The Hurricane was first manufactured from 1972 till 1991 by Frank Hrubretz & Co (USA) based on the more primitive 1948 design of the Saturn 6. From 1992, Dartron Industries (USA) took over as the Hurricane’s sole manufacturer. There were however, some 5 units manufactured in Australia under license in the 1970’s by Kevin Ferrari and Lenmax
The ride consists of 6 arms, each carrying 4 people, which undergo a fast rotation combined with a series of fast-paced bounces. This gives riders of all ages a fun, action-packed ride as the bouncing arms expose the rider to varied speeds and centrifugal forces, as well as feelings of weightlessness.
Underneath the centre post is a giant compressed air cylinder that is connected at the top to the 6 arms. At the completion of each bounce, the operator activates a control that releases air in the cylinder, causing the arms to fall again.
A carnival is not complete without the familiar scene of the cars sweeping over the heads of passers-by, with the loud bursts of compressed air that go hand-in-hand to the classic hurricane ride.
Dartron has since released a variationt of the Hurricane: Downdraft using a semi-suspended seating configuration with increased capacity of 6 per car.
There are approximately 40 hurricanes in North America, 8 in Australia and 3 in New Zealand with never-ceasing popularity amongst the young and old. The ride racks up on a single trailer and can be set up in around 2 hours.
Looks awsome!
ba-boss-bomb - July 2nd, 2009 at 7:48 am
I went on this ride not so intense but fun good ride
Drew Katonak - August 23rd, 2009 at 7:28 am
I have been looking all over this ride
Aaron J. Smith - September 13th, 2009 at 9:00 am
As a kid, this ride was fun, and I thought the sound of the compressed air being released was the coolest thing ever. Gary
Gary - October 24th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I used to run one of these. I was the best ride to run,setup, and teardown.
Jim Gardner - November 29th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
This was my absolute favourite ride as a kid. I went on it for the first time as an adult on New Years Eve – it hasn’t lost any of its charm
Kate - January 2nd, 2010 at 7:31 am
Por favor comunicarse estoy interesado en comprar un HURRICANE
Patricio Veintimilla - July 11th, 2010 at 3:08 am
Went on this first time today. Was the best ride I have ever ridden at a Carnival. I just love it.
Dallas - July 25th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I have been trying to find this ride in Louisiana for years, it use to come to neighborhood park every year when the fair was going on. Looking at the videos of it just took me back and I laughed just hearing the sound and the screams on the ride. It was simply the best.
Ron - August 4th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
If any one know of a way to find out where the hurricane will appear again please inform asap if its in New Orleans or somewhere close.
Ron - August 4th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
im on it waiting for it to start with my online cellie! here we go! aahhhhhh. i cant breth vary
good. luv the hurrrican blibem my lips in da wind
darn phondis ringin muzt be mom… talked to mom on the hurricane ride. she wondered what i was doing. i said i was on a ride. she laughed!
wavymouth - August 25th, 2010 at 2:45 am
it is not 2:45 a.m. here it is 12 46 pm and we carnys are messin around on the hurricane for our lunch break in pennsylvania
wavymouth - August 25th, 2010 at 2:47 am
The old school, original Saturn 6 Hurricane was amazing to ride and watch – especially at night!
Al - September 15th, 2010 at 11:01 am
I wish this ride was still at the Puyallup Fair =(
roy - October 24th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Pretty neat
Angel - December 21st, 2010 at 6:55 am
My FAVORITE ride.
Lindsey - January 3rd, 2011 at 6:25 am
The Hurricane and the Spider(Breakdance) are my FAVOURITE RIDES EVER!!
Jayde - January 4th, 2011 at 11:09 am
i got a major whiplash the first tme i went on this, but i loved it so i went on it 24 more times haha
mike - January 17th, 2011 at 7:58 am
The Hurricane ALWAYS made me feel sick. I would spend the rest of the day with my head in my hands trying to keep my lunch down…
Paulie Jay - March 15th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
The hurricane literally takes my breath away!
wavymouth - March 21st, 2011 at 7:44 am
Hello; did kolinski ever build a hurricane. I have a gentleman wanting to sell one, and he told me it was a 1978 kolinski. Just wondering, Max
Max Ivey Jr. - March 24th, 2011 at 11:06 am
anyone know how fast this goes?
i want to compare it to the turbo boost theres only 3 in the world apparently…
Chelsea - April 20th, 2011 at 6:02 pm
i love watching this ride at carnivals or fairs never rode one love the sound the compressed air makes when the arms go up
harry - June 6th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Just rode one about 2 weeks ago at a local carnival. Just as fun as I remember. Great ride. One of my favs.
Ted Russell - July 13th, 2011 at 6:21 am
the fair i go to finally got rid of this, for me it’s good news. i hate that sound
BL - August 20th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Always rode the Hurricane as a kid. Then had the opportunity to run one for many years. There’s a secret snap trick to running this ride. If any other operators are posting, they’ll know what I mean. Sadly, our show sold theirs in 2008. :(
Chuck - October 31st, 2011 at 3:21 pm
that compressed air sound terrified me as a kid but i rode it anyway :D
ass head - December 19th, 2011 at 6:41 am
I’m interested in this machine is its price as
adriano - February 25th, 2012 at 10:12 am
i also opperated this ride for years on the show grounds loved it great ride
Rohan - March 1st, 2012 at 11:37 pm
I ran 3 different Hurricanes 2 Hrubetz hurricanes (1972 and 1974) and a 1978 Kilinski Hurricane, which in my oinion was the best of them all! If anyone should happen to be looking at these rides for sale…my suggestion is to go for the Kilinski! You will be happy with it!
dragon - March 22nd, 2012 at 4:52 am
I USED TO RUN THE HURRICANE FOR RAINIER SHOWS-THE BEST PART WAS SEEING HOW MANY TIMES YOU COULD MAKE IT POP
JAMES SMITH - August 6th, 2012 at 10:46 am
@james smith, what year did you work for rainer shows? i am “thumpers”ex-wife. he ran the tabogon for years. i would love to reconnect with anyone worked for rainer between 1981 – 1998. you can find me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/loren.genn
genn - August 10th, 2012 at 5:07 am
buenas tardes. investigando en internet localize esta pagina en donde se exiben diferentes tipos del juego mecanico “hurricane” mi intencion es adquirir un juego de este tipo. si alguien sabe de alguna persona que venda uno por favor comunicarse a mi correo gracias. queretaro mexico.
Roberto Alcantara - August 30th, 2012 at 4:03 am
i would like to find out how much it would cost to buy the hurricane ride and i live in victoria australia and i would like the australian amount it would cost me or you could contact me on 0407380694
kelly - October 27th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
@ james smith…I also ran Rainier’s Hurricane for a short time in 1991. That was the 1974 hurricane I mentioned. The ’72 belnged to Funtastic, and the ’78 Kilinski Hurricane belonged to Playland Shows…which is now with Haworth Family Fun Shows…its been painted and renamed “Vortex” but its still my old Hurricane!
dragon - January 18th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Here I am! Rock you like a hurricane! Na na na na na!
Carney till I die - February 5th, 2013 at 5:02 am
What kind of music does this ride play?
Dylan Salada - February 18th, 2013 at 8:00 am
does any one have an owners manual or a spec sheet on this ride….
chris post - April 24th, 2013 at 8:37 am
Estoy interesado en adquirir este juego mecanico vivo en queretaro mexico y si fuera posible de mandar precios, modelos y que otros juegos tienen. Mi numero de telefono es 014421600662 y tambien si tienen folletos. Gracias
roberto alcantara - June 23rd, 2014 at 8:05 am
Looks fun
Joseph - July 9th, 2014 at 5:42 am
They have one at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Its fun and the sound is really fun.
Green Ninja - January 12th, 2015 at 11:20 am
So what?
Zingan - March 27th, 2016 at 8:07 am
The Hurricane was first manufactured from 1972 till 1991 by Frank Hrubretz & Co (USA) based on the more primitive 1948 design of the Saturn 6. From 1992, Dartron Industries (USA) took over as the Hurricane’s sole manufacturer. There were however, some 5 units manufactured in Australia under license in the 1970’s by Kevin Ferrari and Lenmax
So Kevin invented the Hurricane ride.
William - March 27th, 2016 at 8:09 am
Hey what’s up?Man the Hurricane is my favorite ride of ALL TIME,Can yall bring this ride somewhere down here in New Orleans Louisiana?Thanks a lot!!!!
Roderick Manshack - October 10th, 2016 at 4:59 pm
it was great fun
speedy - July 23rd, 2018 at 5:36 pm
Bonjour je suis francais à la recherche d’un manège faite vous des hurricanes pour l’europe est il possible de ce contacter en français merci cordialement
Fornara serge - February 14th, 2019 at 5:37 am
My uncle, Norman Bartlett, invented the amusement ride, referred to in Wikipedia as “Saturn 6” in the late 1940’s on his property in North Miami, Florida. My brother and I, about 6 or 7 at the time, were the first human beings on the prototype after it had been tested repeatedly with sandbags in the pods. We knew it at the time as the Hurricane.
Harvey Thomson - May 5th, 2020 at 1:37 am
I used to run a hurricane for play land shows it was the best ride to run easiest ride to setup and teardown back in the day probably the best ride on the Midway
John Kelly - December 20th, 2020 at 2:46 am
@dragon – hey man u said u ran 4 diff hurricanes I have been on 3 been on same one for 6 yrs still currently and been having a issue I hope u can an for me pls email me mike-paige-1987@outlook.com asap or any other hurricane operators
Rkeyguy - September 19th, 2021 at 8:02 am