The Enterprise was arguably the most ground-breaking ride ever for it’s time, setting a standard for a whole generation of amusement rides on its debut in 1972. The Schwarzkopf Enterprise had an overall look and engineering technology that was years ahead of its time.
The HUSS Enterprise is in actual fact a copy from Schwarzkopf who manufactured some 20 rides. In 1976, HUSS produced their own superior copy (larger capacity, with a hydraulic arm, not electro-mechanical) HUSS has now sold over 95 Enterprises worldwide.
The Enterprise consists of 20 gondolas, each fitting 2 people – one sitting behind the other. The ride then rotates clockwise gaining just enough speed to keep its riders perfectly in place with centrifugal force. The main arm then slowly lifts to 87° smoothly hurling the riders upside down. The ride may look repetitive and nauseating but the on-ride experience is MUCH different making for a very enjoyable, ultra-smooth ride.
Through very clever engineering there are no safety harnesses other than the grab-bars on the car walls, due to the centrifugal force making gravity and body weight are just about equal – this creates a feeling of weightlessness while also ensuring you stay on your seat.
A portable Enterprise fits on 2.5 trailers and weighs 40 tonnes, though nowadays most are park models.
As a result of Enterprise’s success, HUSS produced the larger capacity Sky Lab containing fifteen four-person gondolas. Some years later, HUSS released a stand-up variation, the UFO.
There are approximately 23 HUSS Enterprises in North America, at least 20 in Europe and 3 in Australia.
centrifugal force is not real!!!!!!! Your physics are incorrect.
drew - May 29th, 2009 at 6:40 am
This is a great ride. I see videos of this ride where people are riding single. Wade Shows, who appears at several fairs in Florida is the only organization that has the single rider restriction on it. Two people have to ride in one car. Rediculous. Complaints to Wade Shows info@wadeshows.com
Bruce - June 22nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I love the Enterprise! so relaxing and smooth…I could it ride it all day. Bruce, I have also dealt with the two-rider restriciton with Wade Shows (State Fair of Oklahoma back in 2000). a 4’9 carnie thug got his back up when I refused to ride with a stranger. I got in his face and he backed down.
yukongreg - July 3rd, 2009 at 6:02 am
My favorite flat ride of all time. It definitely has to be the best flat ride ever. While so many flat rides have come and gone over the years at so many amusement parks, it seems the “Enterprise” always remains. It has never been removed from Six Flags Over Georgia, known there as The Wheelie. It has never been removed from Paramount’s Carowinds, formerly known as the Meteorite, but was updated to the name, The Scream Weaver. It’s still at Cedar Point, known as the Witch’s Wheel. I first saw The Enterprise at Coney Island in 1980 when I was around the age of eleven. I wanted to ride it, but wasn’t able to. I had always been a huge amusement park ride buff, and I was blown away by The Enterprise. Never in my mind did I imagine a ride like that could exist. I finally got to ride it for the first time at the World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN in 1982. The experience was even better than I thought it was going to be. I love the speed and power of the ride. I love the roaring noise it makes prior to lift off. And, of course, the spinning upside down—What could be better than that? I have noticed that some forms of the ride, depending on the park and possibly whether they are Schwarzkopf versions or Huss versions, don’t go to the full upside down position as others. And, with some versions, the gondolas don’t swing as freely as they do on other versions. It’s more of a steadier ride. I have to say that I do like the versions that swing more freely and reach the extent of being entirely upside down better than the steadier versions that don’t reach the complete upside down position. I may be wrong, but I think it might be the original Schwarzkopf version that swings more freely and goes completely upside down. Maybe I’m wrong here? Maybe it just depends on the ride attendant whether or not the ride does reach a complete upside down position and that has nothing to do with the manufacturer. But, I’m pretty sure the extent to which the gondolas swing has to be based on the manufacturer. For some reason, an amusement park just doesn’t feel complete without an “Enterprise”. Even with all the other great rides that they may have, there’s always something lacking without an “Enterprise”.
Adam - July 3rd, 2009 at 7:20 am
omg, is this somewhere in the usa? all the good rides are in the usa, there are no good rides in the uk
Hannah - July 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
Edward Burton travels an Enterprise in Southern UK. Pictures at http://fun-fairs.co.uk
Mike Willis - July 28th, 2009 at 5:55 am
As a teenager in the late 70’s, I helped assemble the Enterprise for its first visit at the Canfield Fair in Ohio. It was a brand new ride and I believe it had just it had come from Texas. During transit, a chain binder had come lose and four of the wheel spokes swung out and hit a utility pole. They were damaged very badly. The ride operator used torch and bottle jack to straighten spokes. He cut some badly damaged steel out and welded some new steel in place. I’m sure he wasn’t a certified welder or millwright. The patched in steel wasn’t even the same size. They painted it with spray cans. This was all done behind the cover of several semi trailers.
Almost twelve months to the day later there was an accident in Texas where cars had flown lose from an Enterprise and there were fatilities.
I’m not saying this was the same ride or the cause, but I always think of it when I’m around portable rides and carnival folks.
I always inspect rides before I let my kids ride.
Dan - August 2nd, 2009 at 6:20 am
I worked for Wade Shows for four years (with a different show this year), and yes they have a “no single riders” rule on the Enterprise. It is for safety reasons, period. The problem with many patrons is they want to disregard safety rules (which are there to keep them safe while riding) and ride any ride no matter what; they seem to think that because they purchased a wristband and/or tickets they are entitled to ride any ride they want no matter what. And then they are the first one’s to scream and holler and make a scene when someone get’s hurt they “they should not have been allowed to ride that ride!”
Skywheelrider - September 3rd, 2009 at 4:27 am
i work on the enterprise that Wade shows owns, now we are playing one of the bigest state fairs in the UNITED STATES and about the rule NO SINGLE RIDERS on the ENTERPRISE i have something intersting to say the reason of that rule is simple its called “balance” you have to get a good balance on the ride to give a safety ride i cant put 20 plp on one side and ten at the other side its not safe……. we dont make rules we just follow the manufacters manual recomendations for safety resons. if one day we told you sorr no single riders is because our company take care of our folks.
haru - October 8th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I also had to delt with the “NO SINGLE RIDERS IN POD” thing.
Unnamed - October 19th, 2009 at 5:26 am
Being an operator on many of huss rides.The enterprise was one of the best,I worked on the enterprise that lost a gondola in 1983.I was moving the U.F.O at the time of the incident,but back to the question at hand,most men hated having to be put with another man because of the seating arrangement,side by side would not have been bad.But signs were posted prior to boarding,but when it was busy space was money ,when it was slow it did not matter as much.
william natale - December 12th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Your information is slightly incorrect as the Schwarzkopf version does use a hydraulic ram to lift the main arm. My two local ones were Magic Mountain and Knotts, and both used the hydraulic ram.
Tony Gonzalez - December 18th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
YES, centrifugal force is RIGHT, is the way it works. I love Enterprise (up close, called
“Enter”)and used to see here in some Brazilian
travelling parks (Trombini, Danubio, Big Center,
etc) and fixed as Playcenter in SP has one until
2002, it`s the base to lose fear to face other radical amusement machines. I went to Enter most then 40 times! hahahahahaha Fui!!!
Evolution/Luty - December 31st, 2009 at 7:55 am
“My too local ones”?? Tony, what want you tell about it? Please, explain, because I didn
t undertand! Do you have one? If so, youre a verylucky guy, fui!
(www.vibeflog.com/entrprise – in true, is ‘enter
prise’, but I wrote quickly and got this way and I forgot to correct, but I think you can understand, fui!)
Evolution/Luty - December 31st, 2009 at 7:58 am
Dan. I only remember about the second accident in Texas, by reading in one of park site (I forgo the name of the site now, sorry!), but I dind`t knew about this first one in Ohio… is there this new in one park site, please? Fui!
Evolution/Luty - December 31st, 2009 at 8:04 am
PLAYCENTER in SP, Brazil has one of this last
Schwarzkopf (is it right??) model, great look!
Evolution/Luty - December 31st, 2009 at 8:26 am
kentucky kingdom got this it is so cool i love this ride
cman101 - June 21st, 2010 at 8:56 am
I operate an enterprise at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh. We never had an issue and it gets inspected everyday. Only due to themes around the park its now called the volcano.
awesome - June 29th, 2010 at 2:53 pm
I love the enterprise. Whenever I go to Kennywood or Dorney Park I ride it. I know if your at Dorney Park its close to Apollo and Dominator
mb - July 21st, 2010 at 12:28 am
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joann spencer - July 26th, 2010 at 8:45 am
hi my name is joann spencer my nephew derek lee winner has joined your company to work with you,so please take care of him.if he needs anything call me at;240-522-0823.thank you very much.tell i love him .
joann spencer - July 26th, 2010 at 8:50 am
what is the g force
bob - September 25th, 2010 at 12:41 am
English transation:
In Slovakia where I come from there is little information of a technical nature on Enterprise plans and drawings suitable for building models for modellers. if anyone can help? thanks in advance.
NA Slovensku odkial pochádzam je strašne málo informácii technického charakteru ako rôzne plány, výkresy a podobne vhodné aj na stavbu modelov pre modelárov… Našiel som nie?o aj na tejto stránke za ?o moc dakujem, ale skoda, že sa toho neda nájs? viac…, alebo dá? ak niekto vie pomôc? vopred ?akujem.
VynalezSkazy174 - September 28th, 2010 at 10:24 am
I’ve rode this ride love it ceder point 2004 next summer i will ride again
lit cris - November 13th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Does anyone know how many Huss Skylab’s were built?
I do know of one at Canada’s Wonderland but not anywhere else.
Jeff Sprigg - December 10th, 2010 at 8:20 am
hi Jeff
I know of only 1 other which is at a park in South America. As far as I know there are none in Europe but I could be wrong.
david - December 15th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
i would ride this maybe !!!
Angel - December 21st, 2010 at 6:29 am
The wades enterprise is the 1 that came apart in Dallas TX in 1983.after that incident it was shipped back to huss in Germany to be refurbished. OT was shipped back under the Name of the orion for a while then changed back to the current name. This particular ride was not invoved with the sweeps being bent. That was Strates shows ride which came loose while in transit on rails tearing up property as well as the ride. I was there at the TX state fair on Mon night 1983. This was a nightmare as 1 boy was killed and others hurt from the run crashing into the paved midway ans exploding due to the fiberglass. The company that owned this ride was c.p.a. Out of farmingdale n.y. Qwned by Willie miller and managed by chip clearly.
boomer - March 8th, 2011 at 8:30 am
The only hard part of setting up the e was leveling tje jackstands and platforms as well as hanging the back wall or scénery with the heavy uprights which took several men to raise up and down. This was not the kind of rode you moved every weekend as the American show owners could,nt care less about the help as I heard 1 stated that there a dime a dozen and let em smoke there dope-it moves my show
You reap what you sow so. Lot of show owners, foreman and others will have ther reward in hell.p.s.-the co.d water franchise and a.c.biz is prohibited in hell. Thanks Danny
boomer - March 8th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Anyone on Wade shows remember John Schrok & Dink Jerome?? Dink ran the steam engine on the ferris wheel. This was back in the late 70’s
Dave H. - April 25th, 2011 at 2:19 am
I moved an Enterprise a few actually, one went to MJ,however I want to say it is the best ride on any midway,care for her (tlc) my bro warpo and I ran into Gypsie female foreman of another Enterprise anyone know her?
louie - May 5th, 2011 at 6:53 am
The Enterprise was pretty cool; but Force 10 was much more fun to watch and seemed a little more thrilling for the riders. Does anyone know who manufactured the Force 10 ride?
M Time - June 6th, 2011 at 5:55 am
I believe Tivoli Enterprises manufactured the Force 10.
Spike - June 23rd, 2011 at 5:03 pm
One of the best rides of my life! Luna Park in Sydney (Australia) had an Enterprise back in the early 1980’s; I worked for one of the local radio stations back then and the station, in conjunction with Luna Park, arranged a ‘staff and family/friends’ day one weekend. I had one of the best fun days of my life; with a ride on the Enterprise (I can’t remember exactly what it was called) the highlight of my day. Sadly, Luna Park has undergone numerous ‘incarnations’ since then, and no longer has any serious ‘thrill’ rides. I live within walking distance of Luna Park now, and would cheerfully take myself off to ‘take flight in the Enterprise’ if it was still there. Tip for inexperienced players: the heavier or larger rider should always sit at the back. I was nearly flattened by my 6′ tall footballer friend! Loved it anyway. Memo to Luna Park: BRING BACK THE ENTERPRISE!!!!
Kate C - June 26th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Remember riding this as a young kid at Adventureland Long Island. I went on once, and the ride was gone the next year. Scary to think that was probably the one that broke apart in Texas. I was too young to remember if the ride was scary or not, but I recall it was really not that bad, you barely knew you were upside down. Enterprise was replaced with Looping Star, A.K.A. Huss Ranger the following year. I was too small to ride it for a few years. There is a kids’ flume in that spot now.
Ted Russell - July 13th, 2011 at 7:41 am
There is one operating in Casino Pier in Seaside Hieghts,NJ
MB - July 15th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I’ve ridden this ride a couple of times and I sat by myself, so clearly “no single riders” is not that vital. That being said, this ride IS nauseating and repetitive. It is also no where near as thrilling as it appears apon observation. I got off feeling dizzy and sick, and that had never happened to me before or since on a ride.
John - August 27th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
The Enterprise flat ride is a must-have for any park that wants to be considered thrill-worthy. It is a staple, just like a roller coaster is for any amusement park. I grew up with Six Flags Over Georgia, so the Wheelie, their Schwarzkpf Enterprise ride was always a standard. The other versions seemed generic to me. I guess it was the gondola design, with the Schwarzkopf versions, there seemed to be more detail in their gondola design. They (kind of) remind me of the signature look of a Wrangler Jeep…lol. Anyway, the Enterprise ride is a classic thrill that adds excitement to any midway skyline. At night, they all seem to have elaborate lighting packages that captivate the audience of observers and riders!
Bax - September 14th, 2011 at 7:42 am
“No single riders!!!” Wade Shows needs to update their information.
The Flaming Pencil - September 15th, 2011 at 1:53 am
do you go upsidedown on this thing, it looks dangouris.
Oliver Liell - September 19th, 2011 at 8:23 am
@ The Flaming Pencil. Why should they update. If the sign says “No Single Riders” they mean it and you should respect it. There are reasons for those signs and actually many other rides are going this route again.
Chuck - October 31st, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@Chuck. This is only due to the fact that it is hard to find another rider, and yes, I was a little harsh.
The Flaming Pencil - November 28th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
does anyone remember the Force 10 ride (also manufactured by Tivoli Enterprises)? That thing was intense!! I wonder what happened to it? hmmmm ponders
BE - December 3rd, 2011 at 10:03 pm
this 1 in the U.K at alton towers is the best 1 ive ever been on!
oliver - December 4th, 2011 at 10:59 am
The comment by ‘boomer’ above stating that the ‘Orion’ themed Enterprise and the current Enterprise owned by Wade Shows is incorrect. It is not the same ride, but two different pieces. The Orion did come to Wade by way of a park on Long Island in the mid 1980’s. There is a park in Farmingdale, NY so that part would make sense. The Orion may very well have had an accident in Texas, but it’s not the same one that Wade has now. The last year it (Orion) was with the show was 1991. In 1993 Wade acquired another Enterprise from Greg Link, which is the current one they still own.
skywheelrider - January 8th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
No single riders is stated by the manufacturers of the rides they apply to… Says it in the books. The Enterprise is VERY much a ride that it is required for safety. I know this as fact.
And yes Skywheelrider is correct… The Enterprise owned by Wade shows is NOT the same ride as the Orion previously owned until 91.
People should check facts FIRST and post SECOND.
Justin - January 11th, 2012 at 2:33 am
I’m interested in this machine is its price as
adriano - February 25th, 2012 at 10:18 am
would like to have pictures and measurments of huss enterprise, mainly trailer
chuck walls - March 6th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
I have a video of the Scream Weaver at Carowinds Park and was wondering if anyone knows how many of the Schwarzkopf Enterprise rides are still opperating today. I know only of the one at Carowinds, Six Flags over Georgia, California’s Great America, and one somewhere in Europe.
Coasterjunkie - August 25th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Does anyone know anything about a smaller enterprise ride made in Czech Republic with only 16 carriages were you sit side by side rather than sitting one in front of each other and the name of the manufacture and if they are stil in buisness
Harry miller - February 3rd, 2013 at 2:30 am
I hope some of the ride ops here can answer this: are there any Enterprise models that let the operator vary the wheel’s speed? I saw an Enterprise (“Moon Walk”) at a town fair in Germany. When the op had it completely up, at one point he said something (?) to the riders and then it looked like he slowed it down just enough to drop the force a bit and make the gondolas sway a little as they went over the top. He really had those riders screaming. Then he speeded it up again for the rest of the ride. Thanks for clueing me in.
Mike S - February 20th, 2013 at 12:08 pm
One place where I have been on a Schwarzkopf model is at Six Flags Great America near Chicago. Here it is called the ‘Orbit.’ Another park that has a Huss version is Lagoon in Utah. It is known as the ‘Centennial Screamer.’
Mike Ford - May 12th, 2013 at 3:55 am
Still my favorite ride of all time. Nothing else can beat it, no matter how tall, how fast, or how wild they get. Sadly, it’s getting harder to find them now. My “home” park, Lake Compounce, still has one, but they might not for too much longer, it’s starting to spend more time under repair than it is running =/
Rai Fox - May 29th, 2013 at 5:56 am
I currently move a huss enterprise and it is safe and there is many reasons for no single riders rule
memphis - July 12th, 2013 at 4:41 am
Fun Spot America in Orlando, FL just got Six Flags over Georgia’s Schwarzkopf Enterprise ride. I believe it was called the Wheelie at SFoG, they moved it down here, renamed it the Enterprise, and installed LED lights on it. Check out my YouTube page by clicking on my name to see the video.
Coasterjunkie - July 12th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
I really like Orbiter at Canada’s Wonderland because it is the only Sky lab or Giant Enterprise made by Huss left in North America. It’s been running for approximately 32 years other than it being closed for two years (2006-2007). I like it how the gondolas have two seats instead of the single seated Enterprises. Amazing ride! Especially when it goes upside down!
John Brooks - October 4th, 2013 at 9:11 am
Ive been on 3 different enterprises in England uk and 1 in Thailand and NONE of them have had no single riders signs. I suspect its down to money. The enterprise in Thailand had seat belts fitted to it. I think this was because it wasn’t the fastest ive been on and the cars did seem to swing around a lot
stewart s - October 12th, 2013 at 5:46 am
All dAy Evry dAy
SATAN HIMSELF - February 12th, 2014 at 10:44 pm
Love the HUSS Skylab @ Canada’s Wonderland, and one of the only ones left in existence in the world. It’s called orbiter.
34ilikepie - June 15th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
OT: Rock-O-Plane aka ‘Monkey Cages’
Rye Playland had one until late ’80s, and many traveling shows still run them. Ferris wheels on steroids, LOL!
My question is: Has anyone ever ridden a Rock O Plane full cycle without EVER flipping upside-down?
KidAtHeart - March 16th, 2015 at 10:17 am
Yo,
The yellow cages with red dot is actually called the reef diver. It is at Dreamworld Australia.
TheGoldenSword
OllieTGS - June 19th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Huss rides has reinvented the Huss Enterprise with a new version called Enterprise 2G, Enterprise 2GH and Enterprise 2GH PLus. These new models feature new hybrid cars where riders sit side by side. They also feature the old classic cars as well. The 2GH Plus is something really special where it operates as a normal Enterprise ride but, then it has a special tilting action. For more details click or copy the link as it will take you to Huss’ website: http://www.hussrides.com/news/news.html
I wonder what Huss will reintroduce next as they had reintroduced the Condor last year.
John Brooks - July 2nd, 2015 at 8:28 am
I rode the Enterprise some years ago when I was a Carnie. I loved it!
I was in awe of it. I had to ride this ride. My ex husband found someone to ride with me. The smoothest ride ever!
I will never forget this ride!
Dusty smith - August 21st, 2015 at 11:36 am
they have one at calaway park, its called the storm. im pretty sure they got it in 2006, its my second favorite ride at te park, my first being the chaos. anyway its awesome its fast its upside down its sideways, its definitley a thrill,
one time i was at the park and i guess it was spinning slower than normal because the gondolas would rock alot instead of staying straight and i was terrified. now when ever it happens i love it its happened twice…..buts its a great ride
Jehad - September 25th, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Ride this every year at Darian Lake. Rode it as a kid and now yy 7 year old loves it. So I get to be a young again and ride it all over again. Hope it doesn’t disappear soon, it is getting old. They had a UFO as well at the park but they removed that 2 years ago, and the Ranger was removed this year.
Ken - February 18th, 2016 at 8:26 am
Everyone, stay OFF the Enterprise! It is manufactured by Chance “North Korea/Nazi Germany” Rides, Inc and has a “No Single Riders” rule! Boycott Chance Rides and their cruel “No Single Riders” tyranny!
Boycott No Single Riders - February 25th, 2016 at 6:06 pm
I don’t know about other rides around the world, but the one I rode at Luna Park in Australia did not have enough centrifugal force to keep me in my seat. The whole time I kept all my limbs straightened against the edges of the cart because I was holding on for dear life, especially when the person I was riding with smashed onto me from behind when the ride became almost vertical. They really need to upgrade it, or at least have safety belts, just in case the ride misfunctions.
Terrified - July 21st, 2016 at 1:06 am
To terrified,
Which Luna Park? There is one in Melbourne, which I know has one of these rides, and there is Luna Park Sydney, which doesn’t.
iamterraverso - August 29th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
We still have one at California’s Great America. One of the park’s original rides when it opened in 1976. Originally called Orlean’s Orbit, now simply “Orbit”.
RCC - July 5th, 2019 at 9:50 am
Valley Fair in MN. had the Enterprise as well. Of all of the rides and coasters I have ever ridden throughout the world. The Enterprise was my all time favorite. As kids we would ride it over an over. Valley Fair unfortunately took theirs down and put up another ride. I love Valley Fair but it is not the same without the Enterprise.
E Rider - December 24th, 2022 at 6:22 am