Anton Schwarzkopf (1924-2001) was a prolific German roller coaster engineer and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs.
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Biography
Anton Schwarzkopf was introduced into the industry with his father's involvement with the design of specialized trailers used to transport circus equipment. The company eventually transitioned into creating amusement rides. In 1960, Schwarzkopf took over his father's company leading to the creation of his first actual roller coaster, The Wildcat, in 1964. Schwarzkopf also designed the first launched roller coaster in the world by means of weight-drop technology, King Kobra at Kings Dominion in Virginia. Schwarzkopf Industries grew rapidly with the vast support of various customers praising the company's creations. Outside of Germany, the company was represented by the Intamin AG firm; and as a result, many older rides credited to Intamin were actually designed and created by Schwarzkopf. Schwarzkopf's prowess as a businessman, was relatively lacking. His company suffered through several bankruptcies, resulting in the scrapping of many designs and deals with parks. Schwarzkopf retired from the industry in 1995, and died on 30 July 2001 after suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years. His son Wieland reportedly remains in the amusement business, designing rides for another company. One of his former employees, Werner Stengel, is now probably the most prolific designer of roller coasters and amusement rides in the world.
Notable Rides
- Aconcagua - Parque de la Ciudad
- Black Hole - Alton Towers (formerly "Black Hole II", a Jet Star 2 model, now defunct)
- Cascabel - La Feria Chapultepec Magico (Shuttle Loop model)
- Colossus the Fire Dragon - Lagoon Amusement Park (Double Looping model, with additional trackway curve)
- Dante's Inferno - Astroland
- Greezed Lightnin’ - Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom (Shuttle Loop model) Formerly located as Six Flags Great America as Tidal Wave (ride).
- Greezed Lightnin' - AstroWorld - not to be confused with the ride of the same name in Kentucky, this was a flywheel launched shuttle loop built in 1978. Is now in storage.
- Greased Lightnin' - a third model with a slightly different spelling, this model operated at Great America in California but is now in pieces.
- Jet Star 2 - Lagoon Amusement Park (Jet Star 2 model)
- Katapul - Hopi Hari (Shuttle Loop model)
- King Kobra - Kings Dominion in Virginia (now defunct, it was the world's first shuttle loop coaster.
- Knightmare - Camelot Theme Park (Custom Design)
- Laser (roller coaster) - Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Double Looping model)
- Lisebergbanan - Liseberg in Sweden (custom design)
- Looping Star - Nagashima Spa Land
- Looping Star Dreamland Margate UK(1982)
- Magnum Force, AKA Dreier Looping - 3 loop coaster, which toured German funfairs before being sold. Operated at Flamingo Land from 2000 to 2005.
- Mind Bender (Six Flags Over Georgia) - Six Flags over Georgia
- Mindbender (Galaxyland) - Galaxyland at the West Edmonton Mall
- Montezooma's Revenge - Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California
- Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon - The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom (Jet Star model)
- Nightmare at Phantom Cave - Darien Lake (Jet Star Model) (Defunct)
- Olympia Looping - Portable roller coaster, the largest in the world
- Rat Ride - Lightwater Valley (Wildcat model)
- Revolution - Six Flags Magic Mountain The world's first modern looping roller coaster.
- Scorpion (roller coaster) - Busch Gardens Africa
- Shockwave - Six Flags Over Texas
- Shuttle Loop - Nagashima Spa Land (Shuttle Loop model)
- SooperDooperLooper - Hersheypark
- Thriller - A portable multi-looper.
- Twist N' Shout - Loudoun Castle (Silverarrow model)
- Viper - Six Flags Astroworld (Looping Star model) demolished in 2005
- Whizzer - Six Flags Great America (formerly "Willard's Whizzer", a Speed Racer model)
- WildCat - Cedar Point A 65m Wildcat model that features two vertical spirals.
See also Category:Anton Schwarzkopf roller coasters
References
- Pantenburg, Michael. Schwarzkopf Coaster Net. Retrieved 18 September 2004.
