The Policy Pond Log Flume at Canobie Lake Park is a classic log flume. Not only is it one of
my favorite traditional log flumes out there, but it’s actually my favorite attraction at Canobie.
So in this video, I will be reviewing the Policy Pond Log Flume and explaining why
this ride has a special place in my heart. This flume was built by Hopkins in 1983.
And I love how Canobie paid homage to the past with this attraction. First, the ride is named
after the former name of Canobie Lake. Canobie Lake Park borders Canobie Lake, but until 1885,
this body of water was known as Policy Pond. So it’s really neat the park was able to incorporate
the lake’s former name into an attraction. Second, the ride is located in a wooded grove and
the station was created from the trees removed to install the ride. The station is themed as a 19th
century saw mill and even includes a working water wheel. The video footage you’re seeing was filmed
in 2020 and does not include the water wheel. A few years ago, Canobie removed several trees
along the ride’s course, which made the ride feel more open. It was sad to see.
And you can still see the stumps adjacent to the trough. Fortunately, Canobie has planted
several new trees and once they grow back, the ride will have the same woodsy feel.
The ride is located in the Old Canobie Village section of the park.
Themed to a working town, the saw mill themed log flume fits in perfectly with the area. The ride’s
location among the trees and area’s atmospheric music really give this ride a relaxing feel.
One of the biggest Achilles heels with Canobie is that most of their signature attractions have poor
capacities. Fortunately, the Policy Pond Log Flume is the exception. The ride has a continuously
moving conveyor belt load platform and usually runs a dozen logs. This keeps the line moving.
A full queue is usually a half hour at worst. When the line is backed up, Canobie will pair
parties together to keep the line moving. But when the line is short, they will allow individual
parties to have their own log. Because of the flume’s proximity to the main entrance, it’s wait
is often longest towards the start of the day. If you return towards the evening, you can often
walk right onto the flume. Just be careful since the park occasionally closes the rides in the
Old Canobie Village early if the area is dead. Once you depart the station, you slowly turn to
the left, travel up the first lift, and travel down the first drop. This drop is quite small.
It’s roughly 10 feet or 3 meters tall. But it’s steeper than you’d expect given that height,
so it has some zip to it. And the resulting splash is the wettest part of the ride. You
won’t come off this ride soaked, but the splash is the perfect amount of water to refresh you.
You then float around a 180 degree turn and pick up the pace.
You then approach a teepee tunnel. I love how this tunnel is shared by both the log
flume and the Kiddie Canoes. And a few years ago, I was shocked to get hit by a waterfall
leaving this teepee. That had never happened in all my years riding the flume. So what happened?
A lot of parks have added water cannons on their log flumes. There’s something inherently
rewarding soaking unsuspecting guests. And it’s profitable for the park too.
Canobie covertly added three water sprayers to the ride a few years ago. They were so well-themed
that someone who had been riding this flume for 20-25 years struggled to even notice them. The
first is the aforementioned waterfall exiting the teepee. The second is the most obvious.
A barrel just after you exit the tunnel has a water gun atop it. The third is particularly
evil. After you pass the barrel, you pass under what looks like a light. This structure
matches all the other lights in the area. Except there’s no light bulb on this fixture. Instead,
there’s a shower head. I love how much effort Canobie put into theming these water sprayers.
It’s the little touches like this that make Canobie special to me.
After passing these water effects, you travel down a mini drop. This is one of my favorite features
on the Hopkins flumes. They are these turbulent downhill slopes where the log picks up some speed
and creates a gentle splash. It feels like the log flume equivalent of rapids.
There are two of these mini drops on Canobie’s flume and they add some excitement to the course.
Eventually you reach the second lift. I can’t find an exact height for the lift,
but from Google Earth, it appears to be roughly 36 feet or 11 meters tall.
And the drop is quite good. This is another thing Hopkins flumes excel at. I far prefer
their drops to ones you find on Arrow flumes. This drop offers no airtime,
but it’s quite zippy. It gives my stomach a tingly sensation.
The resulting splash is larger than first drop’s splash, but it doesn’t get riders any wetter.
Most of the splash is directed outwards. And one other benefit to Hopkins flumes
is that the boats don’t take on water. That is a problem a lot of the Arrow ones suffer from.
You then float back into the station ending the 1173 foot or 358 meter long ride.
So what would I rate the Policy Pond Log Flume? I would give this attraction an 8 out of 10. This
is one of my favorite traditional log flumes. Most flumes ahead of this on my personal list
are themed. Canobie’s flume has a solid layout amongst the trees, features two good drops,
and has a great atmosphere. I have been riding the Policy Pond
Log Flume for almost 30 years. And it has been consistently great through the years.
This was my favorite ride at Canobie growing up and it once again is my favorite ride at the park.
I used to prefer the Yankee Cannonball, but the ride’s retracking a few years ago
sapped the ride of its airtime. And I also used to prefer Equinox, but that ride’s maintenance issues
necessitated its removal. It’s interesting how the ride has come full circle as my favorite again.
So those are my thoughts on the Policy Pond Log Flume at Canobie Lake Park.
What are your thoughts about this ride? I would love to hear your thoughts down in the comments.
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