Welcome to a fun journey through the world of amusement parks! Did you know that something like Ferris wheels existed way back in the 17th century in Bulgaria? They were called “pleasure wheels.” The name “Ferris wheel” came from George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., who built one for the World’s Colombian Exposition in 1893.
Some of the first amusement parks were known as trolley parks. In the 19th century in the U.S., people often traveled by trolleys or streetcars. These trolley lines sometimes ended at parks that began as picnic spots and gradually added fun rides like roller coasters and Ferris wheels.
One of the earliest roller coasters in the U.S. was the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway in Pennsylvania. It became popular in the 1800s when people rode down an old mine track. Even back then, they had safety features like anti-rollback devices, which are still used on roller coasters today.
When Disneyland opened in 1955, Tomorrowland was designed to look like the future. However, they didn’t predict some of the big trends of 1986, like leg warmers! Interestingly, when Disneyland opened, hundreds of stray cats appeared. Today, these cats are allowed to roam the park at night to help keep mice away.
In Copenhagen, there’s a roller coaster called “Hondaprut,” which means “farting dog.” Steven Spielberg helped create the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. He even thought of the ride before the movie was made! The ride features an 85-foot drop and cost $110 million to build, almost twice the movie’s budget.
Dolly Parton can’t ride most of the thrill rides at her amusement park because of motion sickness. Speaking of rides, the Scrambler is known as the “Chaa” in Australia and “the Twist” in the UK.
London’s Amora exhibition is a park focused on health and relationships, while Dickens World in Kent takes visitors into the world of Charles Dickens, complete with a “Great Expectations” boat ride.
The tallest roller coaster in the world is Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. It speeds up to 128 mph and reaches 456 feet, which is 150 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty!
Herbert Selner invented the Tilt-a-Whirl in 1926 after playing with his son. A new Tilt-a-Whirl costs around $300,000. In 2012, a French politician announced plans for “Napoleon Land,” featuring historical battle reenactments, but it hasn’t been built yet.
Louis XIV inspired fun houses with the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. The pirate ship ride, originally called the Ocean Wave, was invented in the 1890s in Oklahoma.
Diggerland is a construction-themed park in the UK, popular with kids. New Jersey’s Action Park, which closed in 1996, was famous for its dangerous rides, including a looping water slide that rarely worked.
In 2011, a UK resort faced criticism for posting “no bumping” signs around bumper car rides, which many thought were jokes. Holiday World in Indiana was the first-ever theme park, and its creator worried about the town’s name, Santa Claus, Indiana, and what visitors would expect.
The Colombian theme park Henda Napolis features an archway made from a plane that once carried drugs to the U.S. The Stratosphere in Las Vegas is the world’s highest amusement park, with rides about 1,000 feet above ground.
Finally, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has actors playing the founders of Hogwarts in portraits. In 2012, Richard Rodriguez set a world record for the longest roller coaster marathon, riding for over 405 hours!
Thanks for joining this fun adventure through amusement park history and trivia. Remember, if you have any mind-blowing questions, feel free to ask!
Imagine you are an amusement park designer. Use your creativity to design a new amusement park. Draw a map of your park, including at least five attractions. Think about the themes, types of rides, and any unique features your park will have. Share your design with the class and explain why your park would be a fun place to visit.
Research the history of amusement parks and create a timeline highlighting key events and inventions mentioned in the article, such as the creation of the Ferris wheel and the opening of Disneyland. Use images and short descriptions to make your timeline visually appealing. Present your timeline to the class.
Explore the science behind roller coasters. Research how gravity, inertia, and energy work together to make roller coasters thrilling. Create a simple model or drawing to demonstrate these concepts. Explain to your classmates how roller coasters use these principles to ensure both excitement and safety.
Develop a trivia quiz based on the fun facts from the article. Include questions about the history, unique rides, and interesting tidbits about amusement parks. Host a quiz game in class and see who can answer the most questions correctly. This will help reinforce what you’ve learned in a fun and interactive way.
Think about the different types of rides mentioned in the article. Design your own unique ride, considering the theme, mechanics, and safety features. Create a detailed drawing or model of your ride and write a short description of how it works. Present your ride to the class and explain why it would be a popular attraction.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m John Green. Welcome to my salon! This is Mental Floss on YouTube. Did you know that something similar to Ferris wheels existed in 17th century Bulgaria? They were called pleasure wheels. The term “Ferris wheel” came about when George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. created one for the World’s Colombian Exposition in 1893.
Today, I’m going to share some fascinating facts about amusement parks. Some of the earliest amusement parks were called trolley parks. During the 19th century in the U.S., many people used trolleys or streetcars to get from place to place, and some of those trolley lines would end in parks that started as picnic areas and then slowly added attractions like roller coasters and Ferris wheels.
Speaking of early amusement parks, one of the earliest roller coasters in the U.S. was the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway in Pennsylvania. It became popular during the 1800s when people would ride down this old mine track. They did have safety features, including anti-rollback devices, which are still used on roller coasters today.
When Disneyland opened in 1955, Tomorrowland was designed to look like a year in the distant future. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee some of the biggest innovations of 1986, like leg warmers and certain popular characters. Interestingly, when Disneyland opened, hundreds of stray cats showed up, and to this day, employees allow them to roam the park while it’s closed because they help keep the mice away.
There’s a roller coaster at the Copenhagen theme park BonBon-Land called “Hondaprut,” which translates to “farting dog.” Steven Spielberg helped create the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios Hollywood and even had the idea for the ride before they shot the movie. The water ride has a slow buildup that leads to an 85-foot drop, and it cost $110 million to build, which was almost double the film’s budget.
Dolly Parton can’t ride most of the thrill rides at her amusement park due to motion sickness. Speaking of motion sickness, perhaps you’re familiar with the Scrambler, which Australians call the “Chaa,” and people from the UK refer to as “the Twist.”
London’s Amora exhibition is often referred to as a sex-themed park, focusing on sexual health and relationships. There’s also Dickens World in Kent, which immerses visitors in the world of Charles Dickens, complete with a “Great Expectations” boat ride.
Currently, the tallest roller coaster in the world is the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. After speeding up to 128 mph, the coaster reaches 456 feet, which is 150 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty.
Herbert Selner invented the Tilt-a-Whirl in 1926, inspired by a playful moment with his son. A brand new Tilt-a-Whirl costs around $300,000. In 2012, a French politician announced plans for “Napoleon Land,” which would feature reenactments of historical battles, but construction has yet to begin.
Louis XIV is credited with inspiring fun houses, as the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles influenced funhouse mirrors. The pirate ship ride, originally called the Ocean Wave, was invented in the 1890s in Oklahoma.
Diggerland is a construction-themed amusement park in the UK, popular with young children. New Jersey’s Action Park, which closed in 1996, became legendary for its dangerous attractions, including a looping water slide that was rarely operational.
In 2011, a UK resort faced criticism for posting “no bumping” signs around bumper car rides, which many customers thought were jokes. Holiday World in Indiana was the first-ever theme park, and its creator was concerned about the town’s name, Santa Claus, Indiana, and the expectations it set for visitors.
The Colombian theme park Henda Napolis features an archway made from the same plane that brought drugs to the U.S. The Stratosphere in Las Vegas is the world’s highest amusement park, with rides located about 1,000 feet above ground.
Finally, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter features actors portraying the founders of Hogwarts in portraits. In 2012, Richard Rodriguez set the world record for the longest roller coaster marathon, riding for over 405 hours.
Thank you for watching Mental Floss on YouTube! Each week, we answer one of your mind-blowing questions. This week’s question comes from Nicole Dukic, who asks why body hair only grows to a certain length. The hair on your body is known as androgenic hair, which has a shorter growing phase compared to terminal hair on your head.
If you have a mind-blowing question, please leave it in the comments. Thanks again for watching, and as we say in my hometown, don’t forget to be awesome!
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This version removes any inappropriate or potentially offensive content while maintaining the informative nature of the original transcript.
Amusement – A feeling of delight and enjoyment, often experienced in a place designed for entertainment. – In the early 20th century, amusement parks became popular destinations for families seeking entertainment and leisure.
Parks – Large public areas with open spaces, often featuring recreational facilities and attractions. – Many cities developed parks in the 19th century to provide green spaces for their growing populations.
Roller – A cylindrical object or device that rotates, often used in machinery or as part of a ride. – The invention of the roller coaster in the 1800s revolutionized amusement parks by offering thrilling experiences.
Coasters – Tracks or rides designed for high-speed entertainment, often featuring steep drops and loops. – Roller coasters have evolved over time, with modern designs incorporating advanced technology for safety and excitement.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of ancient civilizations reveals how early societies developed complex cultures and technologies.
Inventions – New devices or processes created through ingenuity and experimentation. – The invention of the steam engine was a pivotal moment in history, sparking the Industrial Revolution.
Rides – Mechanical attractions in amusement parks designed to entertain and thrill visitors. – Early amusement park rides were simple, but they laid the foundation for the complex attractions we see today.
Fun – Enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure. – Science fairs can be a fun way for students to explore new concepts and conduct experiments.
Safety – The condition of being protected from danger or harm. – Ensuring the safety of passengers is a top priority in the design of modern roller coasters.
Cats – Small, domesticated carnivorous mammals often kept as pets. – In ancient Egypt, cats were revered and often depicted in art due to their role in controlling pests.
