Rotor

Family Rides

The Rotor ride is a historic type of ride based on a simple yet spectacular principle: visitors stand inside a large spinning drum and are pressed against the outer wall by centrifugal force as the floor drops away beneath them.

In the late 1940s, German engineer Ernst Hoffmeister conceived one of the boldest and most innovative attractions of the era. Showcased at the 1949 Oktoberfest, the Rotor quickly amazed visitors with the thrill of being "glued" to the wall inside a vertical spinning cylinder. At the time, it was described as "one of the craziest attractions ever devised" and soon became a favorite.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Rotor traveled across European fairs and even reached Coney Island, New York. In Italy, manufacturers that later merged into Preston & Barbieri embraced the concept early on, producing local versions as early as the 1950s.

Today, Preston & Barbieri continues to offer the Rotor in its catalog of family rides, upgrading its materials and safety features while remaining faithful to the original spirit: a fast-spinning cylinder that presses riders against the walls using centrifugal force.

This historic ride has transcended time to become a timeless classic in amusement parks.