{{Short description|Defunct parachute drop ride}} {{refimprove|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox attraction | name = Texas Chute Out | logo = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full Image: link--> | logo_width = <!--Default is 250px--> | image = SixFlags-TexasChuteOut-9573.jpg | imagedimensions = 250px | caption = | location = Six Flags Over Texas | section = Goodtimes Square | status = Removed | cost = | soft_opened = | opened = April 10, 1976 | closed = September 3, 2012 | previousattraction = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.--> | replacement = Texas SkyScreamer<ref name="TSS">{{cite web|url=http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/assets/pdf/SFOT_Fact_Sheet.pdf|title=Texas SkyScreamer|work=SixFlags.com|accessdate=August 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916011119/http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/assets/pdf/SFOT_Fact_Sheet.pdf|archivedate=September 16, 2012}}</ref> | coordinates = <!--Use ONLY if attraction is at one park. Use {{coord}}--> | type = <!--Should be linked.--> | manufacturer = Intamin | designer = | model = Parachute Tower 1200 | theme = <!--Should be linked.--> | height_ft = 200 <!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience--> | vehicle_type = Parachute | vehicles = Parachutes | riders_per_vehicle = <!--Only use if vehicles has been specified.--> | rows = | riders_per_row = <!--Only use if rows has been specified.--> | participants_per_group= <!--Only use if neither rows or vehicles is applicable.--> | capacity = 1500 | duration = | restriction_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.--> | restriction_in = <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.--> | restriction_cm = <!--Must be expressed in centimetres and may contain only numeric characters.--> | virtual_queue_name = | virtual_queue_image = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full Image: link--> | virtual_queue_status= <!--should be available if above fields are used--> | single_rider = <!--Must be "available" if available.--> | pay_per_use = <!--Must be "available" if available.--> | custom_label_1 = | custom_value_1 = | custom_label_2 = | custom_value_2 = | accessible = | transfer_accessible = | assistive_listening = | cc = }}
'''Texas Chute Out''' was a {{convert|200|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} Intamin "parachute drop" ride that operated at Six Flags Over Texas. It closed on September 3, 2012.<ref name="Last Chance PR"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://guidetosfot.com/features/rideretrospective/texaschuteout/ | title=Texas Chute Out Ride Retrospective }}</ref>
==History== When Texas Chute Out opened on April 10, 1976, the ride was a major engineering innovation at the park dominating the entrance to the parking lot.<ref>{{cite news|date=April 9, 1976|title=Girl Watchers to 'Chute' the Works|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89086177/girl-watchers-to-chute-the-works/|access-date=November 18, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The ride was derived from the famed Parachute Jump ride at the legendary Coney Island in New York. Ride engineers from Intamin developed the ride, and then Six Flags purchased three ''Parachute Drop'' rides with two built at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Over Mid-America (now ''Six Flags St. Louis'').
Texas Chute Out was the world's first and known as a "modern" parachute drop ride when it opened in 1976.
During Holiday in the Park, Texas Chute Out was decorated as a giant Christmas tree.
The ride began to operate with stand-up buckets in 1977. However, these were removed in 1994 due to safety concerns, and replaced with sit-down basket seats.<ref name="SFOT Source">{{cite web|url=https://www.sfotsource.com/rides/texas-chute-out|title=Texas Chute Out Six Flags Over Texas - SFOT Source}}</ref>
On August 2, 2012, ''Six Flags Over Texas'' announced the last chance to ride ''Texas Chute Out'' would be on September 3, 2012, before it closed along with the neighboring ride Flashback.<ref name="Last Chance PR">{{cite web|title=A Pair of Popular Six Flags Over Texas Rides Are Going Away|url=http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/info/news_2012FlashbackChuteOutClosing.aspx|work=Press Release|publisher=Six Flags|accessdate=August 2, 2012|author=Six Flags Over Texas|date=August 2, 2012}}</ref> Texas Chute Out was replaced by Texas SkyScreamer, a {{Convert|400|ft|adj=on}} Funtime ''StarFlyer''.<ref name="TSS"/> On October 10, 2012, the Texas Chute Out was demolished with explosives by Dallas-based demolition firm Dallas Demolition to make room for construction of the ''Texas SkyScreamer''. Dallas Demolition strategically cut the base of the ride, and added 14 pounds of C-4 explosives to the base to make it fall over in a specific direction. <ref>{{Cite web | title=Six Flags' Texas Chute Out Imploded - CBS Texas | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-chute-out-ride-at-six-flags-to-be-imploded/ | access-date=2025-08-18 | website=www.cbsnews.com | date=9 October 2012 }}</ref><ref name="imploded">{{cite web|title=Texas Chute Out ride at Six Flags to be imploded|url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-10-09/texas-chute-out-ride-at-six-flags-to-be-imploded|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721195008/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-10-09/texas-chute-out-ride-at-six-flags-to-be-imploded|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2013|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek|accessdate=October 9, 2012|author=AP News|date= October 9, 2012}}</ref><ref name="fall">{{cite web|title=What it takes to take down the Texas Chute Out|url=http://www.wfaa.com/entertainment/What-it-takes-to-take-down-the-Texas-Chute-Out-173424171.html|publisher=WFAA|accessdate=October 10, 2012|author=Teresa Woodard|date=October 9, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012020129/http://www.wfaa.com/entertainment/What-it-takes-to-take-down-the-Texas-Chute-Out-173424171.html|archivedate=October 12, 2012}}</ref>
==Ride== ''Texas Chute Out'' was located in Goodtimes Square, where riders of one to three, strap themselves onto to the bench where it then lifted riders to the top {{Convert|200|ft|m|disp=or}}. Once up top, the ride pauses to give riders a Bird's-eye view of the park and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. After a couple of seconds the parachute then releases from the top and floats back down toward the ground.
Each seat held two riders, and was equipped with a seat belt and restraint bar. Stationary cables kept each chute stabilized and in the correct position. Another cable actually moved the seat vertically. Inside the tower was one counterweight for each chute. During the years, the ride allowed riders to stand during the ride, but this later stopped.
==See also== * 2012 in amusement parks * Great Gasp, a similar ride found at Six Flags Over Georgia
==References== {{reflist}}
===Primary sources=== {{Refbegin}} *Park Times, [http://www.parktimes.com/content/node/73 ''Texas Chute Out''] full of information of Texas Chute Out {{Refend}}
{{coord|32.7566|-97.0670|type:landmark_region:US-TX|display=title}}
{{Six Flags Over Texas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Texas Chute Out}} Category:Amusement rides manufactured by Intamin Category:Six Flags attractions Category:Six Flags Over Texas Category:Amusement rides introduced in 1976 Category:Amusement rides closed in 2012 Category:Towers in Texas Category:Towers completed in 1976 Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2012 Category:Parachute towers