One evening when I was about ten years old, my friend Robby and I wandered over to this traveling amusement park that was being set up a couple miles from home near a shopping center. The place was empty and not yet fully set up. I’m surprised there wasn’t a fence, as you could walk all around the deserted grounds. There in the dark was this Ferris wheel called the Skydiver that looked like the coolest thing I’d ever seen. The way the sleek cages spun horizontally blew my mind. I wanted to ride it once the fair was up and running but the problem was that I was a scaredy-cat! It looked so exciting, but I never worked up the courage to go on it. I was afraid it would turn into a puke-fest or that I’d otherwise freak out. Robby thought it looked pretty cool too, but he wasn’t exactly racing to go ride it either. I think if he’d been more enthusiastic, I probably would have followed his lead.
Even when we went back the next day and the rides were up and running, I still chickened out. In the grand scheme of things it’s of no importance, but in a funny way I still regret that I never rode that thing since most of the Skydiver rides have long since been retired and I haven’t seen one at an amusement park in decades. I do enjoy watching this POV video on YouTube though and yeah, that horizontal spinning motion does look vomit-inducing.
It was only later that I learned the ride was manufactured by Chance Rides Company, who also made the Zipper, which has apparently had a much longer production history. I rode the Zipper (twice, I think) decades ago, and while it was scary, I handled it well enough and didn’t lose my lunch. I’d never do it again though!
One ride experience that was pretty awful for me though was riding the original Mr. Twister roller coaster at Elitch Gardens in Denver way back when. It’s long since been torn down but was pretty legendary at the time. I had no idea what I was getting into. The first drop absolutely terrified me, and I remember the friend I was sitting with looking over at me and laughing at the look on my face. The other drops weren’t nearly as bad but that first one must have messed up the balance in my inner ear or something, as I felt off and queasy the rest of the day at the park. I tried to act like I was fine, but I couldn’t find a way to feel normal again till probably that evening. Everyone else seemed to be having a good time but I just felt dazed and a bit guilty that I couldn’t join in the fun. I didn’t want to be a buzzkill, but I just felt like crap. If I’d had access to a bed in a darkened room, I would have lain down for the rest of the day. I’m glad I rode it but if I’d known I wouldn’t have.
The Skydiver though is the one ride where I still wonder why I chickened out. (As an aside, it shows up in the background at the end of the classic movie The Warriors.) If I were to see one at a traveling amusement park, I would have to stop the car and go look at it, but I’d probably still not have the nerve to get on it, especially at my age. I still think it’s probably the coolest looking ride ever made—more aesthetically pleasing than the Zipper. I probably should have ridden it at the time even if I’d hurled.
