The splash-intensive modern versions first began surfacing in the early 1960s. But as rollercoasters became wilder, those old mill rides had one direction to go: wetter. Old mill rides used tracks to guide boats through dark tunnels and over a few bunny hills. The modern log flume has been around since the early 20th century, albeit in more sedate versions. Since then, each decade has given it a new name and pattern of motion, but the thrill's the same. This frightening/fun ride was first produced in the UK in 1959. That which we call a Scrambler has many names, because naming it The Ride That Looks Like It's Going To Collide Into Other Cars, AHHHHHH! is too cumbersome. The story goes that Sellner experimented with the rideвЂ™s design by placing a chair on his kitchen table, making his son sit in it, and then rocking the table. It made its debut at the Minnesota State Fair one year later. The ride that launched a thousand stomachaches sprang from the mind of woodworker and waterslide maker Herbert W.

American innovators brought a bigger and better version stateside, dubbed it The Wipeout, and the rest is history.

The giant, revolving ride that moves around, up, and down in a wave-like fashion was originally a German attraction known as the Trabant. The attraction-which tamely slings riders around an oval-is rare nowadays, but you can find original models scattered around some old-school parks. Patented in 1914, the first whip was made for Coney Island. Early practice bulls were basically large barrels suspended from four ropes (people could jostle the barrel by tugging on the ropes or using a pulley mechanism.) The mechanical version, however, was popularized by a Texas businessman who wanted to make his bars more popular. Until the 1970s, mechanical bulls were strictly used to train cowboys and rodeo competitors. Love - or, at least hormones - found a way with the boom of so-called carnival 'dark rides.' As couples wound through the tunnel of love by water or tracks, they were treated to alternating moments of romance (to set the mood) and fright (to encourage an arm over the shoulder). Unmarried couples of the late 19th century needed a place to canoodle in public. But on slow workdays, they charged thrill-seekers to take it for a spin. Meanwhile, in the states, a Pennsylvanian mining company constructed a вЂњgravity railroadвЂќ in 1827 to move coal. (Situated on icy hills, the sleds topped out at 200 feet!). Modern rollercoasters descended from вЂњRussian Mountains,вЂќ winter sled rides that were popular in 17 th century St. The RollercoasterДЄlthough the first patent went to LaMarcus Thompson in 1885, he wasnвЂ™t the first person to make a rollercoaster. The spinning attraction became especially popular in France, where 17th century riders tried to pierce a target while moving at high speed. When crusaders returned to Europe, they brought the device back with them. CarouselД¬arousels with wooden horses were first used to give horseback riding lessons to Turkish and Arabian cavalry members. There's some dispute over who invented the road-raging carnival favorite, but one thing all scholars can agree on: how difficult early versions were to steer. Bumper CarsД®lectric cars may seem like a modern advancement, but weвЂ™ve been driving them-and more importantly, crashing them-for a century. Both men owed a debt to the similar, yet awkwardly named, wooden вЂњpleasure wheelsвЂќ invented in 17th century Bulgaria. One year earlier, William Somers designed and built three wooden wheels-each measuring 50 feet in diameter-in New York and New Jersey. At least thatвЂ™s what George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. The Ferris wheel made its debut at the 1893 WorldвЂ™s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Carnival slides