29yrswithaGApass Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Click here to see the whole Spotlight! Comments and discussions welcomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 Monster Spin was absolutely one of my FAVORITE rides at the park! I love watching the video of the one at Great America because it sounds EXACTLY like the one Great Adventure had. Those Schwarzkopf monster rides had a really distinct sound as all the motors started up, and then at the hydraulic piston began descending back into the ride as the arms lowered. It's one of the rides I miss the most now that it's gone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railer Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I second those sentiments GACoaster. I just watched the video and it has been a long time since I have heard that ride's sounds. It's one I always went on every visit growing up and it is missed alot. *R* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 (edited) Sadly I don't remember seeing this ride but I do remember the 3rd monster ride that was installed in 99. The whole time the 3rd one was in the park I never saw it running which was a shame. Both Dorney and Ocean City have monster rides but both share the same problem, they are very slow loading rides like a Ferris Wheel but there still alot of fun. Edited July 1, 2008 by The Master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 The Monster Spin produced by Schwarzkopf had a couple of HUGE advantages over most of the other Octopus types from other manufacturers. First was the arms lowered for loading all cars at once. Second was it had electric lap bars, so the attendant could release them all at once rather than having ot open each car individually. Third (and my favorite) was the cars themselves spun as well. Most octopus rides have fixed cars, but the Schwarzkopf model added the extra rotation of the cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 The Monster Spin produced by Schwarzkopf had a couple of HUGE advantages over most of the other Octopus types from other manufacturers. First was the arms lowered for loading all cars at once. Second was it had electric lap bars, so the attendant could release them all at once rather than having ot open each car individually. Third (and my favorite) was the cars themselves spun as well. Most octopus rides have fixed cars, but the Schwarzkopf model added the extra rotation of the cars. Dorney's monster ride also has spinning cars while OC's does not. But it does sound like GAdv's second monster ride was a nicer version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkridedan Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 The Monster was one of my favorite rides as a kid and it was one of my favorites on my trip to SFGAm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted July 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 When I worked on Parachuter's Perch in 1985, the Monster Spin was under the same Operations section of the park as my ride. The park had hoped to open the Monster Spin that year and even started to plan to pull together people for a crew. The opening date kept getting postponed until they finally gave up and waited until the next year to reopen it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkridedan Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 I forgot all about the 1985 closure of the ride. I used to go to the park once a year then, but it wasn't until I saw the spotlight that I remembered that. Thank you guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsDevs4Lyf Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 Sadly I missed out on the oppertunities to enjoy this ride as I didn not attend yearly until after it had already been removed. I have seen similar versions at of the parks I have visited sch as Dorney and whatnot, but it does look like this one was a heck of a ride with all fo the different spin points. I wish I had the oppertunity to get on this at least once, but this is why these soptlights are so nice because I can get a feeling for what the park was once about before the times I can remember. Great way to begin the summer guys!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted July 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 One thing I don't recall about the Monster Spin is the brown spotlight tower pictured in the photo below. I only remember the lights on the arms and cars illuminating the ride at night. The darkness of the area and the black paint scheme made a night ride that much more interesting. Does anyone remember flood lights illuminating the ride area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafreak Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 This is the 1st ride I ever rode at great adventure! Good to see the pics of it, I almost for got about the sound it made too, brings back good memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Several pictures of the Monster Spin's sister ride at Six Flags Great America have been added to the Spotlight Extras - Monster Spin album to show the style and details of the ride and cars. Visit the album to see all the photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkridedan Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Thanks Harry. I love this ride! I took a weird pic of the Crawler: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2011 As recently mentioned as one of our trivia questions, the center drum of the Monster Spin still exists at the park! It was used during Fright Fest as the flaming cauldron prop at the hayride entrance into the woods near the Congo Rapids waterfall rock work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2011 Here are a few of the more than 20 new photos: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiller Posted March 14, 2011 Report Share Posted March 14, 2011 ^^ At least they dont scrap everything that they remove from the park. Although, I think that the monkeys in the safari deserved another part of the Scream Machine to play on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulieGBones Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Is there ever a chance that a new updated version of this ride will grace the park anytime in the future? I love these kind of rides. I mean coasters are great and all but variety is the spice of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 ^ I am hoping this is part of the park's plans. Octopus rides are amusement park classics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Next time you are at the park near the Enchanted Teacups check out the concrete behind the ride. You can still see the circular layout of the Monster Spin platform as well as the old markings from the rides fencing and lighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted March 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Here is a photo of the Monster Spin recycled into a blazing cauldron in the Haunted Hayride in 2000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAM527 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I must be the only one that hated this ride and I was only on it one time. For some reason I couldn't handle the up and down motion of the car as well as the spinning at the same time. Back in the day, put me on the Round Up, Scrambler, Bobsled, Runaway Train, whatever and I was fine, but that...not so fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlumeOp1974 Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 The flood lights in the piciture were leftovers for "THe Happening" and were never used to light the area around Monster Spin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted January 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 Here are some samples! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted January 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2022 Does anyone have a picture of the Monster Spin sign? I vaguely remember what it looked like. I believe it featured the mouth of a monster with the words Monster Spin on it. It was about the same size as the Dream Street Dazzler sign in the spotlight. I remember the sign standing alone in 1985 even though the ride was mostly removed for refurbishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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