The Mount Pleasant Township zoning board rejected Michael Chorba’s variance request for a 34‑by‑72‑foot roller coaster, The Tidal Wave, after a review that highlighted the ride’s 18‑foot control station and the $20,500 cost of the structure. Chorba’s plan, approved for a go‑kart track and a 2021 waterslide, has been running on the family property for over two decades.
Chorba’s backyard has long been a private playground. He spent 25 years assembling a go‑kart track, bought a sizable water slide in 2021, and restored a 1957 Allan Herschell carousel for $28,000, repainting the horses and rewiring the frame. All these attractions pre‑date the roller coaster and fall under municipal codes that allow such amenities.
Zoning officer Ed Sanders explained that the municipal planning code explicitly lists allowed structures but does not mention roller coasters. The board, composed of three members, saw one recuse due to a close neighbor relationship with Chorba. One member moved to approve the variance, but the other did not second the motion, leaving the request without the required two‑vote majority and forcing denial.
Chorba said the coaster is meant for his grandchildren, not a public park. "It’s a family playground," he told the Centre Daily Times. He added that his youngest granddaughter, who lives with him, would be devastated if the ride were removed, underscoring the personal stakes behind the dispute.
After the board’s denial, Chorba appealed to the county court, which sent the case back to the zoning board for further consideration. A new hearing is expected once the court issues a final decision, after which the board will render its verdict on the variance request.