Madhouse (ride)


A Madhouse is a flat ride usually manufactured by Vekoma. A similar attraction under the name Mystery Swing is created by Mack Rides. The ride is designed to be an optical and physical illusion, consisting of several rows of seats attached to a swaying gondola within a rotating drum. The ride creates the impression that the rider is turning upside down, whereas it is actually the room that is moving around them.
The ride is a modern implementation of a haunted swing illusion.

Ride experience

Madhouses are often extensively themed during the ride sequence, and usually in the queue line. Several Madhouses feature pre-shows explaining a story behind the ride. Once in the ride, lapbars are lowered onto the riders, before they gradually experience an odd sense of :wikt:movement|movement. This is achieved through two mechanisms - the separate floor can move in a controlled swing from side-to-side by up to 15/30 degrees in each direction, but the surroundings of the room can rotate through a full 360 degrees. The pivot mechanism for the floor is hidden by two large objects at the end of the room, which are themed to match the ride.
At this point, both the floor and the room are slowly moving in unison. As the ride continues, the floor starts a separate movement from the rotating drum which gradually gives the impression that the room is rotating backwards and forwards further each time. Vekoma offers theme parks the option of programming their own sequence of how the room and floor move. In many Madhouses, the lighting subtly changes from moment to moment to add to the disorientation. Eventually, the drum mechanism turns through a full rotation and, by careful synchronisation with the sensation of the swinging floor mechanism, the riders are fooled into feeling as if they themselves are being repeatedly turned upside down.

List of Madhouses

NameParkCountryOpenedManufacturer
Haunted Swing- AnywhereAnywhere1893-1922?
Hexenschaukel- Germany1894U. Keller
Hex’n WippnGermany1968Lielie
HerzogschaukelMärchengarten Blühendes Barock LudwigsburgGermany1972?
Spukhaus Taunus WunderlandGermany1973Schwingel GmbH
Verhextes Schloss Freizeitpark TraumlandGermany??
Merlin's Mystical MansionClark's Trading Post, Lincoln New HampshireUnited States1990In house
Villa VoltaEftelingNetherlands1996Vekoma
The HauntingDrayton ManorGreat Britain1996Vekoma
Jack the RipperWiener PraterAustria1997?
Space AdventureGenting Theme ParkMalaysia1998–?Vekoma
Valhalla BorgenTivoli KopenhagenDenmark1998–2007Vekoma
Houdini's Great Escape Six Flags New EnglandUnited States1999Vekoma
Houdini's Great EscapeSix Flags Great AdventureUnited States1999–2009, 2011Vekoma
Houdini BellewaerdeBelgium1999Vekoma
Fluch der Kassandra Europa-ParkGermany2000Mack Rides
Hex – The Legend of the TowersAlton TowersGreat Britain2000Vekoma
Merlin’s Magic CastleWalibi HollandNetherlands2000Vekoma
Le Palais du génie Walibi BelgiumBelgium2001Vekoma
ImpossibleBlackpool Pleasure BeachGreat Britain1955-2001 2002In house
Feng Ju PalacePhantasialandGermany2002Vekoma
Hotel Embrujado Parque Warner MadridSpain2002Vekoma
Magic House GardalandItaly2002Vekoma
Noah’s Incredible AdventureNoah’s Ark Water ParkUnited States2003–2008Mack Rides
Verlies des Grauens BelantisGermany2003Vekoma
Lenny's Magic School EverlandSouth Korea2007-2019 2019Mack Rides
Le Défi de César Parc AstérixFrance2008Mack Rides
Alpenhotel Rasch - Germany2011?
Maison Houdini Rainbow MagicLandItaly2011Vekoma
Haunted House Monster PartyLegoland WindsorGreat Britain2019Vekoma

Cancelled installations