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Centennial Screamer
Location: South Midway
Year Opened: 1987
Manufactured By: HUSS Maschinenfabrik
Model: Enterprise
Ground Dimensions: 69 x 74 feet
Diameter of Wheel: 56 feet
Max Car Height: 65 feet
Structure Weight: 35 tons
Power “Drive”: 90 kW
Power “Lights”: 70 kW
Number of Cars: 20
Ride Capacity: 40 (2 per car)
Hourly Capacity: 1,400 riders
Ride Colors: Blue, Yellow, Space theming on backdrop
Height Requirements: Riders under 46" in height may not ride.
Centennial Screamer was one of two rides installed at Lagoon in 1987 to celebrate the park’s 100th operating season.
The ride consists of 20 cars around a wheel. When you first enter the ride the wheel is in a horizontal position. Once the doors are shut and the latches checked the ride begins to rotate in a clockwise direction gaining speed until riders are held in place by centrifugal force. At this point the arm attached to the wheel begins to slowly raise to a vertical position (87°) sending riders upside down.
While the ride looks very repetitive and nauseating, the ride experience is very different. Most passengers find the ride very enjoyable and smooth.
One of the most interesting aspects to this ride is the lack of safety harnesses. A couple of bars on both sides helps give the feeling of being “locked in”, but there are no seat belts or lap bars. Through some well designed engineering, a persons body weight and the centrifugal force in motion are almost equal creating a feeling of weightlessness while ensuring that you remain in your seat.
The ride is commonly called just “Screamer”, “You’ve got to be kidding me”, and “No way, I’m not riding that!”.
Check out our photo album of the Centennial Screamer: Click Here!
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