Round Up is an amusement ride consisting of a circular horizontal platform with a 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. Then the arm raises the horizontal platform to a vertical position in which riders, instead of spinning horizontally, are now spinning almost vertically.

The Meteorite in action at Worden Park

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 so that its exit aligns correctly with the exit gate. Most require the rider to be at least 42 inches tall.

In the United Kingdom, this ride is commonly known as the Meteor or Meteorite. The first such ride to arrive in that same country was with Rose Brothers in the 1950s and it came from Germany.

Although Hrubetz examples exist in the United Kingdom, other common makers include Cadoxton and Sam Ward.

There are 70 Round Ups in the United States, 40 in the United Kingdom and 20 in Australia.

New models

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Zero Gravity at the Georgia State Fair

The new portable model, made by Dartron, is known as Zero Gravity. The lighting and appearance has changed and the ride has gone from tire rim drive to direct center gear drive, but its operation remains the same. The title is ironic because the ride does the opposite of creating the sense of zero gravity, as it only gives off the illusion that there is an increase in gravity.

Another version, also made by Dartron, exists called "Zendar", where the platform tilts on the end of the arm.

Locations

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Name Location Opened Notes Ref(s)
Electric Rainbow Located in Ross, Ohio, outside of Cincinnati
The Black Hole Located in Springdale and serving festival locations citywide
Bulls Eye Located at 1 mile past the Wayne County border in West Virginia
Teen Titans Turbo Spin First known as Electric Rainbow between 1974 and 1986, then Turbo between 1987 and 1993, then Gordon Gearworks between 1994 and 1998 Grinder Gearworks between 1998 and 2011 and then Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth between 2011 and 2019
Riddle Me This
Zero Gravity Replaced Round Up in the mid-2008 season.
Bamboozler
1977
The Revolution
Round Up
Round Up
Round-Up
1978
Super Spiral
Round Up
Mark Lake Enterprises
Super Round Up
1986
Zero Gravity
Super Round Up
Super Round Up
Round Up
Cyclone
The Genie
Nemesis
Ulten Castle
Zero Gravity
Beauce Carnival
Zero Gravity
Deggeller Attractions
Zero Gravity
Evans Midland Empire Shows, Inc.
Zero Gravity
Zero Gravity
The Mighty Bluegrass Shows
Zero Gravity
Zero Gravity
Windy City Amusements
Zero Gravity
The Cage
David Rowland and Sons Fun Fair
Super Round Up
J&J Amusements
Wave Rider
Classic Amusements (Canada)
Calkins Midway's Round Up
The Mount Horeb Summer Frolic

Past appearances

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Name Location Opened Closed Notes Ref(s)
Satellite
1957
1985
Later renamed Super Round Up, moved to Idlewild Park.
The Round Up
1961
1980
Round Up
1968
1977
Satellite
1971
Unknown Located on the north end of the park.
Halley's Comet
1972
1979
The Milk Churn Unknown Unknown
Spinnaker
1976
1977
Replaced by the Tidal Wave Shuttle Loop roller coaster in 1978.
Propeller Spin
1976
1989
Situated in the park's former Roaring 20s Airfield section it featured a large propeller spinning in the center.
Pharaoh's Eye
1981
1987
Was removed to make room for Racing Rivers in 1988. It was located in Grande World Exposition Of 1890. Psyclone and Sledge Hammer sit on the Former site of Pharaoh's Eye and Swing Of Siam (now Swing Of The Century across from Crystal Arcade in Action Zone).Pharaoh's Eye was bought by an amusement park in South America after the 1987 Season.
Super Spiral
1993
2001
Located where Tilt-A-Whirl is. Removed due to age.
Super Round Up
J&J Amusements
Unknown
Super Round Up Unknown
2010
Closed in 2010 and later removed in 2013.
Round Up Unknown
2016
Closed in 2016 when the park temporarily closed for renovations. Eventually removed during 2018.
Super Round Up Unknown
2019
Super Round Up Unknown Unknown

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Round-Up - Enchanted Forest Water Safari". Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Zero Gravity". West Coast Amusements. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  3. ^ "New Rides and Facilities To Be Found Found At Hershey Park". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, MD. April 20, 1968. p. 6.
  4. ^ "The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
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