It’s Not Always Fun,
But It’s Always Worth It.

“Time flies when you’re having fun.” Business owner Mike Chance uses the phrase many business owners might use when asked to reflect on company history. But in Mike’s business, it might be more appropriate to say that time flies when you’re making sure that the rest of the world is having fun.

For the past 20 years, he’s been involved in the family business, Chance Rides; a modern-day version of Chance Manufacturing Co., originally started by his grandfather, Harold Chance, in 1961.

The company began as a manufacturer of small trains and moveable carnival rides, and today builds and distributes nearly 20 types of amusement park rides, roller coasters and people movers. Mike runs the company with his father, Dick, and together, they have established it as the largest ride manufacturing company in the United States.

While the product line has changed over the years, their commitment to quality has remained the same. “My grandfather’s philosophy was always to do everything in-house,” explains Mike. Every coaster, carrousel and train is built to exacting specifications in their 425,000-square-foot Wichita manufacturing plant. Chance’s built- in-the-USA advantage, competitive pricing strategy and focus on staying ahead of trends position them for success in an industry that thrives on the next big thing.

When economic hard times hit in the year 2000 and business dropped off nearly 60% in one year, it might have been easier to start outsourcing or walk away from the business altogether. But they decided to tough it out. That didn’t mean taking shortcuts or sacrificing quality; it meant doing it the hard way and refusing to compromise.

Today, Dick and Mike know that meeting their challenges with dogged determination was worth it. After all, how many people are lucky enough to make a living out of having fun? “It’s a pretty cool thing, what we do”, says Mike, “It’s not easy, but it’s very rewarding.”