American carnivals/fairs are in the toilet!

[traveller]

Long ago, American carnivals used to be loads of fun. There used to be great thriller rides like the Paratrooper, the Rock-o-Plane, the Tempest, the Hully Gully, the Kamikaze, lots of neat stuff.

But today's carnivals are trash! They have weak rides that are not thrilling. Although the Zipper has returned to many carnivals, there is now a "No Single Riders" policy enforced as though it were a federal law straight out of Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, and enforced by the FBI. All because of some crazed clowns at Chance Rides (which manufactures the Zipper) that decided, in 1995, to make a huge stink about single riders being able to "turn sideways inside the capsule" and "slip their legs out from under the lap bar," ignorant of the fact that something like that is impossible. Just like the Feds love to enforce the notion that it was fires and burning jet fuel instead of planted explosives that sent the World Trade Center crumbling all the way down to it's bare foundation, completely ignorant of the fact that no highrise building in the world has ever crumbled all the way to it's bare foundation due to fire.

The Zipper is an all time favorite ride of mine since I was little. As a teenager, I have ridden single on the Zipper innumerable times, and can easily tell you that nobody over even 60 inches tall can ever turn sideways inside those gondolas and slip their legs out from under the lap bar. As skinny as I was as a teenager, I couldn't twist my thighs anymore than maybe 25 degrees from vertical under that lap bar on the Zipper. Nor was I ever able to turn more than maybe 20 degrees from vertical inside the gondola. And this was when I personally was riding single on the Zipper when single riders were still allowed on the Zipper. The Zipper is one of my all time favorite rides still in operation, and in fact, at one carnival where I bought the wristband unlimited rides special, I went 5 times on the Zipper literally in just 3 hours! My only guess is; carnival companies nationwide are practicing heavier restrictions, including maximum age, and who knows what else. I have a feeling that next are "No Adults 18 and older" policies at carnivals. American carnivals since the 1990s have really gone into the toilet! Allready, the following carnival companies that I am aware of do not allow single riders on the Zipper; Windy City Amusements, Modern Midways, North American Midway Entertainment, Reithoffer Shows, and Wade Shows.


In case anyone was curious, by the way, this is the Zipper. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2pMrPCTu3w

[Ghost]

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[Moretorque]

I went to the drag races the Gator Nationals this weekend, that is like a carnival but they would not let me take a ride in a fuel car. The races are so corporate now where it used to be real family oriented with family teams and driver's, now they try and sign you up to go fight for the British Empire.

Drag racing used to be about cars and people who loved them.

[Signet]

I imagine it's a part of the same subtle social manipulation that you also get in other places: if you're by yourself, stay home.

[BlueEverglades]

I'm scared now those things fall apart when you step on them...

[jamesbond]

I'm scared now those things fall apart when you step on them...

Some of them have broken but it's very rare. BlueEverglades, you haven't posted in almost a year, how are you doing? Are you still living in Florida?

[jtest28]

Oh yeah, the Zipper! I rode that! Come to think of it, that was in 1989 already, time sure flew by me! As for that strange regulation, its like so many others popping up all over the USA. Its just rediculious. I did go to a fair in 2002 and there were still some good rides, including one that, I believe is called the Cliff Hanger. People sure were enjoying themselves too, and no one was occupied with their cell phones yet. I can only imagine what going to a fair now would be like, given that everyone seems so much more "transed-out".