Bill Kitchen (inventor)

Last updated
Bill Kitchen
BillPortrait.jpg
Born
William Joel Kitchen

September 30, 1948
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Employer(s)U.S. ThrillRides, Inc.

Thrillcorp, Inc.

Polercoaster, Inc.

Skyventure, Inc. (1999 - 2001)

Sky Fun 1, Inc. (1992 - 1998)
Known forInventor of Skycoaster, iFly (Consumer Vertical Wind Tunnel,) Polercoaster
TitleFounder and Chairman at US ThrillRides

Founder and Chairman Polercoaster

Founder and Chairman Thrillcorp

William Joel Kitchen (born September 30, 1948) is an American inventor and business executive. Kitchen is the Founder and CEO of U.S. ThrillRides, Inc. [1] and Thrillcorp, Inc. [2]

Contents

Career

Kitchen has a background in electrical engineering and initially put it to use in radio broadcasting before shifting his interests to skydiving and thrill seeking in 1990. [3] He developed a thrill ride company, Sky Fun 1, Inc. with Ken Bird in 1992. [4] Beginning with the resulting "Skycoaster", [5] he continued to develop and sell thrill ride industry concepts through patents including the iFly indoor skydiving wind tunnel, [6] Unicoaster circular ride (operating as Brain Surge), [7] and Polercoaster vertical roller coaster tower ride. [8] In 2015 he founded Thrillcorp, Inc. with longtime business partners Micheal Kitchen and David Gust in order to play a larger role in the physical development and applications of their ride concepts. [2]

Inventions

Skycoaster

In 1990 Kitchen completed his first skydive and developed an interest in high thrill sports. [1] This led to the founding of Sky Fun 1, Inc. by Kitchen along with Ken Bird in 1992. While they initially offered traditional bungee jumping from a crane, their focus was to develop an idea Kitchen had for a safer alternative to bungee jumping that could be easily installed in amusement parks. In March 2011 Kitchen told the Orlando Sentinel: "I drew on a dinner napkin a picture of a ride which I thought would simulate skydiving without having to jump out of a perfectly good airplane." [1] Kitchen and Bird subsequently filed the initial patent for this ride on August 19, 1992 [5] and the first "Skycoaster" was permanently installed at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh (West Mifflin), Pennsylvania that year. [9] In 1998, Kitchen licensed his Skycoaster patents to another company in order to focus full-time on his developing a wind tunnel invention.

iFly (formerly Skyventure)

In 1995, before the sale of Skycoaster, Kitchen began developing his ideas for another method of simulating skydiving by use of a vertical wind tunnel. He filed the first version of this patent as a "Skydiving Trainer Windtunnel" that year. [6] Kitchen then hired an engineer named Michael Palmer to assist him in refining his concept and in 1998, after licensing the Skycoaster business, filed an improved patent [10] that represented the first proof of concept and prototype Skyventure location in Orlando, Florida. Kitchen's Skyventure attracted the attention of Alan Metni, of the U.S. Skydiving team, Airspeed, after a training session there. They began working together to expand the business and in 2002 Kitchen sold to Metni the rights to the Skyventure business which was then rebranded as iFly. [11]

Unicoaster

In 2006, Kitchen filed the first patent for his "Big wheel roundabout amusement ride" he developed along with John Chance. [7] Chance Rides, Inc. then developed the first park-based installation under license, branded for Nickelodeon Universe as BrainSurge on March 20, 2010. The following year, a second installation was opened in San Diego's Belmont Park on January 16, 2011. [12] [13] After further developing the concept into a full roller-coaster style track ride, Kitchen filed a supplemental patent. [14] Shortly after Chance Rides opened the most recent Unicoaster ("Jimmy Neutron's Atom Smasher") at the American Dream on October 25, 2019, [15] Kitchen made a deal with them to regain all manufacturing and distribution rights for all future versions of the Unicoaster.

Polercoaster

In 2009, Kitchen filed to change the name of his company, then called "Patent Lab, LLC" (Previously Skyventure, Inc.) into its current incarnation, U.S. Thrillrides, LLC. [16] Then in 2011, he filed a patent for a "Tower Ride" that would become the basis for both his Skyspire and Polercoaster ride concepts. [17] By November, 2014 Kitchen had licensed the Florida rights for his invention to Skyplex where it was announced the first Polercoaster would be the tallest rollercoaster in the world, (called the "Skyscraper") and would be built by 2017. [18] The project was delayed by setbacks however, as Universal Studios, Orlando lobbied the county's zoning and planning board to deny the required building permits in 2015, resulting in an advisory vote against the project. [19] [20] [21] The well publicized debate drew public attention, resulting in a vote and subsequent win for the developers of Skyplex, Joshua Wallack, Bernard and Robert Friedman, along with Kitchen who had remained a consultant on the project. [22] After a number of additional administrative and budget-related setbacks, the Skyplex project was still claimed to be moving forward but hadn't broke ground and the opening was set for 2020 as claimed by the developer. [23] The project was then cancelled in 2023, after the companies that were set to build the project went bankrupt.

In addition to Orlando, Kitchen sold exclusive building rights to Wallack and the Friedmans to build in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which was announced in April 2017 for a 2019 projected completion date. [24] In 2018 that project was reported to be delayed with no visible development, [25] however all parties involved insisted the project was in the works as of February 2020. One of the earliest potential sites, Las Vegas, was announced in 2013 [26] but had seen no visible development beyond initial reporting and planning.

Skyspire

Using the same patent, [17] Kitchen developed the concept of Skyspire along with Polercoaster to be a scenic, family friendly, ferris-wheel view type of ride in a smaller land area. [27] After many proposals, U.S. Thrill Rides' Skyspire was chosen as one of the five finalists to anchor the San Diego Bay revitalization project. [28] Skyspire won the contract with 1HWY1 who took primary ownership of redesigning the initial concept and implementation, but encountered numerous obstacles that have hindered development to the present day. [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roller coaster</span> Rail-based amusement park ride

A roller coaster is a type of amusement ride employing a form of elevated railroad track that carries passengers on a train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements usually designed to produce a thrilling experience. Trains consist of open cars connected in a single line, and the rides are often found in theme parks around the world. Roller coasters first appeared in the 17th century, and LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtained one of the first known patents for a roller coaster design in 1885, based on the Switchback Railway which opened a year earlier at Coney Island.

Arrow Development was an amusement park ride and roller coaster design and manufacturing company, incorporated in California on November 16, 1945, and based in Mountain View. It was founded by Angus "Andy" Anderson, Karl Bacon, William Hardiman and Edgar Morgan. Originally located at 243 Moffett Boulevard, it moved to a larger facility at 1555 Plymouth Street after Walt Disney Productions purchased one third of the business in 1960. Arrow also had offices at 820 Huff Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intamin</span> Liechtensteiner design and manufacturing company

Intamin Amusement Rides is a design and manufacturing company in Schaan, Liechtenstein, best-known for designing and constructing thrill rides and roller coasters at dozens of international theme parks, amusement parks and other establishments. The Intamin brand name is a syllabic abbreviation for "international amusement installations". The company has corporate offices across the world, including three in Europe, three in Asia, and two in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skycoaster</span> Amusement park ride

Skycoaster is the name of a free-fall and flight-simulating amusement park attraction produced and managed by Skycoaster Company, LLC.. On the Skycoaster, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are harnessed in specialized Flight Suits, and are winched to the top of a launch tower; the riders then pull a ripcord to engage their “flight”, upon which they swing several times from a cable tether, back and forth, until finally brought to a rest. The attraction is often compared to a combination of skydiving, bungee jumping, and hang gliding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chance Rides</span> Ride manufacturer

Chance Rides is a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer. Originally founded in 1961, the current company was formed on May 16, 2002, when the former Chance Industries Inc. emerged from bankruptcy. The main office and manufacturing facility are located in Wichita, Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Creative</span> Engineering, architecture and design division of Universal Parks & Resorts

Universal Creative is the division of Universal Destinations & Experiences responsible for designing, developing, engineering, and producing themed attractions, rides, and, resorts. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, the company operates at Universal Parks & Resorts locations around the world in the United States, Singapore, Japan, and China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrill-Ville USA</span>

Thrill-Ville USA was an amusement park in Turner, Oregon, United States. The park was located next to the Enchanted Forest south of Salem on Interstate 5. Opened in the 1970s, the park grew to more than 20 rides before closing in 2007. Rides included roller coasters, go-karts, classic carnival rides a 55-foot (17 m) double water slide, and a regular slide. The park also had an area called "Thrill-Zone" which included a Sky Coaster, Big Sling ride, SCAD Freefall Tower, and Turbo Force. De-construction of the park's major roller coaster, the "Ripper" started in spring 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dynamic Structures</span>

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Funtime is an amusement ride manufacturer based in Dölsach, Austria and Bundall, Australia. The company manufactures rides such as the Sling Shot, Star Flyer, and Vomatron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Mountain Construction</span> Roller coaster manufacturer

Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) is a manufacturing and construction company based in Hayden, Idaho, United States. It is best known for its I-Box track and Topper Track for wooden roller coasters. Founded by Fred Grubb and Suanne Dedmon in 2001, it has built over 20 roller coasters. In 2023, amusement ride manufacturer Larson International merged with it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Lightning (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster in Orlando, Florida

White Lightning is a wooden roller coaster located at Fun Spot America amusement park in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Great Coasters International (GCI), White Lightning opened to the public on June 8, 2013, as the first wooden coaster to be built in Orlando. Unlike traditional wood designs, the support structure is made of steel to reduce maintenance costs, and it was the first time GCI incorporated the design into one of their coasters. White Lightning has also been well-received, consistently ranking in the top 50 among wooden roller coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polercoaster</span> Amusement ride

Polercoaster was a type of amusement ride offered by US Thrill Rides and Intamin. An installation consists of a large tower structure which features glass elevators to an observation deck, as well as a steel roller coaster wrapping around the tower. The model was first introduced in 2012, and in 2013, four were proposed for construction. However, US Thrill Rides cancelled all future Polercoaster locations, after the company went bankrupt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ride Entertainment Group</span> Amusement ride manufacturer

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RoboCoaster Ltd is an amusement ride design firm based in Warwickshire, England. Through partnerships with KUKA and Dynamic Attractions, RoboCoaster has installed its namesake products at locations around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyscraper (roller coaster)</span> Cancelled roller coaster concept

Skyscraper was a roller coaster concept originally planned for a future Skyplex entertainment complex located in Orlando, Florida. Development began in 2012 by American manufacturer US Thrill Rides and Swiss manufacturer Intamin, with both companies designing the attraction as the first Polercoaster model utilizing an observation tower for its main support structure. Skyscraper would have been the tallest roller coaster in the world at over 500 feet (150 m), and it would have featured both the steepest drop and highest inversion in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Loco (Adventuredome)</span>

El Loco is a steel roller coaster in the Adventuredome amusement park at the Circus Circus Las Vegas resort. The coaster shares its name with the El Loco roller coaster model which is built by S&S – Sansei Technologies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fun Spot America Theme Parks</span> Amusement parks in Georgia and Florida

Fun Spot America Theme Parks is a group of amusement parks. Since 1979, the group has owned and operated a number of small amusement parks over the years and currently has three locations in Orlando, Florida; Kissimmee, Florida; and Fayetteville, Georgia.

Skyplex was a planned entertainment complex, It was to be located on a 14-acre (5.7 ha) lot at the northeast corner of Sand Lake Road and International Drive in Orlando, Florida. Plans for the complex were to include a 570-foot (170 m) tower which would’ve featured the world's tallest roller coaster, Skyscraper, and the world's largest Perkins Restaurant and Bakery. In January 2019 the project was expected to cost US$250,000,000 and include space for a future hotel. The complex was originally planned to open first in 2016. But pushed back to 2017, then 2018. The project was once again delayed to 2019, until the final delay to 2020. In 2020, Lionsgate was originally set to build the complex called Lionsgate World Resort Orlando, which was set to be constructed in early 2021 and was set to open in 2024. However, on December 21, 2022, US Thrill Rides and Polercoaster, LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On January 30, 2023, WPC confirmed that the project would not be moving forward, resulting in the complex being cancelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Thrill Rides</span> Defunct american entertainment design and consulting company

US Thrill Rides was an entertainment design and consulting company in Orlando, Florida. It was best known for creating thrill rides in several US locations, hence its name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VelociCoaster</span> Launched roller coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure

Jurassic World VelociCoaster is a launched roller coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Intamin, the ride opened to the public on June 10, 2021. It is themed to the Velociraptor dinosaurs depicted in the Jurassic World film franchise and is located in the Islands of Adventure's Jurassic Park area, occupying the site of the former Triceratops Encounter attraction. VelociCoaster features two high-speed launches powered by linear synchronous motors, a signature 155-foot-tall (47 m) top hat, four inversions, and a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sentinel, Sara K. Clarke, Orlando (6 March 2011). "Talking With ... Bill Kitchen: Has an eye for thrill rides". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-02-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 Bilbao, Richard (2016-08-18). "Bill Kitchen's American scream dream: How the Orlando ride inventor plans to give you the thrill of your life". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  3. ↑ Sentinel, Sara K. Clarke, Orlando. "Talking With ... Bill Kitchen: Has an eye for thrill rides". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2020-03-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Michelson, Harry (2017-11-07). "Sky Fun 1, Inc". The Amusement Parkives. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  5. 1 2 US 5267906,Kitchen, William J.&Bird, Kenneth G.,"Amusement ride",published 1993-12-07, assigned to Sky Fun 1 Inc.
  6. 1 2 US 5655909,Kitchen, William J.&Bird, Kenneth G.,"Skydiving trainer windtunnel",published 1997-08-12
  7. 1 2 US 7918740,Kitchen, William J.&Chance, John H.,"Big wheel roundabout amusement ride",published 2011-04-05
  8. ↑ Design patent US D759774,Kitchen, William J.&Kitchen, Michael A.,"Tracks for amusement rides",published 2016-06-21
  9. ↑ "Skycoaster – Kennywood Connection" . Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  10. ↑ US 6083110,Kitchen, William J.&Palmer, Michael,"Vertical wind tunnel training device",published 2000-07-04, assigned to Sky Venture Inc.
  11. ↑ Winter, Caroline (April 26, 2017). "iFly and the Rise of indoor Sky Diving". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Octotron thrill ride to open Sunday at San Diego's Belmont Park". Los Angeles Times. 2011-01-14. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  13. ↑ "Belmont Park Opens Octotron Unicoaster Thrill Ride". www.ultimaterollercoaster.com. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  14. ↑ US 7594473,Kitchen, William J.&Chance, John H.,"Wheel hub rider conveyance",published 2009-09-29
  15. ↑ "America's largest indoor theme park opens in New Jersey". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  16. ↑ "Detail by Entity Name". search.sunbiz.org. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  17. 1 2 US 8490549,Kitchen, William J.,"Tower ride",published 2013-07-23
  18. ↑ "The World's Tallest Roller Coaster (Opens 2017)". Time. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  19. ↑ Pedicini, Sandra (20 November 2015). "Universal, citizens float anti-Skyplex mailers". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  20. ↑ Pedicini, Sandra (21 November 2015). "Skyplex battle puts Orlando-Universal relationship in spotlight". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  21. ↑ Wolf, Colin. "World's tallest roller coaster at I-Drive is denied, developer calls Universal a 'bully'". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  22. ↑ Dineen, Caitlin (December 2015). "Orange County Commission approves Skyplex Orlando". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  23. ↑ Pepperman, Kelly (2019-01-10). "International Drive developer talks new coaster, more parking". WKMG. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  24. ↑ Walsh, Jim. "'Polercoaster' proposed for Atlantic City". Courier-Post. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  25. ↑ Comlay, Elinor (2018-03-21). "The PolerCoaster Is Behind Schedule". Route 40. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  26. ↑ "Firm seeks FAA approval for 650-foot-tall Vegas Strip thrill ride". www.cbsnews.com. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  27. ↑ "Bill Kitchen reaches for the Sky". Park World Online - Theme Park, Amusement Park and Attractions Industry News. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  28. ↑ "Soaring 'SkySpire' proposed for waterfront". fox5sandiego.com. 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  29. ↑ "Seaport San Diego tower is like nothing else on California's coast. That's the problem". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-07-20. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
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