Swingin’ Gym
one of the most dangerous, unsuccessful rides ever produced
The Swingin’ Gym (also known as ‘The Flying Cages’) has hurt and maimed large numbers of its riders, with the original design almost uninsurable within a few years of operation. If you own one, you have a giant piece of carnival art, and a great fitness apparatus if you can master it!
The ride action is very simple and relies on the physical exertion of its passengers to keep it moving; stopping it is another matter altogether! Basically through human strength, a single rider rocks the counter-weighted cage back and fourth until it swings over the top.
Within a few years there were all too many reports of riders getting slung over to one side, battered and bruised by their very own momentum with riders sometimes ending up unconscious, with broken bones, split heads, grazes etc. Nevertheless, the ride concept was incredibly original and if not for injuries of lesser coordinated riders, would have been highly profitable and easy to maintain for its owner as the below advertisement suggests.
Due to their relatively low cost, there were over 20 units manufactured in the USA, 13 units manufactured in the UK, and many more custom-built designs rolled out in a very short time across Europe.
A small number of modified units still make appearances across Europe, with enhanced safety including extra padding and supervisor-controlled disc or air brakes in the advent a rider loses their footing.
What a conversation piece of backyard play (or exercise) equipment!
Hey if you are serious about wanting one of these rides I kno where u might posssibly aquire one im in St.Cloud Mn contact me for further info I believe that eventually the swingin gym we have will eventually have a meeting with cutting torch and essentially become scrap
Richard - April 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I would love to ride in the swinging gym just one more time in my life. I am 40 years old now and have not been on this ride since I was about 12, it is the best ride ever-I want one!
chris - May 3rd, 2009 at 4:09 am
There was one less swinging gym in existance when chippiewa lake was sold. they may be scrap, the gyms were named flying cages but they are complete if any one wants to save them, they still swing freely though alot of wood is missing
Brad - May 14th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Really enjoyed the pictures and would like to purchase a swinging gym.Any assistance would be very apreciated.Thank You.
douglas doubleday - May 28th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
we seek to buy a flying cage for a new business venture in bucks county pa. we can handle the potential liability. if you can help in locating a flying cage, then please call me at 215 7577162
thomas f crawford - May 31st, 2009 at 8:57 am
i can also be contacted by email at tfcrawford1@aol.com
thomas f crawford - May 31st, 2009 at 8:58 am
I have owned a swinging gym for over 12 years. NO accidents. If the people are proprerly trained how to operate, this eliminates problems. you also need to control your customers and explain the ride operation to them. I have made a lot of money in spots with a lot fancier and expensive rides.
gary ransom - June 2nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I love the swing gym ride! I also would like to locate and purchase one of these rides. Please contact me if anyone knows who I could contact to persue this elusive ride. Thanks!
julia biondo - June 11th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
This ride makes the average playground swingset seem quite boring… I’m not sure whether I’d give this one a go but the idea is incredibly original and it’s the only ride I can think of that actually involves team work to get it going.
Ben - July 9th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I have one at my local fair and been on it its weird
Charles - July 25th, 2009 at 4:53 am
There was a set of Flying Cages (Swingin Gyms) on the boardwalk at Pt. Pleasant Beach NJ for many years. I used to get that thing moving so fast it would take five minutes just to get it to slow down. Such a simple concept and yet as much fun as any super coaster I’ve been on, not to mention a great workout.
John - July 28th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
My husband and I are in our fifties and we remember this ride and talk about how we liked it so much and wish we could find one to buy for our grandchildren to have to play in their backyard.
Melodie & Don Cook - August 20th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I would love one of these for personal use, it is the one ride i remeber from my childhood that i just loved enuf to look for one….didnt know that they were so hard to find…….i am overweight and know i would workout on this.any info…if would have to be cheap call 1-314-338-5911 it would be great!!!!!!!!!!!!
mary brazelton - August 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
too funny — my grandfather owned amusements unlimited, this was his ride! he licensed it from Germany and built the rides in Chesterton. i would love to see one still in operation!
eliz - September 10th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Me too! Best ride ever. Would love to purchase one - this is a serious offer.
Paul - September 20th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Where can I buy this ride??? I need one in my backyard!!!!
Octavia - September 28th, 2009 at 4:21 am
hi what a great ride i loved rideing this when i was a teenager it was a fun work out id like to buy one any info
richard - October 4th, 2009 at 6:10 am
I am very interested in buying one of these units. Does not matter what condition it is in, just as long as it has all the parts.
Terry Holstein - October 10th, 2009 at 2:34 am
Thank You!
Terry Holstein - October 10th, 2009 at 2:35 am
To the lady who’s grandfather produce these rides in Chesterton. I would like to make one. Are the plans still owned by your family? pvesely299@gmail.com
Paul Vesely - October 17th, 2009 at 2:02 am
The Flying Cages were my favorite amusement park ride. I noticed many years ago that they no longer could be found and suspected insurance problems may have been the reason, even though I never had difficulties riding them (other than a callous getting ripped off my hand!). I’d love to see if I could ride them still, but at 60 I fear I’m too out-of-shape and it could be a disaster…though it’s tempting! I’m in Michigan, so if anyone knows of any Flying Cages nearby, still in operation, I’d love to hear about it, if only to go and watch at this point.
Dan Ruchames - October 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I am very interested in buying one of these units. Does not matter what condition it is in, just as long as it has all the parts. My phone number is 404-788-5021 or my e-mail at terrylholstein@aol.com
Thanks, Terry
Terry Holstein - October 27th, 2009 at 5:08 am
We would like to buy or build a gym. does anyone have one for sale, or have a pattern for one. Would be worth a trip to measure one also. Call anytime.Don Wegner (701)320-7866
Don Wegner - November 8th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Maybe this will be of help–it appears someone is selling a re-done unit:
http://www.rides4u.com/index.php/rides/detail/979
Dan Ruchames - November 16th, 2009 at 1:19 am
i am interested in the pans for this ride if they are availible please contact me .thank you
earl henry - November 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I used to operate one at Palisades Amusement Park back in 1968. Ran the entire season without one injury. Being authoritative with the riders and adding some padding is all it took. I used to get the cage going so fast (as a rider) that the door hinges would rise up and fall out. Wish I had one in my back yard and at 64 years old I would be in it daily. Interesting info at site “National Association For Leisure Industry Certification” and Swinging Gym.
Steve Tatz - November 24th, 2009 at 6:17 am
I would like to buy one or get plans for one. I remember it as a kid. The challenge was seeing how many times you get get it to go around after they put on the brake!
les hayman - January 7th, 2010 at 11:11 am
My phone number is 423 400 7479. my email is commonground77@hotmail.com if anyone has one or knows of one in any condition. Les
les hayman - January 8th, 2010 at 10:23 am
When I was a kid growing up in Chicago, I worked at Hollywood Kiddieland and we had a set of 3 Swinging Gyms. I never saw anyone get hurt and they each had a brake lever for the attendant to stop it. To put one in my backyard at my age just to see if I could still get it around would be a dream.
Caryn - January 9th, 2010 at 11:07 am
It was a great Ride.We ran to sets in are rental company in Loves Park Il.Tell Il wont insure them here at Choo Choo Amusements.Did have a worker walk straight thru while cage was in the air.Was a great money making ride also.I did have a drunk lady push me into the cage and as it was coming down almost smash me.Thank God the other guy pulled me out of the way.We did have a few lose ballance for not holding on when stopping or losing their grip also.I do have a decent set id sell.815-977-5155Mike
Michael Edelman - February 28th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I am 99% positive that the second photograph from the left “Swingin’ Gym U.S.A. 1967″ was taken at Lagoon Amusement Park just outside Salt Lake City. The colors and the background is familiar. I never participated on this attraction because it simply looked like too much work, nor did I ever hear of injuries attributed to the Swingin’ Gym. This page was an eye-opener.
Steve Anderson - March 1st, 2010 at 12:35 pm