Michael Chorba, a 60-year-old grandfather in Pennsylvania, has spent years turning his backyard into a private amusement area for his family. The property already has a go-kart track, a 105-foot waterslide and a vintage carousel. But his latest project, a small roller coaster, has led to a zoning dispute with local authorities.Chorba’s roller coaster, called The Tidal Wave, was built as part of his hobby of restoring vintage amusement rides for his grandchildren. According to Centre Daily Times, the coaster has a footprint of about 34 by 72 feet, while its tallest part, the control station, is about 18 feet high. Chorba said he spent about $20,500 on the coaster itself, another $2,500 on new vinyl decals and $1,700 on lighting.The project is now at the centre of a dispute in Mount Pleasant Township because local zoning rules do not specifically allow such a structure. Chorba said the situation is unusual for the small township. “It’s a small township. They’ve never dealt with anything like this before,” he said as quoted by Centre Daily Times.The dispute comes after years of Chorba building and restoring attractions on his property. He said he had worked on the go-kart track for 25 years with the help of friends and family before taking a long break from such projects. His return to the hobby began with a waterslide, which he bought in 2021.
How Chorba built the backyard attraction
The waterslide was not a complete commercial ride. Chorba bought a portion of a large slide that had been used at a ski resort and then built the supports himself. He also gave it a theme based on Jurassic World, adding dinosaurs around the attraction.Mount Pleasant Township zoning officer Ed Sanders said the waterslide does not face the same zoning problem. According to Sanders, water slides are covered under the township’s municipal planning code, meaning its size and where the slide originally came from do not affect whether it is allowed.Chorba later added another major attraction to the property. He bought a 1957 carousel made by the Allan Herschell Company for $28,000. After buying it, he and his team repainted the horses and carriages, replaced the leather stirrups and reins, and had an electrician wire the structure.Chorba then applied for a zoning permit to build a large gazebo on his property. Once the gazebo was built, he moved the carousel inside it. The carousel, waterslide and go-kart track were therefore already part of the property before the roller coaster became the focus of the zoning dispute.
Why the roller coaster was rejected
Sanders said the local law prohibits structures that are not explicitly permitted. Because the municipal code does not specifically mention roller coasters, the township had to consider whether the attraction could legally remain on the property.“Not too many municipalities will include a roller coaster or amusement park rides, especially not in rural Pennsylvania. Something out of the ordinary would have to happen,” Sanders said.Sanders noticed the roller coaster last spring and advised Chorba to apply for a zoning permit. As expected, the permit was rejected, after which Chorba was advised to seek a variance.The variance request was then considered by the township’s zoning board. One of the board’s three members had to recuse himself because he is a close neighbour of Chorba, Sanders said. That left two members to decide the request.One member moved to approve the roller coaster, but the other did not second the motion. Without the required second, the request could not move forward. “It had to be denied because it couldn’t be approved,” Sanders said.
Chorba says it is a family playground
For Chorba, the roller coaster is not meant to become a public amusement park. He said the attraction is intended only for his family and grandchildren.“You’re really creating wholesome fun for the kids, instead of keeping them stuck inside on electronics all day,” Chorba said.The coaster is still being restored. Chorba and his family were waiting for new lap bars to complete the project. He said removing the ride would be particularly difficult for his youngest granddaughter, who lives with him. “She would be really devastated, because she considers it part of her play area,” Chorba said.He also said some people had suggested that he turn the property into a petting zoo or another type of attraction to get around the zoning rules. But Chobra rejected that idea, saying he does not want to operate a public attraction. “I just want to do this and keep it as our family’s little playground,” he said.After the zoning board did not approve the variance, Chorba appealed to the county court. The court sent the matter back to the zoning board. Sanders said another hearing will likely take place once the official decision is returned to the board.