Carnival Chronicles: The Iconic Enterprise: Not Exactly a Ferris Wheel

Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to take a spin down memory lane – a very fast, occasionally upside-down memory lane, that is. For those of you who don't know me, let me just say: I. Am. A. Carnival. Ride. Junkie. Always have been, always will be. And there's one ride in particular that holds a special, slightly terrifying, yet utterly delightful place in my heart: the magnificent Enterprise.

My first tango with this gentle giant happened way back in the mid-to-late 80s at the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Picture this: a wide-eyed, slightly apprehensive little me, being coaxed onto this behemoth by my brave big sister, Becki. Now, the exact ownership is a bit hazy in my mind – maybe it was the legendary Gooding's Million Dollar Midways, who held the contract back then? What I do remember, vividly, was seeing something on the news about this particular Enterprise being a vintage import from Bremen, Germany, dating all the way back to 1976! How cool is that?

Now, let's be real. The idea of going upside down was…well, let's just say my mama had instilled a healthy fear of projectile vomiting during such maneuvers. But Becki, being the awesome sister she is, wouldn't have me riding on anything she's riding herself if she thought it would send me spiraling into a technicolor yawn, mostly because if I did it, she would also. Still, those playground tales of cars flying off and arms getting stuck at dizzying heights? They definitely planted a seed of "maybe I should just stick to the Ferris wheel." Though, looking back, I'm pretty sure most of those stories were pure, unadulterated kid-fueled fantasy. (Though I'll admit, the occasional real-life accident does give you pause.)

I didn't know what to expect even though I saw it in action many times. But then the ride started. Oh, that sound! That deep, guttural hum of the motor as it began to spin. For anyone who's ever loved an Enterprise, or any of those beautifully engineered Huss rides, that sound alone is iconic. It's the mechanical heartbeat of pure, unadulterated fun. And then, the magic began. A little jolt, a gentle sway, and then the entire arm of the ride started its graceful ascent. Suddenly, we weren't just spinning; we were flying.

The Enterprise. It's one of those rides that elicits a very specific reaction from onlookers: "Nope. Absolutely not. I value the contents of my stomach." I get it! The relentless spinning, the whole upside-down thing… it sounds like a recipe for disaster. But here's the secret: the Enterprise is surprisingly smooth and enjoyable, even for someone like me who's noticing a slight increase in motion sensitivity as the years tick by.

You hop into your individual car, and that's when the first-timers usually have a mini-panic attack: "Where in the Sam Hill is the seatbelt?!" Fear not, my friends! You don't need one. What you do need is that door. Depending on the model, it either slides securely shut or flips down with a reassuring clunk. Some even have a backup chain, just for that extra layer of "you're not going anywhere" security.

Once everyone's locked and loaded, the central wheel starts to turn, slowly at first, then picking up speed. As it does, your car swings outward, and suddenly you're on your side, feeling the g-force gently but firmly pressing you into your seat. And then, the big moment: the arm holding the entire wheel gracefully rises, usually up to a near-vertical 87 degrees (just shy of a full 90). Most rides hang you there, suspended between earth and sky, for what feels like a blissful eternity (though it's usually less than a minute). But oh man, I remember those glorious rides on Gooding's and Reithoffer's Enterprises – they'd keep us spinning vertically for a good minute and a half, maybe even longer! And the legends of those old park models that would go for a full three minutes or more? Pure, unadulterated thrill!

Now, for the real nerds (like me!), let's talk manufacturers. While there were a few players in the Enterprise game, the two titans were undoubtedly Schwarzkopf and Huss. Interestingly, they both rolled out their versions in the same year: 1972, with Schwarzkopf actually being the first to design and build it. Here in the US, when it comes to the traveling Enterprises I've had the pleasure of experiencing, almost all of them have been Huss beauties. I'm talking about the ones owned by Gooding's and Reithoffer, of course, but also the Conklin Shows machine, the Murphy Brothers' ride, and even the one Drew Shows spiffed up and then quickly passed on to Deggellar.

The Schwarzkopf Enterprises? Those were more of a park fixture, at least in my experience. I definitely remember riding one at Six Flags Over Texas, and who could forget the iconic "Wheelie" at Six Flags Over Georgia? The news of its removal and subsequent move to Fun Spot America in Orlando was a sad day for many Atlanta-area thrill-seekers. I've heard so many "Wheelie" fans holding out hope for its return, maybe even to the Fun Spot Atlanta location down in Fayetteville. Fingers crossed! As for other park models, like the ones at King's Island and Six Flags Great Adventure, the manufacturer details are a bit fuzzy in my memory banks.

Sadly, the days of the traveling Enterprise seem to be dwindling a bit here in the States. The cost of keeping these magnificent machines in tip-top shape is no joke, and many have been retired or found new homes in parks or shows overseas. But here's a little tidbit that blew my mind: apparently, owners of the Huss Enterprise models had the option to convert them to run backwards! Can you even imagine? According to a Huss service letter from 1984, North American Parts Inc. offered this conversion. A backwards Enterprise… part of me is dying to try it, and the other part is convinced my aforementioned mama-induced fear of upside-down-induced nausea would kick into overdrive! Wouldn't it be absolutely insane if the cars faced each other, and halfway through the ride, it just stopped and reversed direction? It'd be like a Sky Diver, but without that tempting steering wheel!

So, there you have it – my personal journey with the Enterprise. It's a ride that embodies the thrill and nostalgia of the carnival for me. That unique sound, the anticipation as you rise skyward, the brief moment of weightlessness as you hang upside down… it's pure magic.

What about you? Do you have any Enterprise stories? Any memories of riding one, good or bad (though hopefully more good than bad!)? I'd absolutely love to hear your experiences in the comments below! And hey, while we're reminiscing about these incredible rides and the joy they bring, if you've enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with me and want to help fuel more of these nostalgic deep dives (maybe even contribute to my future carnival adventures!), well, let's just say virtual high-fives and any little tokens of appreciation are always warmly welcomed. Just sayin'! 😉

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The Hi-Roller: A Carnival Ride from My Nightmares

Y'all know I love me some carnival rides. So, take a look at this photo for a hot minute before proceeding to read my blog. Have you ever seen one of these in action? Did you ride it? Well, I did, and the first time was enough to be the last time for me.

Side By Side, Ring of Fire & Hi Roller

I used to love the Super Loops aka Mega Loop aka Ring of Fire, built by Larson International, before my body began to tell me I am not built for multiple inversions within a short period of time. I loved the upside-down action back in the day. THIS ride, however, looks like someone took the idea of the Super Loops, squished it down to an oval then combined it with parts used to build various kiddie rides, creating the most nightmarish ride I have ever ridden in my life.

The Hi-Roller aka Crazy Train, manufactured by Larson International, began to pop up on carnival midways in the mid-1990s despite its low capacity. The ride consists of an oval track mounted onto a frame. Riding along the track are five triangular-shaped cars that hold four people each, and you definitely do not want to be in the car with someone who may suffer from any sort of motion sickness. Most of the early versions were themed Hi-Roller, featuring graphics of poker cards, slots, and other casino-related visuals. The 90s brought in the casino themes with rides like the redesigned Trabant, which Chance Rides renamed Wipeout. For anyone who's ridden this ride, you would agree that Hi-Roller is a fitting name, allowing a casino theme as well as a description of the ride experience.

Riders enter one of the five, four-person cars, sitting, facing the car in front of them. If they are claustrophobic, they better speak up before the operator locks them in because once it starts, there's no turning back... then again, they will be turning back and in every other direction. The only comfortable thing about this ride is the padded lap bar. When the ride begins to move, you think it's going to be tame because the train starts to slowly trod around the track. However, the second the whole structure begins to spin, all hell breaks loose, and you are banging into the person next to you and they into you for the duration of the ride.

One of the best parts of the ride, if you are not opposed to the nature of the movements, is the fact that you can see the reactions of the riders in front of you unless the plexiglass window is caked with dried vomit. As you round the bend in the turns, you will be quite close to each other, adding to the chaotic experience. Did I mention that the cars flip open when the operator lets you out? Just imagine a power outage or the ride breaking down while the cars are in the turn, trapping the riders until they either winch the train to the straight position or the ride starts back up. There's not much ventilation, so it gets hot, and if someone was sick on the ride, you might catch a few whiffs of whatever they left behind.

Have you ever ridden the Hi-Roller? If so, what are your thoughts? My takeaway from the one time I rode this ride was that it’s similar to the time my sister convinced me to get into a clothes dryer, then closed the door and turned it on. Just awful.