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The Frisbee is a type of pendulum amusement ride featuring a circular gondola that rotates as it swings back and forth. Riders are seated on the gondola facing inward or outward, depending on the model. On some models, the entire pendulum makes a full 360 degree swing.
A pendulum is suspended between two support frames. Attached to the base of this pendulum is a circular gondola. Riders are seated in the gondola, facing either inwards or outwards. When the ride cycle starts, the gondola begins to rotate. In addition, the pendulum arm begins to swing through an arc, maxing out between 120° and 360° (full revolution). Most parks require riders to be at least 48 inches (120 cm) tall.
| Manufacturer | Model | Riders | Seating | Swing | Height | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chance Rides | Revolution [1] | 20–32 | Inward | 120° | 16.4 m (54 ft) - 19.6 m (64 ft) | |
| Fabbri Group | Boomerang | 32 | Inward | 15 m (49 ft) | ||
| Space Jam | 24 | Inward | 22 m (72 ft) | |||
| Top Swing | 24–30 | Outward | 110° | 24 m (79 ft) | 31.4 mph (50 km/h) | |
| HUSS Park Attractions | Frisbee | 40 | Either | 180° | 20 m (66 ft) | |
| Frisbee XL | 40 | Outward | 260° | 36 m (118 ft) | ||
| Giant Frisbee | 40–50 | Outward | 240° | 43 m (141 ft) | 68 mph (110 km/h) | |
| Intamin | Gyro Swing [2] | 32–40 | Outward | 240° | 25 m (82 ft) | 47 mph (75 km/h) |
| Jiuhua Rides | Super Pendulum [3] | 54 | Outward | 220° | 26 m (85 ft) | |
| KMG | Afterburner (a.k.a. Fireball) [4] [5] [6] | 24-32 | Inward | 240° | 19.812 m (65.00 ft) | |
| Freak Out (ride) | 16 | Inward | 240° | 21 m (69 ft) | ||
| XXL | 20 | Inward | 240° | 40 m (130 ft) | ||
| Luna-Park Rides | Extreme | 20 | Inward | 120° | 20 m (66 ft) | |
| Mondial | Revolution | 40–50 | Outward | 240° | 35 m (115 ft) | 54 mph (88 km/h) |
| Moser's Rides | Sidewinder | 24–40 | Outward | 240° | ||
| Sidewinder 12 | 12 | Outward | ||||
| SBF Visa Group | Dance Party | 40 | Inward | 180° | ||
| Maxi Dance Party | 24 | Outward | 240° | 27 m (89 ft) | 37 mph (59.2 km/h) | |
| Maxi Dance Party 360 | 24 | Outward | 360° | 33 m | ||
| Technical Park | Street Fighter | 16 | Inward | 240° | 18 m (59 ft) | |
| Street Fighter Revolution | 16 | Inward | 360° | 21 m (69 ft) | ||
| Typhoon | 16–30 | Outward | 240° | 30 m (98 ft) | ||
| Typhoon 360 | 16–30 | Outward | 360° | 33 m (108 ft) | ||
| Zamperla | Discovery | 30 | Outward | 240° | 21 m (69 ft) - 26 m (85 ft) | |
| Discovery Revolution | 16–30 | Outward | 360° | 18 m (59 ft) - 30 m (98 ft) | ||
| Giga Discovery | 40 | Outward | 260° | 52.5 m (172 ft) | 75 mph (120 km/h) | |
| Giant Discovery [7] | 40 | Outward | 240° | 44.8 m (147 ft) | 68 mph (110 km/h) | |
| Mini Discovery | 16 | Outward | 240° | 15.5 m (51 ft) | ||
| Nitro | 20 | Inward | 200° | 15 m (49 ft) |
The UltraMax is a type of amusement ride manufactured by Mondial which is like the HUSS Frisbee however passengers face outwards and are sitting one of the four seats on one of the six gondolas as the ride gets higher momentum and eventually starts going upside down. The ride is built with one arm with two supports and then the arm with the gondolas attached. It also uses the same harness as the ones used on the Top Scans.
* Rotator at Emerald Park does not go full 360° anymore due to people getting sick on it.
| Name | Park | Location | Manufacturer | Model | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo Wheel | Happy Valley Beijing |  China | Huss | Giant Frisbee | Unknown | Operating |
| Aztec Swing | Energylandia |  Poland | SBF Visa Group | Maxi Dance Party | Unknown | Operating |
| Beach Blaster | Belmont Park |  United States | Chance Rides | Revolution 20 | Unknown | Operating |
| Beach Party | Coney Beach Pleasure Park |  United Kingdom | KMG | Afterburner | Unknown | Operating |
| Blizzard | Kumdori Land |  South Korea | Zamperla | Discovery | Unknown | Removed |
| Crazy Flywheel | Jin Jiang Action Park | China | Zamperla | Discovery | Unknown | Operating |
| Discovery | Dream Park |  Egypt | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Operating |
| Discovery Revolution | Wiener Prater |  Austria | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | Unknown | Operating |
| Freakout | Botton's Pleasure Beach | United Kingdom | KMG | Freak Out | Unknown | Operating |
| Freak Out | Poor Jack Amusements | United States | KMG | Freak Out | Unknown | Operating |
| Free Swing | Tongdo Fantasia | South Korea | Huss | Frisbee | Unknown | SBNO |
| Frisbee | Nagashima Spa Land |  Japan | Huss | Frisbee | Unknown | Operating |
| Hurricane | Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park | China | Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment | Unknown | Unknown | Operating |
| Side Winder | Adventure Island |  India | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Operating |
| Sonic Twister | Galaxyland |  Canada | Moser's Rides | Sidewinder 12 | Unknown | Removed |
| Star Frisbee | Star City |  Philippines | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Operating |
| Super Gyro Swing | Happy Valley Shanghai | China | Intamin | Gyro Swing | Unknown | Operating |
| The Rattler | Camden Park | United States | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Operating |
| Hurricane | Everland | South Korea | Huss | Frisbee | 1996 | Operating |
| La Máquina | Parque de Atracciones de Madrid |  Spain | Huss | Frisbee | 1997 | Operating |
| Frisbee | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | United States | Huss | Frisbee | 1998 | Removed |
| Tasmanian Devil | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | United States | Huss | Frisbee | 1999 | Removed |
| Tomahawk | Six Flags New England | United States | Huss | Frisbee | 1999 | Operating |
| Frisbee | Särkänniemi |  Finland | Huss | Frisbee | 2000 | Removed |
| Side Kick Formerly Blazing Saddles | Movie Park Germany |  Germany | Huss | Frisbee | 2000 | Operating |
| Tomahawk | Walibi Holland |  Netherlands | SBF Visa Group | Dance Party | 2000 | Operating |
| Vudú | Six Flags México |  México | SBF Visa Group | Dance Party | 2000 | Removed |
| Gyro Swing | Lotte World | South Korea | Intamin | Gyro Swing | 2001 | Operating |
| Mad Mill | Duinrell | Netherlands | Huss | Frisbee | 2001 | Operating |
| Tornado | Gyeongju World | South Korea | Zamperla | Discovery | 2001 | Operating |
| Vortex | Thorpe Park | United Kingdom | KMG | Vortex | 2001 | Operating |
| Black Fly | West Midland Safari Park | United Kingdom | Fabbri Group | Boomerang | 2002 | Operating |
| Boomerang | Bosque Mágico Coca Cola | México | Fabbri Group | Boomerang | 2002 | Removed |
| Delirium | California's Great America | United States | Chance Rides | Revolution 32 | 2002 | Operating |
| Maelstrom | Drayton Manor | United Kingdom | Intamin | Gyro Swing | 2002 | Operating |
| Psyclone | Canada's Wonderland | Canada | Mondial | Revolution | 2002 | Operating |
| Delirium | Kings Island | United States | Huss | Giant Frisbee | 2003 | Operating |
| Dreggen | Kristiansand Dyrepark |  Norway | KMG | Afterburner | 2003 | Removed |
| Freak Out | Barry's Amusements | United Kingdom | KMG | Freak Out | 2003 | Removed |
| La Revolucion | Knott's Berry Farm | United States | Chance Rides | Revolution 32 | 2003 | Operating |
| Manitou | La Ronde | Canada | Zamperla | Nitro | 2003 | Operating |
| The Claw | Hersheypark | United States | Chance Rides | Revolution 32 | 2003 | Operating |
| Crazy Beach Party | Playland | Canada | Huss | Frisbee | 2004 | Removed |
| Eagle's Claw | Lightwater Valley | United Kingdom | KMG | Afterburner | 2004 | Operating |
| Giant Frisbee | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | Huss | Giant Frisbee | 2004 | Operating |
| Revolution | Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom | United States | Chance Rides | Revolution 32 | 2004 | operating |
| Sidewinder | Adventureland | United States | Moser's Rides | Sidewinder | 2004 | Operating |
| Sledge Hammer [8] | Bobbejaanland |  Belgium | Huss | Giant Frisbee | 2004 | Operating |
| SynKope | Terra Mítica | Spain | Mondial | Revolution | 2004 | Operating |
| The Claw | Dreamworld |  Australia | Intamin | Gyro Swing | 2004 | Operating |
| Tondemina | Fuji-Q Highland | Japan | Huss | Giant Frisbee | 2004 | Operating |
| Typhoon 360 | PowerPark | Finland | Technical Park | Typhoon 360 | 2004 | Operating |
| maXair | Cedar Point | United States | Huss | Giant Frisbee | 2005 | Operating |
| Frisbee | Adventureland | United States | Huss | Frisbee | 2006 | Operating |
| Giant Discovery | China Dinosaurs Park | China | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2006 | Operating |
| Fandango | Knoebels Amusement Resort | United States | Moser's Rides | Sidewinder | 2007 | Operating |
| Flip Flop | Flamingo Land | United Kingdom | Fabbri Group | Top Swing | 2007 | Operating |
| Xtreme Frisbee | Canobie Lake Park | United States | Huss | Frisbee | 2007 | Operating |
| Super Frisbee | Europark Idroscalo Milano |  Italy | Technical Park | Typhoon | 2008 | Operating |
| The Rattler | Wild Adventures | United States | Moser's Rides | Sidewinder | 2008 | Operating |
| SpinSpider | Tusenfryd | Norway | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2009 | Operating |
| Vepsen | Kongeparken | Norway | Fabbri Group | Boomerang | 2009 | Operating |
| Yukatan | Cavallino Matto | Italy | Technical Park | Typhoon | 2009 | Operating |
| Giant Discovery | Kaeson Youth Park |  North Korea | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2010 | Operating |
| Luna 360 | Luna Park | United States | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2010 | Operating |
| Super Frisbee | Nova Nicolandia |  Brazil | Technical Park | Typhoon | 2010 | Operating |
| Svend Svingarm | BonBon-Land |  Denmark | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2010 | Operating |
| Eretic | Festyland |  France | Zamperla | Discovery | 2011 | Operating |
| Giant Swing | Trans Studio Mini Bandung inside the Transmart Buah Batu Square |  Indonesia | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2011 | Operating |
| It | Morey's Piers | United States | KMG | Afterburner | 2011 | Operating |
| Nautilus | Drievliet | Netherlands | KMG | Afterburner | 2011 | Operating |
| Black Widow | Kennywood | United States | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2012 | Operating |
| The Rattler | Camden Park | United States | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2012 | Operating |
| Thunder | Mirabilandia | Brazil | Technical Park | Typhoon | 2012 | Operating |
| Petir | JungleLand | Indonesia | Zamperla | Discovery | 2013 | Operating |
| Scream Machine | Adlabs Imagica | India | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2013 | Operating |
| SpinCycle | Silverwood Theme Park | United States | SBF Visa Group | Maxi Dance Party 360 | 2013 | Operating |
| Extreme Supernova | Six Flags Great Escape | United States | Zamperla | Discovery | 2014 | Operating |
| Rotator | Emerald Park |  Ireland | SBF Visa | Maxi Dance Party 360* | 2014 | Operating |
| Stratosfear | Rainbow's End |  New Zealand | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2014 | Operating |
| Thor's Pendulum | Quancheng Euro Park | China | Unknown | Unknown | 2014 | Operating |
| Cyclos | Kentucky Kingdom | United States | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2015 | Operating |
| The Beast | Playland | Canada | KMG | XXL | 2015 | Operating |
| The Riddler Revenge | Six Flags Over Texas | United States | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2016 | Operating |
| Mega Swing 360 | E-World | South Korea | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2016 | Operating |
| Delirium | Kings Dominion | United States | Mondial | Revolution | 2016 | Operating |
| X | Särkänniemi | Finland | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2016 | Operating |
| Goliath | Adventure World | Australia | Intamin | Gyro Swing | 2017 | Operating |
| Loke | Liseberg |  Sweden | Intamin | Gyro Swing | 2017 | Operating |
| Sky-Force Formerly Pendulus | Flambards Pleasure Island Family Theme Park | United Kingdom | Huss | Frisbee | 2017 2003 to 2016 | Operating |
| Titan | La Ronde | Canada | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2017 | Operating |
| Twister | Park at OWA | United States | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2017 | Operating |
| Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | United States | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2017 | Operating |
| Klake | Gyeongju World | South Korea | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2017 | Operating |
| Trompo Loco | Barrio Frenezi Cuernavaca | México | SBF Visa Group | Midi Dance Party 360 | 2017 | Operating |
| CraZanity | Six Flags Magic Mountain | United States | Zamperla | Giga Discovery | 2018 | Operating |
| Harley Quinn Spinsanity | Six Flags New England | United States | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2018 | Operating |
| Pendulum | Dreamland Margate | United Kingdom | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2018 | Operating |
| Trompo Loco | Barrio Frenezi Puebla | México | Zamperla | Midi Discovery | 2018 | Operating |
| Patatús | Kataplum! | México | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2018 | Operating |
| Big Pendulum | Gwangju Family Land | South Korea | Unknown | Unknown | 2018 | Operating |
| Tigeren | Djurs Sommerland | Denmark | Intamin | Gyro Swing | 2019 | Operating |
| Axis | Adventure Island | United Kingdom | SBF Visa Group | Maxi Dance Party 360 | 2019 | Operating |
| Pandemonium | Six Flags Over Georgia | United States | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2019 | Operating |
| Chaos | Waldameer & Water World | United States | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2019 | Operating |
| The Joker: Carnival of Chaos | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | United States | Zamperla | Giga Discovery | 2019 | Operating |
| Sea Swinger | SeaWorld San Antonio | United States | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2019 | Operating |
| Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | Zamperla | Giga Discovery | 2019 | Operating |
| CraZanity | Six Flags Mexico | Mexico | Zamperla | Giga Discovery | 2020 | Operating |
| Harley Quinn Spinsanity | Six Flags America | United States | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2021 | Operating |
| Cyclonator | Paultons Park | United Kingdom | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2021 | Operating |
| AtmosFear | Oaks Amusement Park | United States | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2021 | Closed until further notice [9] |
| Sledgehammer | Luna Park Sydney | Australia | Zamperla | Discovery Revolution | 2021 | Operating |
| Giant Swing | Lotte World Busan | South Korea | Zamperla | Giant Discovery | 2022 | Operating |
| Swingi | Linnanmäki | Finland | Intamin | Gyro Swing | 2024 | Operating |
| Sky Striker | Six Flags Great America | United States | Zamperla | Giga Discovery | 2024 | Under construction |
| The Joker: Carnival of Chaos | Six Flags St. Louis | United States | Zamperla | Giga Discovery | 2024 | Under construction |
| Midway Mayhem Formerly Revolution Formerly Pendulum | Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World Six Flags Great America Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | Huss | Frisbee | 2024 2004 to 2023 1999 to 2003 | Under construction |
In May 2017, greasing material on a KMG Freak Out ride at Barry's Amusements at Portrush in Northern Ireland was dislodged, causing a loud bang and oil to spray over people and the nearby children's roller coaster. Nobody was injured, but the ride remained closed for the rest of the day whilst park staff investigated.
In July 2017, an 18-year old was killed while riding a KMG Fireball (aka Afterburner) ride that malfunctioned at the Ohio State Fair, sending him flying more than 50 feet in the air. Seven others were injured as well. [10] [11] Numerous fairs and exhibitions have either shut down or pulled the Fireball from their attractions in response to the incident. KMG stated that the malfunction was due to a corroded support beam. [12] [13]
In June 2019, a Zamperla Discovery Revolution ride named Chaos, located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania malfunctioned, resulting in riders being stuck upside down for several minutes. There were no injuries, and the ride reopened several days later with no subsequent incidents. [14]
In June 2024, the atmosFEAR ride at Oaks Amusement Park, got suspended upside down, trapping 28 riders for about 30 minutes.
A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride based on pirate ships, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum. A variant where the riders must pull on ropes to swing the ride is known as a swing boat.
Tilt-A-Whirl is a flat ride designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs, and carnivals. The ride consists of a number of cars which rotate freely while moving in a circle. As the cars revolve, the floor of the ride undulates so that the cars rise and fall as the ride spins. The offset weight of the riders causes each car to rotate. The riders experience varying levels of g-force from the spinning of the car, and the rotation of the ride itself. It is similar to a Waltzer, which is used in Europe. The rides are manufactured by Larson International of Plainview, Texas.
A drop tower is a type of amusement park ride incorporating a central tower structure with one or more gondolas attached. In a typical modern configuration, each gondola carrying riders is lifted to the top of the tower and then released to free fall back down to ground level. This produces a feeling of weightlessness followed by rapid deceleration. A magnetic braking system, or a variation that relies on pistons and air pressure, is used to safely bring the gondola to a complete stop. One of the earliest drop towers configured as an amusement ride was a parachute ride that debuted at the 1939 New York World's Fair, which was inspired by paratrooper training devices used by the Soviet Union in the 1920s.
A Topple Tower is an amusement ride designed in 2001 by van Orsouw Amusement Rides Design Service of Berghem, Netherlands, vanorsouwridesdesign. The first design was rejected due to its difficult and heavy construction. After a re-design in 2002, a license agreement was closed, and the ride was produced in 2005 by Huss Maschinenfabrik GmbH, now HUSS Park Attractions. The first Topple Tower, El Volador, was placed in 2005 at Bellewaerde Park in Belgium.
KMG is a Dutch company manufacturing amusement rides, located in Neede, Gelderland. KMG has constructed over 300 rides to date.
The Condor is the trade name of an amusement ride sold by HUSS of Bremen, Germany. It was debuted at the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair, under the name "Cyclo Tower".
A Kamikaze is a pendulum amusement ride, usually found as a traveling ride, with some examples found at amusement parks. The ride is manufactured by FarFabbri & Sartori, and first made its debut in 1984. Since then, over 150 Kamikazes have been sold.
The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Park Attractions and Anton Schwarzkopf beginning in 1972. The HUSS ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, with an increased passenger capacity. Despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was issued the patent.
A Ranger is an inverting pendulum ride first manufactured by HUSS Machinenfabrik in 1981. Many of the design elements were later used in the HUSS Rainbow, and the term 'Ranger' has become synonymous with inverting pendulum rides. It was the first inverting swing ride designed since Lee Eyerly's Loop-O-Plane and set the standard for many other attractions using the inverting pendulum ride system, such as the Rainbow, the Kamikaze (ride), and the Inverter.
The Troika is an amusement park ride designed and manufactured by HUSS Park Attractions in the mid-1970s. The name Troika means "group of three" in Russian, a reference to its three armed design. There are several variations on the design.
Pendulum rides are amusement rides based on the motion of a fixed pendulum. The Ali Baba, Looping Starship, and Pirate Ship are some examples.
Fantasy Island is a Resort Theme Park located in Ingoldmells on the East Coast of Lincolnshire.
The Freefall is an amusement ride developed by Giovanola and marketed throughout the world by Swiss company, Intamin.
The HUSS Swing Around is an amusement park ride formerly manufactured by HUSS. It was HUSS Maschinenfabrik's first ride model, debuted in 1969. It is not manufactured by the company anymore, but there are a handful of known units left around the world. The ride rotates in a circle, and the arms swing out, and then come in. They keep on doing this during the ride, in bigger and bigger increments until the very end, where they all swing out, using pneumatic pressure. Most parks require riders to be 42 inches tall to ride; anyone under 48 inches tall must ride with an adult.
Waldameer Park & Water World is an amusement park and water park at the base of Presque Isle in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. Waldameer is the fourth oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, the tenth oldest in the nation, and one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating in the country. It is home to several notable rides, including the Ravine Flyer II roller coaster.
Vortex is a KMG Afterburner at Thorpe Park, an amusement park in Chertsey, Surrey, England. It was installed in the Lost City area of the park in 2001. It opened on 25 May, seven weeks after the opening of the 2001 season.
Riptide is a thrill ride at Canada's Wonderland manufactured by Mondial. The ride is similar to the park's Shockwave ride in terms of how the riders are spun. At the base of the ride there are a number of fountains that shoot up towards the riders as they are spinning and soak them. When the weather is cool, the fountains shoot up but go back down before the water hit the riders. Over the past couple of years, the ride cycle has been cut down and riders don't get as wet as they did in the past. Unlike the 'Topspins' made by Huss which feature one gondola, Riptide features two gondolas.
Delirium is the name of three Frisbee rides located at three Six Flags parks – California's Great America, Kings Island, and Kings Dominion. The installation at California's Great America, the smallest of the three, was designed by Chance Rides and opened in 2002. The installation at Kings Island was designed by HUSS Park Attractions and opened on April 12, 2003, as the largest Frisbee ride of its kind in the world. The record-setting ride is able to swing 50 passengers up to 76 mph (122 km/h) reaching a height of 137 feet (42 m). Mondial manufactured the version of Delirium at Kings Dominion, which opened in 2016. It accommodates up to 40 passengers, reaches a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h), and swings to a maximum height of 115 feet (35 m).
maXair is a Huss Park Attractions Giant Frisbee ride at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. It is one of two HUSS Giant Frisbees in the United States, the other being Delirium at Kings Island. It is located near the front of the park near Troika, GateKeeper, and Kiddy Kingdom.
La Revolucion is a swinging Pendulum ride at Knott's Berry Farm built by Chance Morgan rides. Riders rotate 360 degrees while simultaneously swinging back and forth in a pendulum motion. The ride opened to the general public on May 29, 2003, in the Fiesta Village section of the park. As the pendulum ride swings left and ride it gains speed and height with each passing cycle. In the process, riders begin to rotate 360 degrees with each passing swinging cycle. At its peak, La Revolucion swings guests 64 feet in the air. The ride is positively rated for the sensation of weightiness throughout the duration of the ride.
| Current ride models |
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| Notable rides | |||||||||||
