Troika (ride)

The Troika is an amusement park ride designed and manufactured by HUSS Park Attractions in the mid-1970s. The name Troika means "group of three" in Russian, a reference to its three armed design. There are several variations on the design.

Troika at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH

Design

HUSS Park Attractions designed and manufactured the first Troika ride in the mid-1970s. It is named after the Russian word meaning "group of three", a reference to its three armed design.

Description and operation

A Troika consists of three arms radiating from a central column. At the end of each arm is a wheel-like assembly (star) holding seven gondolas, each of which seats 2 people side by side.

When the ride is activated, the central column rotates clockwise, while the Star at the end of each arm rotates counterclockwise. Hydraulic cylinders then raise the arms to an angle of 40°. The gondolas do have some capacity to rock from side to side, but this is minimal. At the end of the ride cycle, the arms are lowered, and the rotation stopped. Because it is a relatively mild thrill ride, it is a good ride for younger children or beginning riders who aren't up to riding more extreme attractions, like Huss's own Enterprise or Top Spin.

The main safety restraint is a buzz bar system, which locks into one of five positions. Huss recommends that riders be at least 42 inches tall with an adult or over 50 inches tall to ride alone.

Variants and modern adaptions

The ride is available in both transportable and permanent forms, although due to the total weight and size of the ride (35 tons, plus an additional 27 tons for the temporary base and platform), transportable Troikas are unpopular and uncommon.

Portable versions of the Troika can be disassembled, but due to the size and weight of the machinery and platform, rack onto no fewer than three trailers.

AirBoat

Huss now makes a modern version of the Troika, called the AirBoat. It is smaller and can only carry 24 people (with 3 pods and 4 cars per pod). It runs at about the same speed. One example that is no longer running was the Gator Bait ride at Six Flags New Orleans; this ride closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Scorpion

The Tivoli Scorpion is based on the same pattern as the Troika, but a much smaller gondola wheel diameter results in greater speed and centripetal force experienced by the riders (claimed to be over 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph)). The Scorpion is significantly lighter than a Troika, making it more popular for operation at carnivals and fairs.

Troika Installations
NameParkCountryManufacturerOpenedClosedDetails
ScorpionAdventure Island United KingdomTivoli20012018Now operates as a travelling fair ride.
TroikaAdventureland United StatesHUSS19761983Leased to park by German immigrant Willy Miller.[1]
TroikaAl-Rawdah Sharaco Amusement Park Saudi ArabiaHUSS1988ClosedPark and ride presumed closed.[2][3]
Тройка (Troika)All-Russia Exhibition Center RussiaOpen
Turbo StarAlton Towers United Kingdom19841989
TomahawkAttractiepark Slagharen NetherlandsOpen
UnknownBarry Island Pleasure ParkHUSSClosedNow operates at Carowinds
Adrenaline Test ZoneCalaway Park CanadaHUSSOpen[4]
Triple PlayCalifornia's Great America United StatesHUSS19762004
Do-Si-DoCarowinds United StatesHUSS2017OpenPreviously traveled with German showman Schafer between 1974 and 1976 before operating at several European parks between 2004 and 2010. Sold to Cedar Fair among other European flat rides.[5]
TroikaCedar Point United StatesHUSS1976Open[6]
UnknownConey Beach Pleasure Park WalesHUSSClosedNow operates at Carowinds
KaleidoscopeDorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom United StatesHUSS 2017Open[7]
TroikaDreamland Margate19831997
TroikaElitch Gardens Theme Park United StatesHUSS 1995OpenOriginally manufactured 1976.[8]
GoldcurseFamiliepark Drievliet NetherlandsHUSSOpenIncludes extensive theming package.[9] Previously operated as Turbo Star. Serial number 26360.[10]
Troika Fuji-Q Highland Japan HUSS Closed [11]
TroikaFun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo United StatesHUSS 2008Standing but not operating after park closed. Removed sometime between 2011 and 2015 and relocated to Santa's Village AZoosment Park.
Wellenreiter (Wave Rider)Hansa-Park GermanyHUSS 1978Open[12]
ScorpionHorn Luna Park SerbiaOpenTraveling version.
Bad AppleKings Dominion United StatesHUSS2002Open[13]
Shake, Rattle & RollKings Island United StatesHUSS1975Open[14] Serial number 26731.
HumlaKongeparken Norway1997Open[15]
DiabloLa Ronde Canada19782003
Troika Linnanmäki Finland HUSS 1974 1974 Relocated to Särkänniemi. Ride originally bought for Särkänniemi, but Särkänniemi did not open until 1975 and so the ride was rented to Linnanmäki for 1974 season.
UnknownLoudoun Castle United KingdomHUSSClosedNow operates at Carowinds
Tumble BugLuna Park Sydney AustraliaHUSS19952020[16]
L'aigle Noir (The Black Eagle)OK Corral Theme Park FranceHUSS 1970Open
Super StarPalace Playland United States2017Open[17]
Tri-StarPleasureland Southport United Kingdom19741983Built under license by English firm Bennett. Relocated to Spanish City.
Tri-StarPleasureland Southport United KingdomFairmatt2013Open
UnknownPleasurewood Hills United KingdomHUSSClosedNow operates at Carowinds
Tri-Nado Santa's Village AZoosment Park United States HUSS 2015 Open Relocated from Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo.[18]
Troika Särkänniemi Finland 1975 Open
Spider Selva Magica Mexico Open
Warp 2000 Six Flags AstroWorld United States HUSS 1981 2005 Most parts moved to Six Flags Over Texas for usage on its Troika.
ThrillbillySix Flags Darien Lake United StatesHUSS 19791983Ride removed with changes in park ownership.
Triple Play Six Flags Great America United States HUSS 1976 Open [19]
Wild Flower Six Flags Great Adventure United States HUSS 1975 1977 Previously Wild Rider.
Gator Bait Six Flags New Orleans United States HUSS 2005 AirBoat version. No longer in operation after Hurricane Katrina but still standing.
Crazy Legs Six Flags Over Texas United States HUSS 2006 2017 Previously Harley Quinn Spinsanity. Relocated from Six Flags AstroWorld.
Tri-Star Spanish City 1984 1984 Relocated from Pleasureland Southport.
Scorpion Talley Amusements, Inc. (Showman) United States Tivoli Open [20]
Calgary Stampede Thorpe Park United Kingdom 1993 2003
Troika Toshimaen Japan HUSS 2020
Mustang Runner Worlds of Fun United States HUSS 2017 Open [21]
Dancing Queen Unknown - German Showman Germany Open Traveling version in Germany.

See also

References
  1. Mercaldo, Christopher (2014). Adventureland. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 17, 21. ISBN 9781467121705.
  2. "Al-Rawdah Sharaco Amusement Park (Riyadh, Ar Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  3. "Saudi Constructioneers Ltd". www.saudico.com.sa. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  4. Calaway Park Website
  5. Do-Si-Do - Carowinds Website
  6. Troika - Cedar Point Website
  7. Kaleidoscope - Dorney Park Website
  8. Troika - Elitch Gardens Website
  9. Goldcurse // On/Offride // Drievliet, The Netherlands // Huss Troika, retrieved 2020-04-12
  10. "Goldcurse - Drievliet (NL) - polypweb.eu". www.polypweb.eu. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  11. "Fuji-Q Highland - Troika". www.themeparkreview.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  12. Wellenreiter - Hansa-Park Website
  13. Bad Apple - Kings Dominion Website
  14. Shake, Rattle & Roll - Kings Island Website
  15. Humla - Kongeparken Website
  16. Tumble Bug - Luna Park Sydney Website
  17. Rides - Palace Playland Website
  18. Thrill Rides - Santa's Village AZoosment Park Website
  19. Triple Play - Six Flags Great America Website
  20. www.mwdwebdesign.com, Matt's Web Design-. "Talley Amusements - Scorpion". Talley Amusements. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  21. Mustang Runner - Worlds of Fun Website
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