# Anton Schwarzkopf

Anton Schwarzkopf (8 July 1924 – 30 July 2001) was a German engineer who founded Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH, a German manufacturer of roller coasters and other amusement rides that were sold to amusement parks and travelling funfairs around the world.

## Early years

Anton Schwarzkopf, born (1924-07-08)8 July 1924 in Bahlingen, Germany, began as an apprentice in his father's business, which focused on the design of specialised trailers used to transport circus equipment. By 1954, his father's company had transitioned into creating amusement rides.

## Career

In 1957, Schwarzkopf built his first attraction, the Düsenspirale, which was a roller coaster that traveled around Germany with funfair showman Löffelhardt. He took over his father's company in 1960 and created his first full-scale steel roller coaster, The Wildcat, in 1964. In 1970, the first Jet Star II model was built for German showman Rick. The model became popular for its electric spiral lift hill, and many of this type were built. In 1976, Schwarzkopf partnered with ride engineer Werner Stengel to create a ground-breaking attraction, the Revolution roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. It was the first roller coaster in the modern era to feature a vertical loop. The vertical loop became a signature element used in many of Schwarzkopf's designs, including King Kobra at Kings Dominion in 1977, one of the first Shuttle Loop designs, and Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas in 1978, which featured consecutive vertical loops.
Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH experienced rapid growth throughout the 1970s, as its rides were well received and in high demand. In the 1980s, the company produced several transportable rides for travelling funfairs, particularly those in Western Europe, with a notable example being the Alpina Bahn in 1983. Dreier Looping (meaning triple loop in English) was built in 1984, and Thriller was built in 1986. Outside of Germany, the company partnered with Intamin, and many older rides credited to Intamin were actually designed and created by Schwarzkopf. Schwarzkopf suffered several business setbacks and suffered through several bankruptcies, with the first occurring in late 1983, leading to the abandonment of several upcoming designs and installations. While dormant during the mid-1980s, Peißenberg and Zierer stepped in to construct several of Schwarzkopf's designs, including Bavarian Mountain Railroad in 1987.
The company continued to produce flat rides and assist with roller coaster design for a number of years, and some popular releases during this time included the Bayern Kurve, the Enterprise, and the Monster. Schwarzkopf retired from the industry in 1995 and died on 30 July 2001(2001-07-30) (aged 77) after battling Parkinson's disease for several years.

## Legacy

There are a number of notable people from the amusement industry who have either worked with, or have relations to Anton Schwarzkopf. His brother, Franz Schwarzkopf, was also a ride designer around the same time as Anton, and designed many staples of both amusement parks and carnivals alike, such as the Wave Swinger. Anton's son Wieland Schwarzkopf also became involved with the industry, starting out at Schwarzkopf, and later starting his own business in 1984. Wieland's company mostly provided parts and services for his father's rides, but had a few of its own attractions, such as the 'Sound Factory', a short-lived version of the popular 'Monster' ride with looping cars. Werner Stengel got his start with the Schwarzkopf company, and later went on to become one of the most prestigious designers of roller coasters and amusement rides. He was still heavily involved with most of Schwarzkopf's attractions. Hubert Gerstlauer, founder and namesake of Gerstlauer Amuesment Rides GmbH, was an employee of Schwarzkopf, before starting his own company in 1982. Gerstlauer's manufacturing is still carried out at the former Schwarzkopf facility in Münsterhausen, Bavaria.
Despite their age and shrinking numbers, Schwarzkopf rides remain popular. New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Whizzer at Six Flags Great America, and Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm have all received the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) Coaster Landmark award signifying their importance to the industry.

## List of notable roller coasters

As of 2019, Schwarzkopf has built 149 roller coasters around the world.
List of roller coasters from Anton Schwarzkopf :
| Name | Model | Amusement park former park(s) | Country | Year built | Status | refs |
| Greased Lightnin' formerly Tidal Wave | Shuttle Loop | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom California's Great America | United States | unknown 1977–2002 | Removed | [5] [6] |
| Düsenspirale | Unknown | Wiener Prater | Austria | 1957 | Removed | |
| Jet Star | Jet Star | Casino Pier | United States | 1970 | Removed | |
| Jumbo Jet | Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | 1975 | Removed | |
| Whizzer formerly Willard's Whizzer | Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet | Six Flags Great America | United States | 1976 | Operating | |
| Whizzer formerly Willard's Whizzer | Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet | California's Great America | United States | 1976 | Removed | |
| Jet Star 2 | Jet Star 2 | Lagoon Riverfront Park | United States | 1976 1974 | Operating | [12] [13] |
| Alpen Blitz | Alpenblitz II | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | 1976 | Removed | |
| Jumbo Jet | Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet | Morey's Piers | United States | 1976 | Removed | |
| New Revolution | Unknown | Six Flags Magic Mountain | United States | 1976 | Operating | |
| SooperDooperLooper | Looping Speedracer | Hersheypark | United States | 1977 | Operating | |
| Wild Rider | Wildcat 54m | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | 1978 | Removed | |
| The Riddler Mindbender | Unknown | Six Flags Over Georgia | United States | 1978 | Operating | |
| Shock Wave | Unknown | Six Flags Over Texas | United States | 1978 | Operating | |
| Montezooma's Revenge | Shuttle Loop | Knott's Berry Farm | United States | 1978 | Closed for renovations | |
| Wildcat | Wildcat 65m | Cedar Point | United States | 1979 | Removed | |
| Shuttle Loop | Shuttle Loop | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | 1980 | Operating | |
| Nessie | Looping Racer | Hansa Park | Germany | 1980 | Operating | |
| Scorpion | Silverarrow | Busch Gardens Tampa | United States | 1980 | Removed | |
| Looping Star | Looping Star | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | 1982 | Operating | |
| Turbine formerly Sirocco formerly Turbine (1st) Formerly Psyké Underground | Shuttle Loop | Walibi Belgium | Belgium | 1982 | Operating | |
| Colossus the Fire Dragon | Double Looping | Lagoon | United States | 1983 | Operating | |
| Tig'rr Coaster formerly Jet Star | Jet Star | Indiana Beach Holiday Beach | United States | 1984 1976–1983 | Operating | [29] [30] |
| Mindbender | Dreier Looping | Galaxyland Amusement Park | Canada | 1985 | Removed | |
| Silver Bullet | Looping Star | Frontier City | United States | 1986 | Operating | [32] [33] [34] |
| Lisebergbanan | Unknown | Liseberg | Sweden | 1987 | Operating | |
| Jetline formerly Berg- och Dalbanan | Unknown | Gröna Lund | Sweden | 1988-2023 | Closed | |
| Viper formerly Jet Scream | Looping Star | Six Flags AstroWorld Six Flags St. Louis | United States | 1989 1981–1988 | Removed | [37] [38] |
| Golden Loop formerly White Lightnin' | Shuttle Loop | Gold Reef City Carowinds | South Africa | 1989 1977–1988 | Operating | [39] [40] |
| Turbo Mountain formerly Geronimo | Jet Star 2 | Adventure World Luna Park | Australia | 1991 1982–1988 | Removed | [41] [42] |
| Cannonball Express formerly Enigma formerly Super Figure Eight formerly Jumbo 5 | Jumbo V | Pleasurewood Hills Funland Park Meli Park | United Kingdom | 1995 1985–1995 1983–1984 | Operating | [43] [44] [45] |
| Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon formerly Nightmare at Phantom Cave formerly Starchaser | Jet Star | Great Escape Six Flags Darien Lake Kentucky Kingdom Beech Bend | United States | 1999 1996–1998 1987–1995 unknown | Removed | [46] [47] [48] [49] |
| Katapul formerly Thunderlooper formerly King Kobra | Shuttle Loop | Hopi Hari Alton Towers Jolly Roger Amusement Park Kings Dominion | Brazil | 1999 1990–1996 1987–1989 1977–1986 | Operating | [50] [51] [52] [53] |
| Montaña Rusa formerly Zambezi Zinger | Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet | Parque Del Café Worlds of Fun | Colombia | 1999 1973–1997 | Operating | [54] [55] |
| Jet Star | Jet Star | Luna Park La Palmyre Morey's Piers Knoebels Amusement Park & Resort | France | 2000 1993–1999 1977–1992 | Operating | [56] [57] [58] |
| Tornado formerly Glissade | Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet | Selva Mágica La Feria Chapultepec Magico Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Mexico | 2002 1993–2001 1975–1985 | Closed | [59] [60] [61] |
| Knightmare formerly BMRX formerly Bavarian Mountain Railroad | Unknown | Camelot Theme Park Kobe Portopialand | United Kingdom | 2007 1987–2006 | Removed | [62] [63] |
| Tsunami formerly Zonga formerly Texas Tornado formerly Taz's Texas Tornado formerly Thriller | Unknown | Isla San Marcos Parque Temático Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Six Flags AstroWorld Gröna Lund | Mexico | 2008 2003–2004 1998–2000 1996 | Removed | [64] [65] [66] [67] |
| Tornado formerly Space Mountain formerly New Beast formerly Alton Beast | Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet | Salitre Magico Divertido Alton Towers | Colombia | 2010 1998–2004 1992–1997 | Removed | [68] [69] [70] |
| Rocket formerly Black Hole formerly Black Hole II formerly New Black Hole | Jet Star 2 | Furuvik Alton Towers | Sweden | 2011 1983–2005 | Removed | [71] [72] |
| Jumbo Jet | Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet | Chelyuskintsev Park Dreamland Beoland Malmö Folkets Park Palace Playland Cedar Point | Belarus | 2015 2010–2014 2003–2006 1985–1989 unknown 1972–1978 | Operating | [73] [74] [75] [76] [77] [78] |
| Wildcat formerly Rails formerly Wild Rails | Wildcat 65m | Jolly Roger Amusement Park Valleyfair Cedar Point | United States | 2015 1999–2001 1979–1998 1970–1978 | Operating | & |
| Big Blue formerly Twist and Shout formerly Looping Star formerly Tower of Terror Silberpfeil | Silverarrow | Fun Park Mirnovec Loudoun Castle Dreamland Camelot Theme Park Ocean Beach Amusement Park OK Corral | Croatia | 2017 2003–2010 2001–2002 1989–2000 1986–1988 1980–1985 | Operating | [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] |
| Bobsleigh formerly Course De Bobsleigh formerly Jumbo Jet | City Jet / Jet 400 | Parc de la Vallée Nigloland Drayton Manor | France | 2018 1995–2017 1981–1983 | Operating | [89] [90] [91] |
| Looping Star formerly Thunder Loop formerly Looping Star formerly Superachtbaan Looping Star | Looping Star | Parko Paliatso Luna Park Attractiepark Slagharen | Cyprus | 2018-2023 1979–2016 | Removed | [92] [93] |
| Teststrecke formerly Laser formerly Colossus | Double Looping | Wiener Prater Dorney Park Playcenter São Paulo | Austria | 2019 1986–2008 1981–1986 | Removed | [94] [95] [96] |
| Super Jet formerly Montanha Russa | Wildcat 54m | Diego's Park Mirabilandia | Brazil | 2019/20 1994–1998 | Operating | [97] [98] |
| Texas Wildcat formerly Raptor Attack formerly Rat Ride | Wildcat 45m | Cotaland Lightwater Valley | United Kingdom | 2020 1987–2019 | Removed | [99] [100] |
| Olympia Looping | Unknown | Wiener Prater | Austria | 2022 2018 2016 | Operating | [101] [102] [103] |
| All American Triple Loop formerly Quimera formerly Montaña Triple Loop formerly Montaña Infinitum formerly Magnum Force formerly Triple Loop Coaster | Unknown | Indiana Beach La Feria Chapultepec Magico Flamingo Land Sunway Lagoon | United States | 2024 2007–2019 2000–2005 1997–1999 | Operating | & |
| Unknown formerly Cascabel formerly Laser Loop | Shuttle Loop | Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World La Feria Chapultepec Magico Kennywood | United States | TBA 1994–2019 1980–1990 | In Storage | [111] [112] [113] |
| local ride name | Anton Schwarzkopf model type | amusement / theme park location (current, or last operating) former park(s) | location country (current / last) | latest date opened (former dates) | current status | refs |

## List of other attractions

* Giant wheel – a 41.5 metres (136 feet) diameter ferris wheel at Six Flags Great Adventure and Cedar Point.
* Orbit (Enterprise) – Six Flags Great America, formerly the Orleans Orbit upon opening of Marriott's Great America, operated from 1976 to 2016.
* Orbit (Enterprise) – California's Great America.
* Wheelie (Enterprise) – Six Flags Over Georgia, operated from 1977 to 2012, removed to make room for SkyScreamer. Now at Funspot in Orlando.
* Enterprise – Attractiepark Slagharren.
* Bayern Kurve – Kennywood.
* Berserker (Bayern Kurve) – California's Great America.
* Centrifuge (Calypso III) – California's Great America.
* Fiddler's Fling (Calypso III) – Six Flags Great America.
* The Lobster (Monster III) – Six Flags Great America.
* A Shuttle Boat ride (Santa Maria) at Bobbejaanland, defunct.
* Apollo (Apollo 14) – Attractiepark Slagharen, one of two originally built at the park, both were converted to swing rides at some point, and one of the sides ended up at Loudoun Castle.
* El Torito (de Octupus 1973-2016) (Monster II) – Attractiepark Slagharren.
* Sky Tower (Zeppelin II) – ,Attractiepark Slagharren. later converted into an observation tower.
* Monorail – Attractiepark Slagharren.
* Reuzenrad- Attractiepark Slagharren.
* monorail- Bobbejaanland
* Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel 50m) – famous Oktoberfest ferris wheel, owned by showman Willenborg.
The Sound Factory, a portable fair ride created sometime between 1998 and 1999, was retired in the early 2000s with hardly any video or photos of it. It returned sometime between 2017–2018 as "The Parkour". The ride was modified with modern seats and no longer flips upside-down. As of September 2024 it is still in operation and can be found at fairs outside of the US.