Round Up (ride)
Round Up is an amusement ride consisting of a circular horizontal platform with vertical cage like wall around the edge. The platform is attached to a motor on a hydraulic arm. The ride starts out by spinning until the centrifugal force is enough to push riders against the wall. At that time, the friction between the riders' backs and the walls is enough to hold them against the wall. Then, the arm raises the horizontal platform to a vertical position in which riders, instead of spinning horizontally, are now spinning vertically.
The ride spins for a predetermined cycle until an automatic timer releases the hydraulic fluid from the arm causing the platform to return to its horizontal position. The operator may be required to manually control the spin of the ride such that the ride's exit aligns correctly with the exit gate. Most Round Ups require the rider to be at least 42 inches tall.
In the UK this ride is commonly known as the 'Meteorite' or 'Meteor'. The first such ride to arrive in the UK was with Rose Brothers in the 1950s and the ride came from Germany.
Although Hrubetz examples exist in the UK other common makes include Cadoxton and Sam Ward.
Contents |
[edit] Zero Gravity
The new portable model, made by Dartron, is known as Zero Gravity. The ride's lighting and appearance has changed, but its operation remains the same.
There are 70 Round Ups in the US 40 in the UK and 20 in Australia
[edit] Locations
- Bulls Eye at Camden Park located at 1 mile past the Wayne County border in West Virginia
- The Milk Churn at Loudoun Castle
- The Tornado at Six Flags Great Adventure
- Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth at Six Flags Magic Mountain (1974 as Electric Rainbow, then Turbo, Gordon/Grinder Gearworks)
- Riddle Me This at Six Flags America
- Zero Gravity at Canobie Lake Park replaced Round Up in the mid-2008 season
- Bamboozler at Worlds of Fun
- The Revolution at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
- Round Up at Tweetsie Railroad
- Round Up at Lakeside Amusement Park
- (Super) Round Up at Idlewild Park
- The Eruption at Oaks Amusement Park
- Super Round Up at Silverwood Theme Park
- Super Round Up at Parque de la Ciudad, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Round Up at Knoebels Amusement Park
- Super Round Up Coney Island (Cincinnati)
- Zero Gravity, Evans Midland Empire Shows, Inc.
- Zero Gravity, The Mighty Bluegrass Shows
- Zero Gravity, Windy City Amusements
- Zero Gravity, Beauce Carnival
- The Cage, David Rowland and sons Fun fair
- Super Round Up, J&J Amusements
- Wave Rider – Classic Amusements (Canada)
- Zero Gravity, near Jake Beddoe's house
- Super Round Up at Conneaut Lake Park
- Calkins Midway's Round Up at The Mount Horeb Summer Frolic
[edit] Past appearances
- Halley's Comet at Kings Island (1972–1979), Mason, Ohio
- Satellite (later renamed Super Round Up) at Kennywood (1957–1985), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (moved to Idlewild Park) Super Round Up, J&J Amusements *Propeller Spin at Knott's Berry Farm (1975-1989). Situated in the park's former Roaring 20s Airfield section it featured a large propeller spinning in the center.
- Super Spiral at Martin's Fantasy Island {1993 - 2001 removed in 2002} Located where Tilt - A - Whirl is. Removed due to age.
