It’s every toddler’s dream: to have their own amusement park. Michael Chorba, 60, has been delighting his grandchildren since he installed old carousels in his garden in Berwick (Pennsylvania, USA). So far, the local authorities have not found much to complain about, but the sixty-year-old’s latest madness could well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Since 2023, Michael has been working to renovate a “vintage” mini-grand 8: “We completely dismantled it, degreased it, repainted it, installed new seats and new stainless steel fittings,” he explains. at ABC27.
The American only has to attach safety bars, and his work will be finished, to the great joy of his grandchildren: “They love it, I do it for them. Memories are priceless,” he marvels. The problem is that the attraction was installed on land belonging to Michael, but in an agricultural zone. This is a violation of the law. The man therefore struggles to obtain permission to keep his little gem: “It’s an obstacle course that I didn’t expect,” he confides. After a game of ping-pong between different authorities, the fate of the ride remains unresolved.
“If I don’t win my case, I will be fined and I will have to try to dismantle the ride and find a new buyer,” explains the grandfather. Michael can count on the support of the local community, who created a Facebook group campaigning in favor of the installation. Supporters of the 60-year-old claim that the refurbished mini-big 8 is similar in nature to other “outdoor equipment,” including ATVs, dirt bikes, golf carts and other bouncy castles. “This is equipment that can be moved once it is finished,” we can read on this page.
