Cleveland, OH
Strongsville Toboggan Chutes & Chalet open; hundreds slide down on holiday weekend
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — The Strongsville Toboggan Chutes & Chalet look much different in 2023 than in years past. Gone are the days of a dated refrigeration system and carrying your toboggan up the steep incline for each trip down the chutes (although the 108 steps still remain a workout). What hasn’t changed is the fun had by those enjoying the thrills of the hills.
On Friday, the 56th year of fun commenced as the toboggan chutes officially opened for the 2023-24 winter season.
Amy McRitchie, the chalet manager at Mill Stream Run Reservation in Cleveland Metroparks, knows how engrained the 700-foot long, 70-foot tall chutes are to the community when the season approaches each year.
“We have a lot of people looking to do the tradition of doing after Thanksgiving and getting ready for the holidays,” McRitchie said. “People come back year after year and they do family fun and they come out just to get out and enjoy the parks and the weather.”
People like the Tobin family, who were in town from Chicago, visiting family on the holidays.
“[From the] Chicago area, I grew up here but we came in to see family and we decided to go tobogganing,” Tommy Tobin said.
Tommy and his wife Lindsay brought their two children Rowan and Seamus and their cousin Lola Adipietro out for some winter fun. The family gets together each year at this time, making sure to find an activity to do together.
“Every time we come for Thanksgiving to see family we do something different. Last year, we did the lights at the zoo; this year was tobogganing, and we just enjoy the parks,” Lindsay said.
It was their first time experiencing the chutes, and it left a lasting impression on the family.
“It was a little scary but a lot of fun,” Lola said. Meanwhile, Seamus braved the brisk wind and had a blast.
“When I went down, I couldn’t breathe, so I was just holding my breath but also my cheeks were frozen,” Seamus said. “My favorite part was going down the slide, and I loved it.”
For other families, opening day at the Strongsville Toboggan Chutes & Chalet is a yearly tradition.
“Yeah we’ve done this three years in a row, we always come on opening day. We don’t do the shopping, these guys don’t do the shopping,” one family said just before inching over the 70-foot drop, gleefully screaming the whole way down.
This year, around 600 people sold out the Strongsville Toboggan Chutes & Chalet’s opening day. Every day that follows is expected to bring plenty of people in for some winter fun as well.
“We hope to see a lot of people out here just enjoying the park, enjoying the toboggan chutes, having hot chocolate, spending time with family and friends and just enjoying their time out here,” McRitchie said.
For those not looking for the thrill of the hill, hot chocolate and other concessions await in the warmth of the chalet. Outside, there’s a fireplace to cozy up by.
Ohio’s tallest and fastest toboggan chutes offer something for all—but fun is certainly at the top of the list.
“It’s just a tradition for people to be able to experience, have family fun, togetherness, just to get outside and do something in the parks,” McRitchie said.
The Strongsville Toboggan Chutes & Chalet is open through the last weekend in February, weather permitting. To see hours of operation and holiday schedules, make a reservation, or learn more, click here.
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The Cleveland Guardians have already traded away one of their starters from this past season, sending second baseman Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays.
And there appears to be a chance that they make some more moves.
The Guardians are apparently fielding trade offers on first baseman Josh Naylor and outfielder Lane Thomas, and while Naylor is certainly the bigger of the two names, Thomas is also a very interesting piece.
But where could Thomas land?
Well, Caleb Moody of Just Baseball has compiled a short list of the best possible fits for Thomas, and the New York Yankees were among those ballclubs.
“If Thomas can find some of his 2023 form next season, he could provide that middle-of-the-order support for Aaron Judge, with his 20+ homer, .250 AVG and .750 OPS potential to place alongside Jazz Chisholm Jr., Giancarlo Stanton and Austin Wells,” Moody wrote.
The Yankees just lost Juan Soto to the New York Mets, so they could certainly use a fourth outfielder alongside of Judge, Jasson Dominguez and the newly-acquired Cody Bellinger.
While Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander are definitely sexier names, New York would have to shell out wads of cash for either player, and the Yankees may not want to do that after signing Max Fried and swinging a trade for Bellinger.
Plus, New York may want to add another big piece at one of its corner infield spots.
Thomas is set to hit free agency after next season, so the Yanks would have no financial obligation to him beyond 2025. Plus, he is slated to earn just $7.9 million next year.
The 29-year-old slashed .237/.309/.400 with 15 home runs and 63 RBI over 528 plate appearances between the Washington Nationals and the Guardians in 2024, but he came on particularly strong late in the season and in the playoffs.
Landing Thomas would also allow the Yankees the flexibility to play Bellinger at first base on occasion.
Editor’s Note: This story contains previous video from 19 News.
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol says troopers have identified the driver of a semi-truck suspected in a deadly hit-skip in Tuscarawas County.
The driver is a 59-year-old Cleveland man whose name was not released. The highway patrol said the case is now with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the highway patrol, on Oct. 24 a semi-truck was driving north on IR-77 when he tried to make a U-turn through the median crossover near Strasburg.
Troopers said a second vehicle, driven by 78-year-old Dennis Alsept, was also driving north in the left lane of IR-77.
RELATED STORY: Troopers looking for semi driver suspect in fatal hit-skip of Tuscarawas County 78-year-old
Alsept then hit the semi, according to the highway patrol.
“He was a great man, he loved his family,” Alsept’s son-in-law, Andy Donaldson, said. “His family was his everything.”
Troopers said that the semi pulled onto the beam in the median and then continued going south on IR-77.
According to the highway patrol, Alsept was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
On Oct. 31, he died from those injuries.
“Accidents happen, however, he made a tragic mistake that day,” Donaldson said.
The crash remains under investigation, and the highway patrol said charges against the driver are forthcoming.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police is investigating a shooting that occurred on the city’s west side Thursday morning.
Cleveland Police told 19 News that a man was shot near West 110th Street and Bernard Avenue.
The man, police said he approximately 38-years-old, was transported to the hospital.
Cleveland Police are investigating this incident and will deliver updates as they become available.
This is a developing story. Be sure to check back with 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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