Anton Schwarzkopf

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Use British English Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox person 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 Template:Birth date 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.<ref name=SCN/> By 1954, his father's company had transitioned into creating amusement rides.<ref name=SCN-catalogue>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

In 1957, Schwarzkopf built his first attraction, the Düsenspirale, which was a roller coaster that traveled around Germany with funfair showman Löffelhardt.<ref name=SCN/> He took over his father's company in 1960 and created his first full-scale steel roller coaster, The Wildcat, in 1964.<ref name=SCN/><ref name=SCN-catalogue/> In 1970, the first Jet Star II model was built for German showman Rick.<ref name=SCN-catalogue/> 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.<ref name=SCN-catalogue/> 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.Template:Citation needed

'Shockwave', Schwarzkopf's first double loop roller coaster.

Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH experienced rapid growth throughout the 1970s, as its rides were well received and in high demand.Template:Citation needed 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.<ref name=SCN/> 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.<ref name=SCN/> While dormant during the mid-1980s, Peißenberg and Zierer stepped in to construct several of Schwarzkopf's designs, including Bavarian Mountain Railroad in 1987.<ref name=SCN/>

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.Template:Citation needed Schwarzkopf retired from the industry in 1995 and died on Template:Death date and age after battling Parkinson's disease for several years.<ref name=SCN/>

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.Template:Citation needed

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

List of notable roller coasters

Template:See also As of 2019, Schwarzkopf has built 149 roller coasters around the world.<ref name="All coasters at RCDB">Template:Cite RCDB</ref>

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	Template:Flagicon United States	unknown 1977–2002	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Düsenspirale	Template:N/A	Wiener Prater	Template:Flagicon Austria	1957	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Jet Star	Jet Star	Casino Pier	Template:Flagicon United States	1970	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Jumbo Jet	Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet	Six Flags Great Adventure	Template:Flagicon United States	1975	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Whizzer formerly Willard's Whizzer	Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet	Six Flags Great America	Template:Flagicon United States	1976	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Whizzer formerly Willard's Whizzer	Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet	California's Great America	Template:Flagicon United States	1976	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Jet Star 2	Jet Star 2	Lagoon Riverfront Park	Template:Flagicon United States	1976 1974	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Alpen Blitz	Alpenblitz II	Six Flags Great Adventure	Template:Flagicon United States	1976	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Jumbo Jet	Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet	Morey's Piers	Template:Flagicon United States	1976	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
New Revolution	Template:N/A	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Template:Flagicon United States	1976	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
SooperDooperLooper	Looping Speedracer	Hersheypark	Template:Flagicon United States	1977	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Wild Rider	Wildcat 54m	Six Flags Great Adventure	Template:Flagicon United States	1978	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
The Riddler Mindbender	Template:N/A	Six Flags Over Georgia	Template:Flagicon United States	1978	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Shock Wave	Template:N/A	Six Flags Over Texas	Template:Flagicon United States	1978	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Montezooma's Revenge	Shuttle Loop	Knott's Berry Farm	Template:Flagicon United States	1978	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Wildcat	Wildcat 65m	Cedar Point	Template:Flagicon United States	1979	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Shuttle Loop	Shuttle Loop	Nagashima Spa Land	Template:Flagicon Japan	1980	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Nessie	Looping Racer	Hansa Park	Template:Flagicon Germany	1980	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Scorpion	Silverarrow	Busch Gardens Tampa	Template:Flagicon United States	1980	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Looping Star	Looping Star	Nagashima Spa Land	Template:Flagicon Japan	1982	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Turbine formerly Sirocco formerly Turbine (1st) Formerly Psyké Underground	Shuttle Loop	Walibi Belgium	Template:Flagicon Belgium	1982	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Colossus the Fire Dragon	Double Looping	Lagoon	Template:Flagicon United States	1983	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Tig'rr Coaster formerly Jet Star	Jet Star	Indiana Beach Holiday Beach	Template:Flagicon United States	1984 1976–1983	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Mindbender	Dreier Looping	Galaxyland Amusement Park	Template:Flagicon Canada	1985	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Silver Bullet	Looping Star	Frontier City	Template:Flagicon United States	1986	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Lisebergbanan	Template:N/A	Liseberg	Template:Flagicon Sweden	1987	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Jetline formerly Berg- och Dalbanan	Template:N/A	Gröna Lund	Template:Flagicon Sweden	1988-2023	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Viper formerly Jet Scream	Looping Star	Six Flags AstroWorld Six Flags St. Louis	Template:Flagicon United States	1989 1981–1988	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Golden Loop formerly White Lightnin'	Shuttle Loop	Gold Reef City Carowinds	Template:Flagicon South Africa	1989 1977–1988	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Turbo Mountain formerly Geronimo	Jet Star 2	Adventure World Luna Park	Template:Flagicon Australia	1991 1982–1988	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Cannonball Express formerly Enigma formerly Super Figure Eight formerly Jumbo 5	Jumbo V	Pleasurewood Hills Funland Park Meli Park	Template:Flagicon United Kingdom	1995 1985–1995 1983–1984	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyon formerly Nightmare at Phantom Cave formerly Starchaser	Jet Star	Great Escape Six Flags Darien Lake Kentucky Kingdom Beech Bend	Template:Flagicon United States	1999 1996–1998 1987–1995 unknown	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Katapul formerly Thunderlooper formerly King Kobra	Shuttle Loop	Hopi Hari Alton Towers Jolly Roger Amusement Park Kings Dominion	Template:Flagicon Brazil	1999 1990–1996 1987–1989 1977–1986	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Montaña Rusa formerly Zambezi Zinger	Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet	Parque Del Café Worlds of Fun	Template:Flagicon Colombia	1999 1973–1997	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Jet Star	Jet Star	Luna Park La Palmyre Morey's Piers Knoebels Amusement Park & Resort	Template:Flagicon France	2000 1993–1999 1977–1992	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Tornado formerly Glissade	Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet	Selva Mágica La Feria Chapultepec Magico Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Template:Flagicon Mexico	2002 1993–2001 1975–1985	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Knightmare formerly BMRX formerly Bavarian Mountain Railroad	Template:N/A	Camelot Theme Park Kobe Portopialand	Template:Flagicon United Kingdom	2007 1987–2006	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Tsunami formerly Zonga formerly Texas Tornado formerly Taz's Texas Tornado formerly Thriller	Template:N/A	Isla San Marcos Parque Temático Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Six Flags AstroWorld Gröna Lund	Template:Flagicon Mexico	2008 2003–2004 1998–2000 1996	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Tornado formerly Space Mountain formerly New Beast formerly Alton Beast	Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet	Salitre Magico Divertido Alton Towers	Template:Flagicon Colombia	2010 1998–2004 1992–1997	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Rocket formerly Black Hole formerly Black Hole II formerly New Black Hole	Jet Star 2	Furuvik Alton Towers	Template:Flagicon Sweden	2011 1983–2005	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Jumbo Jet	Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet	Chelyuskintsev Park Dreamland Beoland Malmö Folkets Park Palace Playland Cedar Point	Template:Flagicon Belarus	2015 2010–2014 2003–2006 1985–1989 unknown 1972–1978	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Wildcat formerly Rails formerly Wild Rails	Wildcat 65m	Jolly Roger Amusement Park Valleyfair Cedar Point	Template:Flagicon United States	2015 1999–2001 1979–1998 1970–1978	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> & <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
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	Template:Flagicon Croatia	2017 2003–2010 2001–2002 1989–2000 1986–1988 1980–1985	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Bobsleigh formerly Course De Bobsleigh formerly Jumbo Jet	City Jet / Jet 400	Parc de la Vallée Nigloland Drayton Manor	Template:Flagicon France	2018 1995–2017 1981–1983	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Looping Star formerly Thunder Loop formerly Looping Star formerly Superachtbaan Looping Star	Looping Star	Parko Paliatso Luna Park Attractiepark Slagharen	Template:Flagicon Cyprus	2018-2023 1979–2016	Template:No	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Teststrecke formerly Laser formerly Colossus	Double Looping	Meyer & Rosenzweig Wiener Prater Dorney Park Playcenter São Paulo	Template:Flagicon Austria	2019 (Wiener Prater) 1986–2008 1981–1986	Template:Yes	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Super Jet formerly Montanha Russa	Wildcat 54m	Diego's Park Mirabilandia	Template:Flagicon Brazil	2019/20 1994–1998	Template:Active	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Texas Wildcat formerly Raptor Attack formerly Rat Ride	Wildcat 45m	Cotaland Lightwater Valley	Template:Flagicon United Kingdom	2021 1987–2019	Template:Yes	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Olympia Looping	Template:N/A	Wiener Prater	Template:Flagicon Austria	2022 2018 2016	Template:Yes	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
All American Triple Loop formerly Quimera formerly Montaña Triple Loop formerly Montaña Infinitum formerly Magnum Force formerly Triple Loop Coaster	Template:N/A	Indiana Beach La Feria Chapultepec Magico Flamingo Land Sunway Lagoon	Template:Flagicon United States	2024 2007–2019 2000–2005 1997–1999	Template:Yes	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>& <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
Template:N/A formerly Cascabel formerly Laser Loop	Shuttle Loop	Indiana Beach Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World La Feria Chapultepec Magico Kennywood	Template:Flagicon United States	TBA 1994–2019 1980–1990	Template:Coming soon	<ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref> <ref>Template:Cite RCDB</ref>
local ride name	Anton Schwarzkopf model type<ref name=SCN-catalogue/>	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 Template:Convert 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.

External links

• Schwarzkopf Coaster Net — independent website
• List of Schwarzkopf-designed roller coasters — at the Roller Coaster DataBase