Yvetteforfun Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Hi! Where are the very best traditional Funhouses, Rotor, and Caterpillar rides still in existence ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I'm going to move this into the main board so more people can share their thoughts as there are still some of these out there at different parks around the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Rotors Washington State Fair - this one is my favorite. Comfy wall, and the floor drops a LOT. Only open during the September fair, but it sometimes travels. Look for Diskotek on the ride list. Canobie Lake Park Worlds of Fun There are also some traveling ones. Battech (formerly Dartron) currently makes a version called the SpinDrome or Rave. Caterpillars Canobie Lake Park has one with the canopy. IdleWild recently removed theirs, but it's been rumored that it will be back. I don't know about funhouses, but newer portable ones often have a lot of traditional stunts like rotating barrels. Being used to ones that just have mirrors and slides, I didn't know there were so many that have a lot of moving parts. I can vouch for these rides operating in years ranging from 2010-2013, FYI. I always make sure to check out Rotors and Caterpillars to enjoy the novelty of riding such rare, classic rides! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Darn I miss caterpillars. There was always one during our annual PNE here in Vancouver. But eventually, it stopped showing up. And it always sat beside an original Mad Mouse, lol. I think there was one in Mirabilandia, Italy. I saw it in actual operation, and the covering was a beautiful red velvet-like draped "curtain" that just enveloped the cars. But I didn't ride it. Now I wish I had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 The best funhouses are in Scandinavia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yvetteforfun Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share Posted June 9, 2014 The best funhouses are in Scandinavia So, which ones do you think are like the most "traditional".....i.e. with rotating barrels, air jets, dark mazes?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCjunkie Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Valleyfair still has an operating caterpillar, it goes by the name of SuperCat now instead of The Caterpillar. Unfortunately they do not operate the yellow and black stripped canopy anymore but still run the rest of the ride. They took out the canopy in the late 90's. Don't know if it was for safety or it just stopped working but wish they could refurbish it and bring it back. The Rotor at VF was removed to provide space for Power Tower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milst1 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Jenkinson's Boardwalk on the Jersey Shore has a nice funhouse, but I agree with Larry that the best are in Scandi, and the one at Grona Lund is a standout. I haven't seen a caterpillar or rotor in quite a while, except for the newfangled rotor-type rides. Whips and turtles are easier to find, and they're not too common. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJeXeL Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I found this pretty cool time lapse video of how a traveling Ferris Wheel is assembled and a few other videos of fair rides being assembled. The nerd in me is happy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1g_XB1mb5k Couldn't find a "Traveling Fair" type thread and didn't want to create one just for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barge84 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 The best funhouses are in Scandinavia So, which ones do you think are like the most "traditional".....i.e. with rotating barrels, air jets, dark mazes?? I'm not Larry, but here goes... My favorites from Scandinavia were at Bakken (near Copenhagen) and Grona Lund (Stockholm). It seems like almost every park had one, though, and there weren't any that I thought were "bad". I wish more US parks had these! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) Rotors and caterpillars I haven't run into overseas, much. But I agree with Thad ^ about the funhouses in Bakken and Grona Lund. They, and the one in Linnanmaki were a good workout, I remember. And the one in Linnanmaki had long lines throughout the day, which is a good sign of a good attraction. This is Linnanmaki Park's funhouse, in Helsinki. Before the lineups start. (Taken during this summer's TPR Scandi Tour.) And here's the other "half" of the funhouse building. Edited August 25, 2014 by Nrthwnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 SHOCKED this didn't come up immediately. . . but Kennywood outside of Pittsburgh has a GREAT funhouse in "Noah's Ark" (no rotating barrel. . tho you walk thru one on an elevated platform, if I recall) but TONs of vibrating/shaking floors, the main ark rocks quite forcefully, and there are air jets hidden thruout the dark maze portions. I loved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightypotato Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Kennywood outside of Pittsburgh has a GREAT funhouse in "Noah's Ark" YES Noah's Ark is amazing. Actually, Kennywood has a lot of really nice traditional rides like the Turtle, Kangaroo, Bayern Kurve, etc. that are not to be missed if you're at the park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugEyed Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 The rotor at Luna Park in Sydney is fantastic. I think I read somewhere that it's the oldest one in operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) Sorry, I didn't address this sooner. Here is how I rate the European FunHouses with the best on top (Last year I visited each park) Grona Lund (2009) Linnanmaki (2009) Wiener Prater (2010) Both the Calypso FunHouse and Funball Bakken (2009) Parque d'attraciones Madrid (2007) Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach (2006) VidamPark (2010) Tivoli Gardens (2009) Sarkanniemi (2009) Although I like Noah's Ark at Kennywood (it really doesn't have many traditional working stunts) and I think the one at Jenkinson's is the only one still left in the US that is similar to the European ones. Edited August 26, 2014 by larrygator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barge84 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I forgot about Linnamaki! That was a really good funhouse. I wasn't impressed with Tivoli Garden's funhouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterkid124 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Caterpillars were great. I loved Idlewild's because they ran it with all the features, like the canopy and fans. I can't remember where, but didn't there used to be an indoor one with a space theme? I'm sure someone here will remember. Rotors were also good rides. Maintenance nightmares, but fun. Luna Park and Lake Compounce have the best currently in operation. Fantasy Island in NY and Conneaut Lake used to have great ones named Devil's Hole and Hell Hole respectively. As for fun houses, Noah's Ark takes the cake. Another great one was the Magic Palace at Crystal Beach. It had the air blowers, a tilted room, lily pads, and many other features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I found this pretty cool time lapse video of how a traveling Ferris Wheel is assembled and a few other videos of fair rides being assembled. The nerd in me is happy. Couldn't find a "Traveling Fair" type thread and didn't want to create one just for this. I found those very interesting. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Caterpillars were great. I loved Idlewild's because they ran it with all the features, like the canopy and fans. I can't remember where, but didn't there used to be an indoor one with a space theme? I'm sure someone here will remember. I think that you might be talking about Space Odyssey at Delgrosso's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScreaminNewEngland Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Canobie Lake Park has some awesome old school flats that are kept in very good shape. Caterpillar, Twist n' Shout, Rowdy Roosters, Turkist Twist, 1902 carousel: just to name a few. Palace Playland has an old school troika and matterhorn that run better than most. Quassy has a really old trabant. They also have the basics like the yoyo, music fest, tilt a whirl ect.... Their Giant Slide is pretty unique and fun, nothing else like it around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I forgot about Linnamaki! That was a really good funhouse. I wasn't impressed with Tivoli Garden's funhouse. My thoughts on Tivoli Gardens are based on the TPR experience there. I think it was the first FunHouse of that trip and quite a few TPR member acted liked buffoons and I remember quite a bit of air time on the slides. But on my reflection it was more like a playground than a FunHouse, so I will amend my rankings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Luna Park in Sydney, Australia, has a great, old-school funhouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Fox Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Rotors were also good rides. Maintenance nightmares, but fun. Luna Park and Lake Compounce have the best currently in operation. Fantasy Island in NY and Conneaut Lake used to have great ones named Devil's Hole and Hell Hole respectively. Lake Compounce has not had a Rotor in a few years. (Well, technically they still -have- it, in pieces, behind the employee parking lot...) It was falling apart, several attempts to rehabilitate it failed, and they replaced it with Revolution (Mega Disko) a few years ago. Canobie Lake still has theirs, though, and it's a great one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 ^Chuck I'm glad you brought that up because it reminds me to say there are two different types of funhouses. Some are just big rooms with a variety of props, stunts, mirrors where the activities are not sequential in nature. I think the one at Luna Sydney is the last true example of this kind. Remember, we also did the one at the old Southport Pleasureland on the frist TPR trip. The one at Tivoli Gradens falls in this category, also. The other type are the walk throughs, where a sequence must be followed and is the style of most of the Scandi ones. In the US the following remaining ones that I know of are: Aladdins Lamp and Pirates Cove (Trimpers) Pirates Cove (Waldameer) Noah's Ark (Kennywood) FunHouse - Jenkinson's Grand Orient Funhouse - Old Orchard Beach Surf Shack - Playland Castway Cove Persian Kamel and Jungle FunHouse - York's Wild Kingdom Of course there are also portable ones on the fair circuit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterkid124 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 Rotors were also good rides. Maintenance nightmares, but fun. Luna Park and Lake Compounce have the best currently in operation. Fantasy Island in NY and Conneaut Lake used to have great ones named Devil's Hole and Hell Hole respectively. Lake Compounce has not had a Rotor in a few years. (Well, technically they still -have- it, in pieces, behind the employee parking lot...) It was falling apart, several attempts to rehabilitate it failed, and they replaced it with Revolution (Mega Disko) a few years ago. Canobie Lake still has theirs, though, and it's a great one. I always get Lake Compounce and Canobie Lake mixed up. They're pretty similar. What I originally meant was Turkish Twist at Canobie. Thanks for the correction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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