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.infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox biography vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size:125%;"><div class="fn">LaMarcus Adna Thompson</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:LaMarcus_Adna_Thompson.gif" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/LaMarcus_Adna_Thompson.gif" decoding="async" width="201" height="300" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="201" data-file-height="300" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">LaMarcus Thompson</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Born</th><td class="infobox-data"><span style="display:none">(<span class="bday">1848-03-08</span>)</span>March 8, 1848<br /><div style="display:inline" class="birthplace"><a href="/wiki/Jersey,_Ohio" title="Jersey, Ohio">Jersey, Ohio</a></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Died</th><td class="infobox-data">May 8, 1919<span style="display:none">(1919-05-08)</span> (aged 71)<br /><div style="display:inline" class="deathplace"><a href="/wiki/Glen_Cove,_New_York" title="Glen Cove, New York">Glen Cove, New York</a>, U.S.</div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>LaMarcus Adna Thompson</b> (March 8, 1848 – May 8, 1919) was an American inventor and businessman most famous for developing a variety of <a href="/wiki/Gravity_rides" class="mw-redirect" title="Gravity rides">gravity rides</a> and <a href="/wiki/Roller_coaster" title="Roller coaster">roller coasters</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Early_years">Early years</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=LaMarcus_Adna_Thompson&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Early 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solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-Expand_section plainlinks metadata ambox mbox-small-left ambox-content" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="[icon]" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/20px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png" decoding="async" width="20" height="14" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/30px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg/40px-Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="44" data-file-height="31" /></a></span></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>needs expansion</b>. You can help by <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LaMarcus_Adna_Thompson&action=edit&section=">adding to it</a>. <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">January 2011</span>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Thompson was born in Jersey, Licking County, Ohio on March 8, 1848. His parents were Adna Thompson (father), and Nancy D. Thompson (mother). He had a brother named Olvid. In his adolescence, he became a skilled carpenter. In 1873 he began operating a grocery store in <a href="/wiki/Elkhart,_Indiana" title="Elkhart, Indiana">Elkhart, Indiana</a>. There he began designing a device to manufacture seamless stockings and tights for women. He made a fortune in that business, but failing health forced him to quit.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Father_of_the_gravity_ride_and_the_roller_coaster">Father of the gravity ride and the roller coaster</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=LaMarcus_Adna_Thompson&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Father of the gravity ride and the roller coaster"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Thompsons_Switchback_Railway_1884.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Thompsons_Switchback_Railway_1884.jpg/220px-Thompsons_Switchback_Railway_1884.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="220" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Thompsons_Switchback_Railway_1884.jpg/330px-Thompsons_Switchback_Railway_1884.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Thompsons_Switchback_Railway_1884.jpg/440px-Thompsons_Switchback_Railway_1884.jpg 2x" data-file-width="461" data-file-height="461" /></a><figcaption>Thompson's <i>Switchback Railway</i> 1884</figcaption></figure> <p>Thompson is best known for his early work developing <a href="/wiki/Roller_coaster" title="Roller coaster">roller coasters</a> and for inventing the scenic railway genre of rides. He is known as the "Father of the American Roller Coaster"<sup id="cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-heartofconeyisland-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and is often also called the "Father of the Gravity Ride". Over his lifetime, Thompson accumulated nearly thirty <a href="/wiki/Patents" class="mw-redirect" title="Patents">patents</a> related to roller coaster technologies. An example is the patent granted December 22, 1884, for the <i>Gravity Switch-back Railway</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Thompson's work built upon an earlier patent for an "Inclined Plane Railway", filed in 1878 by Richard Knudson.<sup id="cite_ref-WRHS_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-WRHS-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thompson's breakthrough ride was the "Gravity <a href="/wiki/Switchback_Railway" title="Switchback Railway">Switchback Railway</a>", which opened at <a href="/wiki/Coney_Island" title="Coney Island">Coney Island</a> in 1884. A (6 mph) ride cost 5 cents. In 1887, along with designer James A. Griffiths, he opened the <a href="/wiki/Gravity_railroad" title="Gravity railroad">Scenic Railway</a> on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J. Thompson's scenic railway concept initially was intended to give riders a scenic view of the surrounding landscape; later, Thompson created elaborate painted backgrounds and scenes so that riders would feel like they were touring the Swiss Alps or other foreign landscapes.<sup id="cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-heartofconeyisland-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thompson was managing director of the L. A. Thompson Scenic Railway Company, 220 West 42nd St., incorporated in 1895. Thompson's scenic railways were immensely popular during the first and second decade of the 1900s, and his company operated six major scenic railways at Coney Island alone during that time.<sup id="cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-heartofconeyisland-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Dozens of scenic railways operated throughout the U.S. and in Europe. Eventually, the scenic railway was eclipsed by faster and more thrilling roller coaster rides made possible by improvements in roller coaster safety technology.<sup id="cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-heartofconeyisland-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Thompson died at his home, Thompson Park, <a href="/wiki/Glen_Cove,_Long_Island" class="mw-redirect" title="Glen Cove, Long Island">Glen Cove, Long Island</a>, on May 8, 1919, at age 71. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=LaMarcus_Adna_Thompson&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation news cs1">"L. A. Thompson Dead. Inventor of Scenic Railway Dies at His Home, Thompson Park". <i>The New York Times</i>. March 9, 1919. p. 20.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+New+York+Times&rft.atitle=L.+A.+Thompson+Dead.+Inventor+of+Scenic+Railway+Dies+at+His+Home%2C+Thompson+Park.&rft.pages=20&rft.date=1919-03-09&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALaMarcus+Adna+Thompson" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-heartofconeyisland-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-heartofconeyisland_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFDavid_A._Sullivan" class="citation web cs1">David A. Sullivan. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.heartofconeyisland.com/thompson-scenic-railways-roller-coaster.html">"LaMarcus Adna Thompson's Scenic Railways at Coney Island"</a>. <i>heartofconeyisland.com</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 19,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=heartofconeyisland.com&rft.atitle=LaMarcus+Adna+Thompson%27s+Scenic+Railways+at+Coney+Island&rft.au=David+A.+Sullivan&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heartofconeyisland.com%2Fthompson-scenic-railways-roller-coaster.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALaMarcus+Adna+Thompson" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://patents.google.com/patent/US332762">"Google patents, US patent# 332762, <i>GRAVITY SWITCH-BACK RAILWAY</i>"</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 13,</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Google+patents%2C+US+patent%23+332762%2C+GRAVITY+SWITCH-BACK+RAILWAY&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fpatents.google.com%2Fpatent%2FUS332762&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALaMarcus+Adna+Thompson" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-WRHS-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-WRHS_4-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFrato2022" class="citation web cs1">Frato, John (July 5, 2022). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wrhs.org/blog/opening-day-first-roller-coaster-in-the-usa-june-16-1840/">"Opening Day: First Roller Coaster in the USA June 16, 1884"</a>. Western Reserve Historical Society. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230510062820/https://www.wrhs.org/blog/opening-day-first-roller-coaster-in-the-usa-june-16-1840/">Archived</a> from the original on May 10, 2023<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 10,</span> 2023</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Opening+Day%3A+First+Roller+Coaster+in+the+USA+June+16%2C+1884&rft.pub=Western+Reserve+Historical+Society&rft.date=2022-07-05&rft.aulast=Frato&rft.aufirst=John&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wrhs.org%2Fblog%2Fopening-day-first-roller-coaster-in-the-usa-june-16-1840%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ALaMarcus+Adna+Thompson" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=LaMarcus_Adna_Thompson&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.heartofconeyisland.com/roller-coasters-and-rides.html">Coney Island History: Roller Coasters, Shows and Attractions (c. 1905)</a> at Heart of Coney Island</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091112222507/http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/v/a/vac3/myth.html">Stories About the Invention of the Roller Coaster</a> – quotes multiple obits</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/">UltimateRollerCoaster.com, <i>Roller Coaster History</i></a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output 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href="/wiki/Booster_(Fabbri_ride)" title="Booster (Fabbri ride)">Booster (Fabbri)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Booster_(HUSS_ride)" title="Booster (HUSS ride)">Booster (HUSS)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Breakdance_(ride)" title="Breakdance (ride)">Breakdance</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bulgy_the_Whale" title="Bulgy the Whale">Bulgy the Whale</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bumper_boats" title="Bumper boats">Bumper boats</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bumper_cars" title="Bumper cars">Bumper cars</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bungee_trampoline" class="mw-redirect" title="Bungee trampoline">Bungee trampoline</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Carousel" title="Carousel">Carousel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Caterpillar_(ride)" title="Caterpillar (ride)">Caterpillar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cliffhanger_(ride)" title="Cliffhanger (ride)">Cliffhanger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Condor_(ride)" title="Condor (ride)">Condor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Desperados_(ride)" title="Desperados (ride)">Desperados</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Devil%27s_wheel" title="Devil's wheel">Devil's wheel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Disk%27O" title="Disk'O">Disk'O</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Double_Shot_(ride)" title="Double Shot (ride)">Double Shot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Enterprise_(ride)" title="Enterprise (ride)">Enterprise</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Evolution_(ride)" title="Evolution (ride)">Evolution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ferris_wheel" title="Ferris wheel">Ferris Wheel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fire_Ball" title="Fire Ball">Fire Ball</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flying_Scooters" title="Flying Scooters">Flying Scooters</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Flying_theatre" class="mw-redirect" title="Flying theatre">Flying theatre</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Freefall_(ride)" title="Freefall (ride)">Freefall</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frisbee_(ride)" title="Frisbee (ride)">Frisbee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fun_Slide" class="mw-redirect" title="Fun Slide">Fun Slide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gravitron" title="Gravitron">Gravitron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Haunted_swing" title="Haunted swing">Haunted swing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hayride" title="Hayride">Hayride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Helter_skelter_(ride)" title="Helter skelter (ride)">Helter skelter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hurricane_(ride)" title="Hurricane (ride)">Hurricane</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jump_and_Smile" title="Jump and Smile">Jump and Smile</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kamikaze_(ride)" title="Kamikaze (ride)">Kamikaze</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Log_flume_(ride)" title="Log flume (ride)">Log flume</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Loop-O-Plane" title="Loop-O-Plane">Loop-O-Plane</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Looping_Starship" title="Looping Starship">Looping Starship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Madhouse_(ride)" title="Madhouse (ride)">Madhouse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Matterhorn_(ride)" title="Matterhorn (ride)">Matterhorn</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mechanical_bull" title="Mechanical bull">Mechanical bull</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Monster_(ride)" title="Monster (ride)">Monster</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Motion_simulator" title="Motion simulator">Motion simulator</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Music_Express" title="Music Express">Music Express</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Octopus_(ride)" title="Octopus (ride)">Octopus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_Mill_(ride)" title="Old Mill (ride)">Old Mill</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Orbiter_(ride)" title="Orbiter (ride)">Orbiter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paratrooper_(ride)" title="Paratrooper (ride)">Paratrooper</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pirate_ship_(ride)" title="Pirate ship (ride)">Pirate Ship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_Surge_(ride)" title="Power Surge (ride)">Power Surge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rainbow_(ride)" title="Rainbow (ride)">Rainbow</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ranger_(ride)" title="Ranger (ride)">Ranger</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Red_Baron_(ride)" title="Red Baron (ride)">Red Baron</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rock-O-Plane" title="Rock-O-Plane">Rock-O-Plane</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rockin%27_Tug" title="Rockin' Tug">Rockin' Tug</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roll-O-Plane" title="Roll-O-Plane">Roll-O-Plane</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rotor_(ride)" title="Rotor (ride)">Rotor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Round_Up_(ride)" title="Round Up (ride)">Round Up</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scrambler_(ride)" title="Scrambler (ride)">Scrambler</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Screamin%27_Swing" title="Screamin' Swing">Screamin' Swing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shoot_the_Chute" class="mw-redirect" title="Shoot the Chute">Shoot the Chute</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sky_Swatter" title="Sky Swatter">Sky Swatter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Skycoaster" title="Skycoaster">Skycoaster</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Skydiver_(ride)" title="Skydiver (ride)">Skydiver</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Space_Shot_(ride)" title="Space Shot (ride)">Space Shot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Speed_(ride)" title="Speed (ride)">Speed</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Super_shot_(ride)" title="Super shot (ride)">Super Shot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Super_Star_(ride)" title="Super Star (ride)">Super Star</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swing_Around" title="Swing Around">Swing Around</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swing_boat" title="Swing boat">Swing boat</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tagada" title="Tagada">Tagada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tango_(ride)" title="Tango (ride)">Tango</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Teacups" title="Teacups">Teacups</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tilt-A-Whirl" title="Tilt-A-Whirl">Tilt-A-Whirl</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Top_Scan" title="Top Scan">Top Scan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Top_Spin_(ride)" title="Top Spin (ride)">Top Spin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Topple_Tower" title="Topple Tower">Topple Tower</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tornado_(Wisdom_ride)" title="Tornado (Wisdom ride)">Tornado</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Troika_(ride)" title="Troika (ride)">Troika</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tumble_Bug" title="Tumble Bug">Tumble Bug</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Turbo_Drop" title="Turbo Drop">Turbo Drop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UFO_(ride)" title="UFO (ride)">UFO</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Waltzer" title="Waltzer">Waltzer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Whip_(ride)" title="The Whip (ride)">The Whip</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wipeout_(ride)" title="Wipeout (ride)">Wipeout</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zipper_(ride)" title="Zipper (ride)">Zipper</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Types</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dark_ride" title="Dark ride">Dark ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Drop_tower" title="Drop tower">Drop tower</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gyro_tower" title="Gyro tower">Gyro tower</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Haunted_attraction_(simulated)" title="Haunted attraction (simulated)">Haunted attraction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kiddie_ride" title="Kiddie ride">Kiddie ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pendulum_ride" title="Pendulum ride">Pendulum ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reverse_bungee" title="Reverse bungee">Reverse bungee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/River_rapids_ride" title="River rapids ride">River rapids ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Roller_coaster" title="Roller coaster">Roller coaster</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Simulator_ride" title="Simulator ride">Simulator ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slot_car_ride" title="Slot car ride">Slot car ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Summer_toboggan" title="Summer toboggan">Summer toboggan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swing_ride" title="Swing ride">Swing ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tow_boat_ride" title="Tow boat ride">Tow boat ride</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Water_ride" title="Water ride">Water ride</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Manufacturers</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Allan_Herschell_Company" title="Allan Herschell Company">Allan Herschell Company</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anton_Schwarzkopf" title="Anton Schwarzkopf">Anton Schwarzkopf</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arrow_Development" title="Arrow Development">Arrow Development</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/B.A._Schiff_%26_Associates" title="B.A. Schiff & Associates">B.A. Schiff & Associates</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bertazzon" title="Bertazzon">Bertazzon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bolliger_%26_Mabillard" title="Bolliger & Mabillard">Bolliger & Mabillard</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chance_Morgan" title="Chance Morgan">Chance Morgan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chance_Rides" title="Chance Rides">Chance Rides</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charles_I._D._Looff" title="Charles I. D. Looff">Charles I. D. Looff</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Crown_Metal_Products" title="Crown Metal Products">Crown Metal Products</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/D._H._Morgan_Manufacturing" title="D. H. Morgan Manufacturing">D. H. Morgan Manufacturing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dentzel_Carousel_Company" title="Dentzel Carousel Company">Dentzel Carousel Company</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dynamic_Structures" title="Dynamic Structures">Dynamic Structures</a></li> <li>Eli Bridge Company</li> <li><a href="/wiki/ETF_Ride_Systems" title="ETF Ride Systems">ETF Ride Systems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eyerly_Aircraft_Company" title="Eyerly Aircraft Company">Eyerly Aircraft Company</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fabbri_Group" title="Fabbri Group">Fabbri Group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frank_Hrubetz_%26_Company" title="Frank Hrubetz & Company">Frank Hrubetz & Company</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Frederick_Church_(engineer)" title="Frederick Church (engineer)">Frederick Church</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Funtime_(manufacturer)" title="Funtime (manufacturer)">Funtime</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/George_Washington_Gale_Ferris_Jr." title="George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.">George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Giovanola" title="Giovanola">Giovanola</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Gravity_Group" title="The Gravity Group">The Gravity Group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gustav_Dentzel" title="Gustav Dentzel">Gustav Dentzel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harry_C._Baker" title="Harry C. Baker">Harry C. Baker</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harry_Traver" title="Harry Traver">Harry Traver</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Herbert_Schmeck" title="Herbert Schmeck">Herbert Schmeck</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hopkins_Rides" title="Hopkins Rides">Hopkins Rides</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/HUSS_Park_Attractions" title="HUSS Park Attractions">HUSS Park Attractions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intamin" title="Intamin">Intamin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jason_Surrell" title="Jason Surrell">Jason Surrell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_A._Miller" title="John A. Miller">John A. Miller</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_C._Allen" title="John C. Allen">John C. Allen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_Wardley" title="John Wardley">John Wardley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jora_Vision" title="Jora Vision">Jora Vision</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Keith_Sparks" title="Keith Sparks">Keith Sparks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/KMG_(company)" title="KMG (company)">KMG</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/KUKA" title="KUKA">KUKA</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kumbak" title="Kumbak">Kumbak</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">LaMarcus Adna Thompson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lee_Eyerly" title="Lee Eyerly">Lee Eyerly</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mack_Rides" title="Mack Rides">Mack Rides</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marcus_Illions" title="Marcus Illions">Marcus Illions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mondial_(amusement_ride_manufacturer)" title="Mondial (amusement ride manufacturer)">Mondial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moser%27s_Rides" title="Moser's Rides">Moser's Rides</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Wave_Rides" title="New Wave Rides">New Wave Rides</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/O.D._Hopkins" title="O.D. Hopkins">O.D. Hopkins</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Toboggan_Coasters" title="Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters">Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Polin_Waterparks" title="Polin Waterparks">Polin Waterparks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Preston_%26_Barbieri" title="Preston & Barbieri">Preston & Barbieri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pretzel_Amusement_Ride_Company" title="Pretzel Amusement Ride Company">Pretzel Amusement Ride Company</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ProSlide_Technology" title="ProSlide Technology">ProSlide Technology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reverchon_Industries" title="Reverchon Industries">Reverchon Industries</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ride_%26_Show_Engineering,_Inc." title="Ride & Show Engineering, Inc.">Ride & Show Engineering, Inc.</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ride_Entertainment_Group" title="Ride Entertainment Group">Ride Entertainment Group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/RoboCoaster" title="RoboCoaster">RoboCoaster</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ron_Toomer" title="Ron Toomer">Ron Toomer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ronald_Bussink" title="Ronald Bussink">Ronald Bussink</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/S%26S_%E2%80%93_Sansei_Technologies" title="S&S – Sansei Technologies">S&S – Sansei Technologies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sally_Corporation" title="Sally Corporation">Sally Corporation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sanoyas_Hishino_Meisho" title="Sanoyas Hishino Meisho">Sanoyas Hishino Meisho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sansei_Technologies" title="Sansei Technologies">Sansei Technologies</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SBF_Visa_Group" title="SBF Visa Group">SBF Visa Group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Senyo_Kogyo" title="Senyo Kogyo">Senyo Kogyo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sonacase" title="Sonacase">Sonacase</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sudden_Impact!_Entertainment_Company" title="Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company">Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tivoli_Enterprises" title="Tivoli Enterprises">Tivoli Enterprises</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tony_Baxter" title="Tony Baxter">Tony Baxter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Universal_Creative" title="Universal Creative">Universal Creative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/US_Thrill_Rides" title="US Thrill Rides">US Thrill Rides</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vekoma" title="Vekoma">Vekoma</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vernon_Keenan_(coaster_designer)" title="Vernon Keenan (coaster designer)">Vernon Keenan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Walt_Disney_Imagineering" title="Walt Disney Imagineering">Walt Disney Imagineering</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wendell_%22Bud%22_Hurlbut" title="Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut">Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Werner_Stengel" title="Werner Stengel">Werner Stengel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WhiteWater_West" title="WhiteWater West">WhiteWater West</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/William_F._Mangels" title="William F. Mangels">William F. Mangels</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zamperla" title="Zamperla">Zamperla</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zierer" title="Zierer">Zierer</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related articles</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Amusement_park" title="Amusement park">Amusement park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Animal_theme_park" title="Animal theme park">Animal theme park</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fair" title="Fair">Fair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Family_entertainment_center" title="Family entertainment center">Family entertainment center</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Traveling_carnival" title="Traveling carnival">Traveling carnival</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="180" data-file-height="185" /></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Category:Amusement_rides" title="Category:Amusement rides">Category</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1271159938">.mw-parser-output .asbox{position:relative;overflow:hidden}.mw-parser-output .asbox table{background:transparent}.mw-parser-output .asbox p{margin:0}.mw-parser-output .asbox p+p{margin-top:0.25em}.mw-parser-output .asbox-body{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output .asbox-note{font-size:smaller}.mw-parser-output .asbox .navbar{position:absolute;top:-0.75em;right:1em;display:none}.mw-parser-output :not(p):not(.asbox)+style+.asbox,.mw-parser-output :not(p):not(.asbox)+link+.asbox{margin-top:3em}</style><div role="note" class="metadata plainlinks asbox stub"><table role="presentation"><tbody><tr class="noresize"><td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="Stub icon" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/25px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" decoding="async" width="25" height="13" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/38px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/50px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1235" data-file-height="650" /></a></span></td><td><p class="asbox-body">This United States biographical article is a <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Stub" title="Wikipedia:Stub">stub</a>. 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