The backyard of every child’s dreams was in jeopardy when a Pennsylvania grandfather got into legal trouble after fixing up a roller coaster.
Michael Chorba, 60, rebuilt the old amusement park ride on his property in Berwick. However, preserving the roller coaster has been a journey full of twists and turns, as local officials claim the ride violates local zoning laws.
The 60-year-old grandfather has an assortment of attractions in his backyard. But his latest addition, a mini roller coaster, could endanger the entire ‘park’.
‘They really like this. I do this for them,” Chorba said of his grandchildren. “You can’t put a price on memories.”
Chorba and his family have been renovating the vintage roller coaster since 2023.
“We completely took it apart, degreased it, painted it, reupholstered it with new seats and new stainless steel hardware,” he explained. ABC27.
The close-knit family just needs to install lap bars to complete the renovations.
However, the land on which the roller coaster sits is zoned agricultural, making the fairground ride in violation of Mount Pleasant Township’s zoning ordinances.
“It was an unexpectedly difficult process to get the permits for the roller coaster,” Chorba said.
The backyard of every child’s dreams may no longer exist, now that a Pennsylvania grandfather’s refurbished roller coaster has landed him in legal trouble. In the photo: Michael Chorba has renovated an old roller coaster on his property
Michael Chorba (pictured), 60, renovated an old roller coaster on his Berwick property, but preserving the ride has been a journey full of twists and turns as local officials claim the backyard roller coaster violates local zoning laws
The 60-year-old grandfather has an assortment of attractions in his backyard. But his latest addition, a mini roller coaster (pictured), could endanger the entire ‘park’
When Chorba first received the violation, he attended a hearing, but the board’s decision resulted in a split vote, making the roller coaster in violation of city code.
“We filed a timely appeal and are now awaiting the next procedure for that appeal,” Chorba said.
Chorba says the motion was filed in the summer.
The appeal has since been deferred to Columbia County District Court before ultimately being sent back to the township, according to a Mount Pleasant Township zoning official.
Now the municipality is awaiting a court order to hold a second hearing, leaving the fate of the Chorba family’s roller coaster uncertain.
“If it doesn’t work out in the end, they’ll fine me and at that point I’ll have to try to dismantle the coaster and find a new buyer for the coaster,” he said.
The hopeful grandfather aims to keep the roller coaster on track so his family can enjoy it for years to come.
Chorba’s local community has since rallied around him – and the roller coaster – and created a Facebook group called Save Pappy’s roller coaster.
Chorba and his family have been renovating the vintage roller coaster since 2023
The close-knit family just needs to install lap bars to complete the renovations
The 60-year-old grandfather has an assortment of attractions in his backyard
The group states that the “issue is an infringement of our rights and an excess of zoning regulations.”
Save Pappy’s Roller Coaster claims the renovated ride is similar in nature to other “outdoor equipment,” including ATVs, dirt bikes, golf carts, outdoor playsets and large inflatables.
“They are all devices that can come and go when you are done with them,” the group claimed on Facebook.
‘Are all these other things not allowed on agricultural land? This roller coaster is not a permanent installation, but an amusement device designed to be moved from one place to another and placed on blocks,” Save Pappy’s Roller Coaster argued.
However, the fate of the family roller coaster remains in limbo.