The history of attractions at NGU’s fall fair
Seth Hilliard, Staff Photographer
On Oct. 22, students explored the fair at North Greenville University. As students spun, swung or slid down the rides, many probably didn’t think about the attractions’ origins. However, many of these stories are both unexpected and interesting.
Christian Murray, a sophomore business management major, and Jayden Gaines, a sophomore digital media major, ride the Ferris wheel at the fair.
The most iconic attraction at any State Fair is the Ferris wheel. This attraction takes an individual from ground level up to heights as tall as 820 feet, according to Mountain Top University. Smithsonian Magazine wrote that the original Ferris wheel was built in Chicago, with cars holding 60 people and the ride lasting 20 minutes. Though the original wheel, built by George Washington Gale Ferris JR., was demolished in 1906, replicas are built and showcased all over the world.
The concept of slides at fairs has been around since the early 1900s. Riders using burlap bags have always been a staple, limiting friction and maximizing comfort. Over the years, other innovations were put into place, such as bumps in the slide to dampen the harsh landing at the bottom, as well as painting the slides yellow to stay cooler in the hot summers, as reported by Arizona Bounce Around.
The Sizzler, as it was named at the NGU fair, has many different variations. The original model was called the Scrambler and was built in Georgia in 1938. As Everything Explained Today wrote, the breakthrough happened 20 years later, when the Scrambler made $1,700 in just one day. Immediately, investors and buyers began looking into the ride, and models began to be imported all around the world.
The concept of a swing carousel has been around since the Byzantine Empire. Originally, the ride was baskets suspended by ropes. Though the one at the NGU fair was a simple swing carousel, there are many other types that are known to tilt while the chairs are swinging around.
According to The Amusement Parkives, Frank Hrubetz invented the Round Up, which was notably installed at Hersheypark. Round Up uses centrifugal force to keep riders against the walls as the ride lifts and tilts to a 90-degree angle. This ride became very iconic at NGU’s fair, with the line stretching across the entire field.
