Scrambler (ride)


The Scrambler, Twist, Twister, Cha Cha, Sizzler, or Merry Mixer, is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience centrifugal force, while spinning along two separate axes. Riders are seated in small carriages clustered together and connected by beams at the top to a central point. The clustered vehicles are spun in one direction, while the ride as a whole spins in the opposite direction. There are a number of variations of the design.

Early history

The first scrambler was invented by Richard Harris of Georgia and installed at Lakewood Fairgrounds in 1938. Two additional rides were built and sold in the following two years. In 1941, Harris was granted a U.S. patent for the design, which was then acquired or licensed by the Eli Bridge Company.
In late 1953, the Eli Bridge Company road-tested its Scrambler ride, and sold the first five by the end 1954. The original ride had a total of 12 cars distributed among its three arms with a capacity of 24 adults or 36 children. The entire ride rotated clockwise at 9–12 revolutions per minute.
The Eli Bridge Scrambler had one of its first major showings at the 1955 Florida State Fair, where it grossed $1,700 in a single day and interested many additional buyers.
The rides first appeared in the UK in 1959, when they were manufactured by Edwin Hall under license from the Eli Bridge Company. Eli Bridge rides were first imported in 1979.

Variants

Grasscutter

A grasscutter scrambler has a basic frame shape and no platform and is driven by a lower arm assembly. This type of ride is extremely popular in the United States.
A Sizzler is a ride which has thicker arms and a platform. It was when these type started being manufactured, the manufacturers concentrated on the ride aesthetics. Concerns have been raised about its safety, as the ride has been involved in at least six fatalities since 1997.
The 'Gee Whizzer' derivative was constructed and commissioned by the operators King Carnival amusements of Tasmania, Australia during the 1950s. The project was carried out by rail engineers who utilised rail and tram parts which were common for the era. This machine is currently the largest and fastest of the variants utilising a unique fully suspended balanced single sweep arm design, driven from the top resulting in no lower arm assembly. The centre support core is fully independent and does not require a support deck, instead eight extended stabilisers are fitted to the core during assembly. Only one of these machines are known to be in existence.

Cyclone

A Cyclone, also known as a Lifting Twist, manufactured by ARM UK, has very much the same function and appearance as a normal Sizzler, except that the centre structure begins to lift with the cars once it reaches up to normal speed until it reaches above the fence level, where it remains for the duration of the ride. They are considerably fast when they reach full speed, although they normally slow down first so riders can brace for the full speed. After the full speed part is over, the centre structure begins to lower back to platform level as the ride slows down to a stop. Only one of these Cyclones currently exist in the world.

Current installations

NameLocationManufacturerOpenedClosedDetails
Pharaoh's FuryAdventure IslandOpen
Road Runner ScramblerAdventure Park USA Eli Bridge Company
ScramblerAdventureland Eli Bridge Company1974Originally opened in 1968 at Riverview Park. Relocated within park in 1993 and again in 2011. Previously known as Bavarian Scrambler and Wrangler.
ScramblerAlabama Splash AdventureEli Bridge Company2003Originally operated 2003 through 2011, then reopened in 2018. Uncertain if current unit is the same as the previous or a replacement.
ScramblerAmusements of America Eli Bridge CompanyTraveling model.
ScramblerArnolds ParkEli Bridge Company
CycloneBarry's Amusements
ScramblerBay Beach Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company1977
SizzlerBeech Bend Park2015Replaced former model that opened in 2000
Scramble RideBell's Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerBelle City Amusements Eli Bridge Company
ScramblerBig Amusements Eli Bridge Company
JambalayaBlue Bayou and Dixie Landin'Eli Bridge Company
ScramblerBoardwalk Amusements Eli Bridge Company
UnknownBoblo Island Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
Flying TwistBotton's Pleasure Beach, Skegness
ScramblerBowcraft Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
SizzlerBrean Leisure Park
ScramblerBuckroe Beach Amusement Park Eli Bridge CompanyClosed
Le CatapultBusch Gardens WilliamsburgEli Bridge Company
HaywireButler Amusements Eli Bridge Company
Scrambler Butler Amusements Eli Bridge Company
Scrambler Butler Amusements Eli Bridge Company
Scrambler Butler Amusements Eli Bridge Company
Scrambler Butler Amusements Eli Bridge Company
ScramblerC&L Shows Eli Bridge Company
ScramblerCamden ParkEli Bridge CompanySerial number 367-71.
PsychodromeCanobie Lake ParkEli Bridge Company1989Enclosed.
ScramblerCarousel Gardens Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerCarowindsEli Bridge Company1973Previously known as Kaleidoscope
CentrifugeCasino PierEli Bridge Company2019Returning in 2019; original model destroyed by Hurricane Sandy
ScramblerCastle ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerCedar PointEli Bridge Company1960
ScramblerCentreville Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
TwisterClacton Pier
TwisterClarence Pier
ScramblerConey Island Eli Bridge Company1969Relocated to Kings Island in 1972.
ScramblerConey Island Eli Bridge Company1991
ScramblerDarien Lake2014
ScramblerDelGrosso's Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerDeno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
SizzlerDizzylands Funfair - Elmer Bell
ScramblerDollywood
ScramblerDorney Park & Wildwater KingdomEli Bridge Company1970
Cyclone TwistDreamland
TwisterDunes Leisure Funfair, Mablethorpe
ScramblerEdaville USA
ScramblerEnchanted Forest Water Safari
ScramblerFamily Kingdom Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
TwisterFantasy Island
ScramblerFantasy Island Amusement Park Eli Bridge Company2020Replaced a previous version of the same ride
ScramblerFantasy Island Amusement Park Eli Bridge CompanyReplaced by a new version for 2020 season
SidewinderFrontier CityEli Bridge Company
ScramblurFun Spot America Eli Bridge Company
AstrosphereFuntown Splashtown USAEli Bridge CompanyEnclosed in dome-shaped structure with speakers and disco ball attached to ride's arm. Plays song "Fire on High" by Electric Light Orchestra during ride cycle.
ScramblerGillian's Wonderland Pier
Blizzard IndoorsGreat Escape Eli Bridge Company1971Enclosed. Operated 1971 through 2004 before returning in 2013. Previously known as Chipper's Magical Mystery Tour.
TwisterGreat Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
ScramblerHersheyparkEli Bridge Company1972
ScramblerHuck Finn's Playland
ScramblerIdlewild and Soak ZoneEli Bridge Company
ScramblerIndiana BeachEli Bridge Company
ScramblerJoyland Amusement Park Eli Bridge Company
Dust DevilRides At Adventure CoveEli Bridge CompanyPreviously operated as part of Wyandot Lake as Neptune's Revenge. Serial number 273-66.
ScramblerKings DominionEli Bridge Company2000Previously known as Witch Doctor
ScramblerKings IslandEli Bridge Company1972Relocated from Cincinnati's Coney Island, where it originally opened in 1969
Merry MixerKnoebels Amusement Resort
Batidora La Feria Chapultepec Mágico
Space ScramblerLagoonEli Bridge Company
ScramblerLake WinnepesaukahEli Bridge Company
ScramblerLakemont ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerLakeside Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerLittle Amerricka
TwisterLuna Park, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
TwisterMagic City
Kiddie ScramblerMichael's Amusements Eli Bridge CompanyChild's sized version of ride.
SizzlerMichael's Amusements Wisdom Mfg.
ScramblerMichigan's AdventureEli Bridge Company1975
ScramblerMiracle Strip at Pier Park
ScramblerNASCAR Speedpark
ScramblerOaks Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
Mexican TwistOK Corral
SizzlerOtterbacher Shows Wisdom Rides
Inkie's ScramblerPacific ParkEli Bridge Company
Haley's CometParadise LakeEli Bridge Company1981
ScramblerPlayland Eli Bridge Company
Kiddy ScramblerPlayland Eli Bridge CompanyChild's sized version of the ride.
ScramblerPlayland
TwisterRainbow Park, Hunstanton
ScramblerSandspit Amusement Park
ScramblerSandy Lake Amusement Park
Swedish ScramblerScandia Amusements
ScramblerSilverwood Theme ParkEli Bridge Company
CycloneSix Flags AmericaEli Bridge Company1993/1994
Scat-A-BoutSix Flags Discovery KingdomEli Bridge Company1999
WaverunnerSix Flags Fiesta Texas1994
DejaVuSix Flags Great AdventureEli Bridge Company2012Relocated from American Adventures in Georgia. Serial number 340-69 R92.
Hometown Fun MachineSix Flags Great AmericaEli Bridge Company1976
ScramblerSix Flags Magic Mountain2003
ScramblerSix Flags New England1973
SidewinderSix Flags Over Texas2006
Shazam!Six Flags St. Louis1972
ScramblerSluggers & Putters Eli Bridge Company
ScramblerSmokey's Greater Shows
ScramblerStricker's GroveEli Bridge Company
ScramblerSylvan Beach Amusement ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerTraintown
TwisterTramore Amusements
Merry MixerTrimper's Rides
ScramblerValleyfairEli Bridge Company1976
ScramblerWaldameer ParkEli Bridge Company
ScramblerWestern Playland
Whirling WildcatsWild AdventuresEli Bridge Company
ScramblerWild Waves Theme Park
ScramblerWonderland Park Eli Bridge Company
Scandi ScramblerWorlds of FunEli Bridge Company1973
ScramblerCiudad Mágica Costa RicaEli Bridge Company
ScramblerWonderland Costa RicaEli Bridge Company

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