Decades ago, there was a very popular ride model called the Tumble Bug. This was an amusement park staple, like a ferris wheel. It is likely that hundreds were made. Nowadays, there are 2 left. They are both very close to me. One is at Kennywood and the other is at Conneaut Lake Park. I haven't been to Conneaut Lake Park yet, so I don't know what their Tumble Bug is like. I ride the one at Kennywood all the time, though, and I wanted to talk about this rare flat ride type.
The one at Kennywood has been operating since 1927, and the one at Conneaut Lake Park has been operating since 1925, so I have only ridden the newer version. This review is focusing on my experiences riding Turtle at Kennywood.
Part 1: Statistics
Turtle at Kennywood and Tumble Bug at Conneaut Lake Park both are around 100 feet in Diameter. This basically means that they are relatively compact flat rides, but not the smallest, really. These rides have different amounts of cars. The one at Kennywood has 6 cars and it looks like the one at Conneaut Lake Park has 5 cars. About 5 people can be in a car, though I don't know of any specific restrictions.
Part 2: Layouts
The rides have 3 hills. These hills are about the size of the ones on Phantom's Revenge. I remember that these hills provide some mild airtime, though it is all floater. The cars are connected to a center motor that moves the ride around the layout, which is all a single rail.
Part 3: My Thoughts
These rides are classics. I enjoy Turtle. I just hope that it isn't too high maintenance for Kennywood. It doesn't seem like any attractions will be removed from Conneaut Lake Park any time soon.
Now, I think these rides are fun. The one at Kennywood always has long lines, but you don't have to wait too long (usually less than 20 minutes). When you are waiting for Turtle, you get great views of Phantom's Revenge. The one at Conneaut Lake Park appears to give good views of a slide.
These rides are very fun. Many people can enjoy them because of their low height requirement. Also, I do want to point out that these don't have restraints. They have a center grab bar, but the only reason for that is so that you don't keep jerking around. It is just fine to put your hands up.
Part 4: What Happened to All the Tumble Bugs?
When the Kids version of a ride is more common then the large version, that probably is a bad thing. There are more kiddie Tumble Bugs than the full sized ones. Many of the former Tumble Bugs are gone. 14 permanent Tumble Bugs were known to exist. Here is what happened to the 12 defunct ones:
-One was at Cascade Park in New Castle, Pennsylvania. It is likely to have shut down with the park in 1981.
-The one at Cedar Point was removed for unknown reasons in 1963.
-The one at Chippewa Lake Park was left SBNO with some of their other rides, such as their kiddie coaster, when the park shut down in the 1970s.
-The one at Crescent Park closed in 1979 with the park.
-The one at Euclid Beach Park closed with the park in 1969.
-The one at Geauga Lake closed for unknown reasons in 1977.
-The one at Hersheypark was removed for Wave Swinger in 1981, having parts sold to Whalom Park.
-The one at Idora Park shut down in 1984, closing with Idora Park.
-The one at Coney Island (Cleveland) was moved to Kings Island with some other rides in 1971. It was removed and sold to Kennywood for parts.
-There was one at Sans Souci Park, but it is unknown what happened to it.
-The one at West View Park was closed in 1977, due to the park closing down.
-The one at Whalom Park closed in 2000 with the park. It was sold to Edaville, but didn't operate, and it was sold for scrap metal.
In the end, there are now an unknown number of Kiddie Tumble Bugs, but there are only 2 permanent full-sized Tumble Bugs.
Now, this is not confirmed, but there is a possibility of the return of the one at Chippewa Lake Park. In around 2 years, they plan on turning the defunct Chippewa Lake Park into Medina County Park, which will be a new amusement park, but it is unknown if the Tumble Bug will be saved. They are looking for community suggestions right now, though.
Finally, I just want to say: ride the tumble bugs while you still can. Conneaut Lake Park has had some issues going SBNO, and Kennywood is removing high-maintenance attractions, so please check them out while you can.