately spelled with two "R"s) were introduced in 1971 following the acquisition of the
Allan Herschell Company the previous year. Chance modified the Herschell design giving it a more ornate style. These famous reproductions with spectacular detail have been included on Chance carrousels since the late 1980s. With the merger of the
D. H. Morgan line of carousels, some of the unique Morgan figures have been added to the collection as well. All Chance Rides carousel figures are made from fiberglass.
Ferris wheels The first
Ferris wheel from Chance, the Astro Wheel, was sold to showman Don Franklin and debuted at the 1967
Iowa State Fair. It featured 16 cars with two passengers per car. The first park model, an 80-foot Giant Wheel, was built in 1975 at
Valleyfair amusement park in Minnesota. It features 18 cars holding four passengers per car and is still in operation. The Giant Wheel/Century Wheel was introduced in various sizes in both park and portable models in 1988. In 2006, Chance worked with Ronald Bussink Professional Rides of Switzerland and Dutch Wheels BV, a division of Vekoma Rides, to produce larger wheels such as the
Niagara SkyWheel which stands tall. It features 42 air-conditioned cars seating eight passengers per car. According to Chance Rides director Angus Jenkins, the larger wheels are known as observation wheels as opposed to Ferris wheels, since they carry riders in enclosed cars rather than in open seats. On October 19, 2012, Chance Rides announced a long term license agreement with
Bussink Design GmbH for the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell the
R80XL Giant Wheel in North America. Chance Rides will market the R80XL, which is over tall, under an affiliate company, Chance American Wheels. The first R80XL wheel was manufactured by Maurer German Wheels in Munich, Germany, and was delivered to the city early in 2013. The first U.S. version built by Chance was the
Capital Wheel at the
National Harbor, Md. It opened May 23, 2014. Chance Rides/Chance American Wheels will continue to manufacturer and sell R60 wheels in North America under an exclusive license from Dutch Wheels BV. •
I-X Center Ferris wheel (1992) tall. It was the world's tallest indoor wheel when it opened. Relocated in 2023 to Canton Football
Hall of Fame Village. •
Hersheypark Ferris wheel (1996) •
Clementon Amusement Park Giant Ferris Wheel (1997) •
Niagara SkyWheel (2006) •
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel (2011) •
Seattle Great Wheel (2012) •
Capital Wheel (2014)
Roller coasters Chance Manufacturing's first coaster was the Toboggan, a portable ride in which a small vehicle climbed vertically up a tower then spiraled back down around the same tower. The ride was invented by Walter House of Amarillo, Texas, and Chance acquired the manufacturing rights and started producing it in 1969. It was designed to be a
carnival ride, fitting on two trailers, but several units were purchased by amusement parks where they were set up as permanent attractions. Chance manufactured 32 of these units, two of which still operate at a permanent park. In 1998 Chance introduced the Big Dipper children's coaster. With the integration of the D. H. Morgan line into Chance Rides in 2001, the company acquired track manufacturing technology and the ability to offer a variety of coaster designs.
D. H. Morgan was an offshoot of
Arrow Development, original developer of tubular steel track, first used on Disney's Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction. In 2006, Chance formed an alliance with
Vekoma. Chance Rides represented Vekoma in North America and manufactured the steel track for select projects. On October 17, 2012 Chance Rides and Vekoma discontinued their agreement to produce rides together for the North American market.
List of roller coasters As of 2023, Chance Rides has built 44
roller coasters around the world. ==Current models==