Pokagon State Park's Refrigerated Toboggan Run Opens Nov. 24th

Last updated on Friday, November 17, 2017

(POKAGON) - Pokagon State Park’s refrigerated Toboggan Run near Angola, has about 90,000 riders every season. With the 30-foot tower and dips and valleys, the total vertical drop is 90 feet over the course of a quarter mile. The top recorded speed is 42 mph. It’s a 20 to 30 second thrill ride.

Schedule:
It opens for the season, with or without snow at 10:30 a.m., Nov. 24. It operates through Feb. 25, 2018.

Hours:

Friday: 5:30-9 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Toboggan has extended hours during winter break and is open on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day and Presidents' Day.

Toboggan sled rental per hour: $13 (including tax). Toboggan Run gift certificates.
Toboggan renters are guaranteed one ride per hour during peak times.
Friday Special: Rent three toboggans in the same hour, the third one is free (except during winter break).
Park entrance fees: $7 in-state vehicles, $9 out-of-state vehicles, $2 a person on a bus.
During winter, fees are collected Friday nights and on weekends when the run is open.
Park closes at 11 p.m. Opens at 7 a.m.
Driver's license is required as deposit, rents up to four toboggans.
Must use park's sleds. Rented on first-come, first-served basis.
Maximum of four people per toboggan (no exceptions).
Cash, check and Visa/MasterCard accepted.
No all-day rentals.
No group reservations or group rates.
There are no specific age or height restrictions, but children must be able to understand and abide by rules.
No cameras or video equipment allowed on ride.
Toboggan will close if temperature drops to 0 degrees F or below.
Warming Center concession available (carry-in food prohibited).
Nature Center is open noon-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; closed Monday and Tuesday; and open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The park office, (260) 833-2012, is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Need a Place to Stay or Eat?
The Potawatomi Inn Resort and Conference Center is located nearby the run. It has 137 guest rooms, restaurant, and a spacious banquet and conference center. Make reservations online or call (877) 563-4371.

Hours for the dining room:

Breakfast: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Dinner: 5-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Sunday Brunch: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Cross Country Ski Rental
Located at the upper CCC Shelter. Includes skis, boots and poles.

Hours: Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cost: $5 an hour for youths 15 and under, $8 an hour for adults.
Facts

The slide got its start in 1935 when the Civilian Conservation Corps Company 556 built a wooden toboggan run for their own fun. The first run had a huge curve halfway down and then, near the inn, curved toward Lake James. The following year, the track was straightened to increase speed. In 1938, Company 556 erected a taller tower of about 20 feet. A second track was added in 1940.

In 1971, the slide became refrigerated. The design at that time now seems a little primitive compared to today. The old wooden tower and concrete began to deteriorate and the current 30-foot tower and track were added in 1974. In 1984, work started on renovating the two tracks. At the same time, a new rental and warming center was built. The new track did not reopen until Thanksgiving 1986. Additional work was done in 1998. More about the run's history.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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