Round Up (ride)


Round Up is an amusement ride consisting of a circular horizontal platform with a vertical cage-like wall around the edge. The platform is attached to a motor on a hydraulic arm. The ride starts out by spinning until the centripetal force is enough to push riders against the wall. Then the arm raises the horizontal platform to a vertical position in which riders, instead of spinning horizontally, are now spinning almost vertically.
The ride spins for a predetermined cycle until an automatic timer releases the hydraulic fluid from the arm, causing the platform to return to its horizontal position. The operator may be required to manually control the spin of the ride so that its exit aligns correctly with the exit gate. Most require the rider to be at least 42 inches tall.
In the United Kingdom, this ride is commonly known as the Meteor or Meteorite. The first such ride to arrive in that same country was with Rose Brothers in the 1950s and it came from Germany.
Although Hrubetz examples, exist in the United Kingdom other common makers, including Cadoxton and Sam Ward.
There are 70 Round Ups in the United States, 40 in the United Kingdom and 20 in Australia.

New Models

The new portable model, made by Dartron, is known as Zero Gravity. The lighting and appearance has changed and the ride has gone from tire rim drive to direct center gear drive, but its operation remains the same. The title is ironic because, the ride does the opposite of creating the sense of zero gravity, as it only gives off the illusion that there is an increase in gravity.
Another version, also made by Dartron, exists called "Zendar", where the platform tilts on the end of the arm.

Locations

NameLocationOpenedNotesRef
Electric Rainbow
Stricker's Grove
Located in Ross, Ohio outside of Cincinnati
The Black Hole
Happy H Attractions
Located in Springdale and serving festival locations citywide
Bulls Eye
Camden Park
Located at 1 mile past the Wayne County border in West Virginia
Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth
Six Flags Magic Mountain
First known as Electric Rainbow between 1974 and 1986, then Turbo between 1987 and 1993, then Gordon Gearworks between 1994 and 1998 and finally Grinder Gearworks between 1998 and 2011.
Riddle Me This
Six Flags America
Zero Gravity
Canobie Lake Park
Replaced Round Up in the mid-2008 season.
Bamboozler
Worlds of Fun
The Revolution
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Round Up
Tweetsie Railroad
Round Up
Lakeside Amusement Park
Round Up
Lakemont Park
Round-Up
Enchanted Forest Water Safari
1978
Super Spiral
DelGrosso's Amusement Park
Round Up
Mark Lake Enterprises
Super Round Up
Idlewild Park
1986
Zero Gravity
Oaks Amusement Park
Super Round Up
Silverwood Theme Park
Super Round Up
Parque de la Ciudad
Round Up
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Super Round Up
Coney Island
Super Round Up
Conneaut Lake Park
Cyclone
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Genie
Lake Winnepesaukah
Nemesis
Ulten Castle
Zero Gravity
Beauce Carnival
Zero Gravity
Deggeller Attractions
Zero Gravity
Evans Midland Empire Shows, Inc.
Zero Gravity
Pacific National Exhibition
Zero Gravity
The Mighty Bluegrass Shows
Zero Gravity
West Coast Amusements
Zero Gravity
Windy City Amusements
Zero Gravity
World's Finest Shows
The Cage
David Rowland and Sons Fun Fair
Super Round Up
J&J Amusements
Wave Rider
Classic Amusements
Calkins Midway's Round Up
The Mount Horeb Summer Frolic

Past appearances