Caleb Schwab ((exclusive)) Jun 2026

From its inception, the slide was plagued by problems. The engineering was unconventional; the designer, John Schooley, had no formal background in water slide engineering. To achieve the record-breaking height, he created a system where rafts were held by a magnetic release mechanism at the top. During testing, sandbags flew off the track, and test dummies were shredded. Rather than fix the fundamental design, workers were instructed to add weight to the rafts and limit riders to three per raft instead of the originally intended six.

In response, the state passed the , which dramatically increased the stringency of inspections, required parks to report injuries immediately, and mandated that rides be inspected by qualified third-party engineers rather than just park staff. Caleb Schwab's legacy is now inextricably linked to these improved safety standards, which aim to ensure that no other family suffers a similar loss. Criminal Charges Dismissed Against Schlitterbahn ... - ENR caleb schwab