Anton Schwarzkopf facts for kids

Anton Schwarzkopf (born July 8, 1924 – died July 30, 2001) was a German engineer. He started a company called Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH. His company built exciting roller coasters and other fun rides. These rides were sold to amusement parks and traveling fairs all over the world.

Early Life and Beginnings

Anton Schwarzkopf was born on July 8, 1924, in Bahlingen, Germany. He started working as an apprentice in his father's business. His father's company made special trailers. These trailers were used to move circus equipment.

By 1954, his father's company began making amusement rides instead of trailers. This was the start of Anton's journey into the world of fun parks.

Building Amazing Rides

In 1957, Anton Schwarzkopf built his very first ride. It was a roller coaster called the Düsenspirale. This coaster traveled around Germany with a showman named Löffelhardt.

Anton took over his father's company in 1960. In 1964, he created his first big steel roller coaster, named The Wildcat.

The First Loop-the-Loop Coaster

A very important moment came in 1976. Schwarzkopf worked with another engineer, Werner Stengel. Together, they built the Revolution roller coaster. This ride was at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.

The Revolution was special because it was the first modern roller coaster to have a vertical loop. This meant riders went completely upside down! The vertical loop became a signature part of many of Schwarzkopf's later designs.

More Thrilling Designs

After the Revolution, Schwarzkopf designed many more rides with loops.

• In 1977, he built King Kobra at Kings Dominion. This was one of the first Shuttle Loop rides. These coasters launch riders forward and backward through a loop.
• In 1978, he created Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas. This ride was even more thrilling, with two vertical loops in a row!

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

Growth and Challenges

Schwarzkopf Industries grew very quickly in the 1970s. Their rides were popular and in high demand. In the 1980s, the company made many rides that could be moved easily for traveling fairs. A famous example was the Alpina Bahn in 1983.

The company also built Dreier Looping (meaning "triple loop") in 1984. And Thriller was built in 1986. Schwarzkopf also worked with another company called Intamin. Many older rides from Intamin were actually designed by Schwarzkopf.

However, the company faced some business challenges. In the mid-1980s, other companies like Peißenberg and Zierer helped build some of Schwarzkopf's designs. An example is the Bavarian Mountain Railroad in 1987.

Later Years and Retirement

Schwarzkopf's company continued to make other types of rides, called "flat rides." They also helped design roller coasters. Some popular rides from this time included the Bayern Kurve, the Enterprise, and the Monster.

Anton Schwarzkopf retired in 1995. He passed away on July 30, 2001, after battling Parkinson's disease for several years.

Anton Schwarzkopf's Legacy

Anton Schwarzkopf left a big mark on the amusement industry. Many important people in the industry either worked with him or are related to him.

• His brother, Franz Schwarzkopf, also designed rides. He created popular attractions like the Wave Swinger.
• Anton's son, Wieland Schwarzkopf, started his own business in 1984. His company mostly provided parts and services for his father's rides.
• Werner Stengel started his career with Schwarzkopf. He became one of the most respected designers of roller coasters and amusement rides. He was involved in many of Schwarzkopf's projects.
• Hubert Gerstlauer, who started Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH, also worked for Schwarzkopf. Gerstlauer's company still builds rides at the old Schwarzkopf factory in Münsterhausen, Bavaria.

Even though many of Schwarzkopf's rides are old, they are still very popular. Some of his famous roller coasters have even won awards.

• New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain
• Whizzer at Six Flags Great America
• Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm

These rides have received the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) Coaster Landmark award. This award shows how important they are to the history of roller coasters.

Notable Roller Coasters

Anton Schwarzkopf built many roller coasters around the world. Here are some of his well-known creations:

List of roller coasters from Anton Schwarzkopf

Name	Model	Amusement park former park(s)	Country	Year built	Status
Greased Lightnin' formerly Tidal Wave	Shuttle Loop	Six Flags Discovery Kingdom California's Great America	United States	unknown 1977–2002	Removed
Düsenspirale	Unknown	Wiener Prater	Austria	1957	Removed
Whizzer formerly Willard's Whizzer	Speed Racer / Extended Jumbo Jet	Six Flags Great America	United States	1976	Operating
New Revolution	Unknown	Six Flags Magic Mountain	United States	1976	Operating
SooperDooperLooper	Looping Speedracer	Hersheypark	United States	1977	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
Scorpion	Silverarrow	Busch Gardens Tampa	United States	1980	Operating
Colossus the Fire Dragon	Double Looping	Lagoon	United States	1983	Operating
Mindbender	Dreier Looping	Galaxyland Amusement Park	Canada	1985	Removed
Olympia Looping	Unknown	Wiener Prater	Austria	2022 2018 2016	Operating

Other Fun Attractions

Schwarzkopf also designed many other types of rides, not just roller coasters.

• Giant Wheel – A huge ferris wheel at Six Flags Great Adventure and Cedar Point.
• Orbit (Enterprise) – A spinning ride at Six Flags Great America (operated from 1976 to 2016). Another one is at California's Great America.
• Wheelie (Enterprise) – This ride was at Six Flags Over Georgia and is now at Funspot in Orlando.
• Bayern Kurve – A fast, circular ride at Kennywood.
• The Lobster (Monster III) – A spinning ride with arms that go up and down, found at Six Flags Great America.
• Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel 50m) – A very famous ferris wheel at the Oktoberfest fair in Germany.

See also

In Spanish: Anton Schwarzkopf para niños