25 Vintage Carnival Rides That’ll Tilt Your Whirl

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 06/24/2024 in wow

Although carnivals and amusement parks of various kinds have been around for hundreds of years, they didn't always look like modern Six Flags or Disney Worlds. Even the rides that resemble what we have today looked sketchy, to say the least, and some of them seem flat-out deadly.

But like most things back then, that didn't stop the people of the day from having fun with them. Here are 25 vintage carnival rides that'll tilt your whirl.

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1.
The world's first roller coaster at Coney Island, 1884.
2.
3.
4.
The Spider at Palisades Amusement Park, 1968.
5.
6.
LaMarcus A. Thompson and crew testing the Giant Roller Coaster, Coney Island, New York, April 11, 1915.
7.
8.
Inside California Alligator Farm Amusement Park where kids could ride and play with alligators, 1920s.
9.
Ku Klux Klan members enjoying a carnival in Canon City, Colorado. 1926.
10.
11.
Coney Island's Luna Park bumper car attractions. 1920s.
12.
13.
Robert F. Kennedy riding a roller coaster with his children. He is accompanied by his friend John Glenn along with his children, Disneyland, 1968.
14.
15.
The Top aka "The Scenic Spiral Wheel" roller coaster at Coney Island's Luna Park.
16.
Roller Coaster at the Arcadia Hotel in Santa Monica, late 1880s.
17.
Construction of the "Big Dipper" roller coaster, San Francisco's Playland Park, 1922.
18.
1967, Argentina.
19.
A lion riding in the sidecar of a go-kart at a wall of death carnival attraction at Revere Beach, Massachusetts, 1929.
20.
A family on an amusement park ride in Santa Cruz, California, May 1972.
21.
22.
1909 - Summer fair in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
23.
Go Karting, early 1980s.
24.
Friends enjoying the "Lusse Skooter" bumper carts at White City Amusement Park in the 1920s.
25.
Elvis driving bumper cars.

1.
The world's first roller coaster at Coney Island, 1884.
2.
3.
4.
The Spider at Palisades Amusement Park, 1968.
5.
6.
LaMarcus A. Thompson and crew testing the Giant Roller Coaster, Coney Island, New York, April 11, 1915.
7.
8.
Inside California Alligator Farm Amusement Park where kids could ride and play with alligators, 1920s.
9.
Ku Klux Klan members enjoying a carnival in Canon City, Colorado. 1926.
10.
11.
Coney Island's Luna Park bumper car attractions. 1920s.
12.
13.
Robert F. Kennedy riding a roller coaster with his children. He is accompanied by his friend John Glenn along with his children, Disneyland, 1968.
14.
15.
The Top aka "The Scenic Spiral Wheel" roller coaster at Coney Island's Luna Park.
16.
Roller Coaster at the Arcadia Hotel in Santa Monica, late 1880s.
17.
Construction of the "Big Dipper" roller coaster, San Francisco's Playland Park, 1922.
18.
1967, Argentina.
19.
A lion riding in the sidecar of a go-kart at a wall of death carnival attraction at Revere Beach, Massachusetts, 1929.
20.
A family on an amusement park ride in Santa Cruz, California, May 1972.
21.
22.
1909 - Summer fair in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
23.
Go Karting, early 1980s.
24.
Friends enjoying the "Lusse Skooter" bumper carts at White City Amusement Park in the 1920s.
25.
Elvis driving bumper cars.