The ride
Bobs is a wood roller coaster built by Prior and Church at Riverview Park in Illinois, having opened to the public in 1924. After 102 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Riverview Park midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 64 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. That opening drop measures 59 ft, long enough to pin riders against their restraints and pull a prolonged moment of weightless airtime over the lap-bar. Trains reach a top speed of 50.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 323 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Prior and Church have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Prior and Church installations will pick up on the same DNA in Bobs's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear.
Plan to ride Bobs early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Riverview Park typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Riverview Park, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.