What Gives Carnival Rides Their Appeal? It’s a Toss-Up

When carnival people talk about “iron,” they’re not referring to a home appliance or a set of barbells.

Instead, they’re talking about the center of attraction at any carnival: the rides. With names like “Scrambler,” “Tempest,” “Tilt-a-Whirl” and “Zipper,” it’s obvious that the purpose of many carnival rides is to scare the daylights out of young, thrill-seeking patrons.

“In some rides you get tossed around--that’s what makes them true teen-age rides,” said John Streeter, president of Chance Rides Inc., an amusement ride manufacturer. “There is also an obsession among younger patrons with pure speed.”

But as America’s population grows older, the pool of teens has shrunk. As a result, carnival owners and ride builders are looking at a new generation of less hair-raising rides to appeal to older Americans and families.

Carnival rides are generally divided into three categories--spectaculars, thrill and kiddy. Spectaculars, like the double Ferris wheel, can cost up to $1 million. In some cases, the spectaculars are money losers, but they lure customers.

“People see them and say, ‘Wow! I want to go there,’ ” said Stephen Chambers, executive director of the Western Fairs Assn.

The thrill rides are the carnival workhorses. These include the Scrambler, which whips riders around in gondolas that appear to be on a collision course with each other but veer off just at the last moment.

Rides such as the Scrambler, Tilt-a-Whirl and Flying Bobs--all of which are carnival classics, having been around for more than 50 years--can handle up to 1,000 riders during peak hours. Ride crews are trained to get people on and off the rides as quickly as possible.

Just as important is the length of the rides. “You have to give them (the riders) enough time so they can say they got their money’s worth but not too much time so that they are bored,” Chambers said. “There’s a real fine balance.”

Then there are the kiddy rides. Slow moving, most of these take young patrons in a circular path in small fire trucks, fish and airplanes. With ever watchful parents in the wings, carnival owners pay special attention to the kiddy rides. “Your best staff will work with kiddy rides,” Chambers said.

With carnivals constantly on the move, ride designers make sure their creations can be packed up and ready to go in a matter of hours. The five-story Zipper ride, for example, comes equipped with a giant hydraulic lift that slowly lowers the ride onto its own trailer truck bed. Four workers can assemble the ride within four hours.

Ride makers are also in a constant race to add more “flash”--carnival talk for attention-getting devices and design. Newer rides feature computer-controlled light shows and synchronized music.

Music plays an important role in attracting customers. “You are outside tapping or swaying to the music,” Streeter said. “You’ve become a participant--then it’s easy to become the patron.”

It’s a constant battle to come up with new designs and features, he added. “There are only so many ways you can throw people over the ground and into the air.”