Anton Schwarzkopf (8 July 1924 – 30 July 2001) was a German engineer who founded Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH, a German manufacturer of roller coasters and other amusement rides that were sold to amusement parks and travelling funfairs around the world.

Early years Anton Schwarzkopf, born in Bahlingen, Germany, began as an apprentice in his father's business, which focused on the design of specialised trailers used to transport circus equipment. By 1954, his father's company had transitioned into creating amusement rides.

Career In 1957, Schwarzkopf built his first attraction, the Düsenspirale, which was a roller coaster that traveled around Germany with funfair showman Löffelhardt. He took over his father's company in 1960 and created his first full-scale steel roller coaster, The Wildcat, in 1964. In 1970, the first Jet Star II model was built for German showman Rick. The model became popular for its electric spiral lift hill, and many of this type were built. In 1976, Schwarzkopf partnered with ride engineer Werner Stengel to create a ground-breaking attraction, the Revolution roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. It was the first roller coaster in the modern era to feature a vertical loop. The vertical loop became a signature element used in many of Schwarzkopf's designs, including King Kobra at Kings Dominion in 1977, one of the first Shuttle Loop designs, and Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas in 1978, which featured consecutive vertical loops.

Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH experienced rapid growth throughout the 1970s, as its rides were well received and in high demand. In the 1980s, the company produced several transportable rides for travelling funfairs, particularly those in Western Europe, with a notable example being the Alpina Bahn in 1983. Dreier Looping (meaning triple loop in English) was built in 1984, and Thriller was built in 1986. Outside of Germany, the company partnered with Intamin, and many older rides credited to Intamin were actually designed and created by Schwarzkopf. Schwarzkopf suffered several business setbacks and suffered through several bankruptcies, with the first occurring in late 1983, leading to the abandonment of several upcoming designs and installations. While dormant during the mid-1980s, Peißenberg and Zierer stepped in to construct several of Schwarzkopf's designs, including Bavarian Mountain Railroad in 1987.

The company continued to produce flat rides and assist with roller coaster design for a number of years, and some popular releases during this time included the Bayern Kurve, the Enterprise, and the Monster. Schwarzkopf retired from the industry in 1995 and died on after battling Parkinson's disease for several years.

Legacy There are a number of notable people from the amusement industry who have either worked with, or have relations to Anton Schwarzkopf. His brother, Franz Schwarzkopf, was also a ride designer around the same time as Anton, and designed many staples of both amusement parks and carnivals alike, such as the Wave Swinger. Anton's son Wieland Schwarzkopf also became involved with the industry, starting out at Schwarzkopf, and later starting his own business in 1984. Wieland's company mostly provided parts and services for his father's rides, but had a few of its own attractions, such as the 'Sound Factory', a short-lived version of the popular 'Monster' ride with looping cars. Werner Stengel got his start with the Schwarzkopf company, and later went on to become one of the most prestigious designers of roller coasters and amusement rides. He was still heavily involved with most of Schwarzkopf's attractions. Hubert Gerstlauer, founder and namesake of Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH, was an employee of Schwarzkopf, before starting his own company in 1982. Gerstlauer's manufacturing is still carried out at the former Schwarzkopf facility in Münsterhausen, Bavaria.

Despite their age and shrinking numbers, Schwarzkopf rides remain popular. New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Whizzer at Six Flags Great America, and Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm have all received the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) Coaster Landmark award signifying their importance to the industry.

List of notable roller coasters

As of 2019, Schwarzkopf has built 149 roller coasters around the world.

+List of roller coasters from Anton SchwarzkopfName Model Amusement parkformer park(s) Country Year built Status refsGreased Lightnin'formerly Tidal WaveShuttle LoopSix Flags Discovery KingdomCalifornia's Great America United Statesunknown1977–2002DüsenspiraleWiener Prater Austria1957Jet StarJet StarCasino Pier United States1970Jumbo JetJet Star 3 / Jumbo JetSix Flags Great Adventure United States1975Whizzerformerly Willard's WhizzerSpeed Racer /Extended Jumbo JetSix Flags Great America United States1976Whizzerformerly Willard's WhizzerSpeed Racer /Extended Jumbo JetCalifornia's Great America United States1976Jet Star 2Jet Star 2LagoonRiverfront Park United States19761974Alpen BlitzAlpenblitz IISix Flags Great Adventure United States1976Jumbo JetJet Star 3 / Jumbo JetMorey's Piers United States1976New RevolutionSix Flags Magic Mountain United States1976SooperDooperLooperLooping SpeedracerHersheypark United States1977Wild RiderWildcat 54mSix Flags Great Adventure United States1978The Riddler MindbenderSix Flags Over Georgia United States1978Shock WaveSix Flags Over Texas United States1978Montezooma's RevengeShuttle LoopKnott's Berry Farm United States1978WildcatWildcat 65mCedar Point United States1979Shuttle LoopShuttle LoopNagashima Spa Land Japan1980NessieLooping RacerHansa Park Germany1980ScorpionSilverarrowBusch Gardens Tampa United States1980Looping StarLooping StarNagashima Spa Land Japan1982Turbine formerly Siroccoformerly Turbine (1st)Formerly Psyké UndergroundShuttle LoopWalibi Belgium Belgium1982Colossus the Fire DragonDouble LoopingLagoon United States1983Tig'rr Coasterformerly Jet StarJet StarIndiana BeachHoliday Beach United States19841976–1983MindbenderDreier LoopingGalaxyland Amusement Park Canada1985Silver BulletLooping StarFrontier City United States1986LisebergbananLiseberg Sweden1987Jetlineformerly Berg- och DalbananGröna Lund Sweden1988-2023Viperformerly Jet ScreamLooping StarSix Flags AstroWorldSix Flags St. Louis United States19891981–1988Golden Loopformerly White Lightnin'Shuttle LoopGold Reef CityCarowinds South Africa19891977–1988Turbo Mountainformerly GeronimoJet Star 2Adventure WorldLuna Park Australia19911982–1988Cannonball Expressformerly Enigmaformerly Super Figure Eightformerly Jumbo 5Jumbo VPleasurewood HillsFunland ParkMeli Park United Kingdom19951985–19951983–1984Nightmare at Crack Axle Canyonformerly Nightmare at Phantom Caveformerly StarchaserJet StarGreat EscapeSix Flags Darien LakeKentucky KingdomBeech Bend United States19991996–19981987–1995unknownKatapulformerly Thunderlooperformerly King KobraShuttle LoopHopi HariAlton TowersJolly Roger Amusement ParkKings Dominion Brazil19991990–19961987–19891977–1986Montaña Rusaformerly Zambezi ZingerSpeed Racer /Extended Jumbo JetParque Del CaféWorlds of Fun Colombia19991973–1997Jet StarJet StarLuna Park La PalmyreMorey's PiersKnoebels Amusement Park & Resort France20001993–19991977–1992Tornadoformerly GlissadeJet Star 3 / Jumbo JetSelva MágicaLa Feria Chapultepec MagicoBusch Gardens Williamsburg Mexico20021993–20011975–1985Knightmareformerly BMRXformerly Bavarian Mountain RailroadCamelot Theme ParkKobe Portopialand United Kingdom20071987–2006Tsunamiformerly Zongaformerly Texas Tornadoformerly Taz's Texas Tornadoformerly ThrillerIsla San Marcos Parque TemáticoSix Flags Discovery KingdomSix Flags AstroWorldGröna Lund Mexico20082003–20041998–20001996Tornadoformerly Space Mountainformerly New Beastformerly Alton BeastJet Star 3 / Jumbo JetSalitre MagicoDivertidoAlton Towers Colombia20101998–20041992–1997Rocketformerly Black Holeformerly Black Hole IIformerly New Black HoleJet Star 2FuruvikAlton Towers Sweden20111983–2005Jumbo JetJet Star 3 / Jumbo JetChelyuskintsev ParkDreamlandBeolandMalmö Folkets ParkPalace PlaylandCedar Point Belarus20152010–20142003–20061985–1989unknown1972–1978Wildcatformerly Railsformerly Wild RailsWildcat 65mJolly Roger Amusement ParkValleyfairCedar Point United States20151999–20011979–19981970–1978 &Big Blueformerly Twist and Shoutformerly Looping Starformerly Tower of TerrorSilberpfeilSilverarrowFun Park MirnovecLoudoun CastleDreamlandCamelot Theme ParkOcean Beach Amusement ParkOK Corral Croatia20172003–20102001–20021989–20001986–19881980–1985Bobsleighformerly Course De Bobsleighformerly Jumbo JetCity Jet / Jet 400Parc de la ValléeNiglolandDrayton Manor France20181995–20171981–1983Looping Starformerly Thunder Loopformerly Looping Starformerly Superachtbaan Looping StarLooping StarParko Paliatso Luna ParkAttractiepark Slagharen Cyprus2018-20231979–2016Teststreckeformerly Laserformerly ColossusDouble LoopingMeyer & RosenzweigWiener PraterDorney ParkPlaycenter São Paulo Austria2019 (Wiener Prater)1986–20081981–1986Super Jetformerly Montanha RussaWildcat 54mDiego's ParkMirabilandia Brazil2019/201994–1998Texas Wildcatformerly Raptor Attackformerly Rat RideWildcat 45mCOTALANDLightwater Valley United Kingdom20211987–2019Olympia LoopingWiener Prater Austria202220182016All American Triple Loopformerly Quimeraformerly Montaña Triple Loopformerly Montaña Infinitumformerly Magnum Forceformerly Triple Loop CoasterIndiana BeachLa Feria Chapultepec MagicoFlamingo LandSunway Lagoon United States20242007–20192000–20051997–1999&formerly Cascabelformerly Laser LoopShuttle LoopIndiana BeachNiagara Amusement Park & Splash WorldLa Feria Chapultepec MagicoKennywood United StatesTBA1994–20191980–1990

List of other attractions

Giant wheel – a diameter Ferris wheel at Six Flags Great Adventure and Cedar Point. Orbit (Enterprise) – Six Flags Great America, formerly the Orleans Orbit upon opening of Marriott's Great America, operated from 1976 to 2016. Orbit (Enterprise) – California's Great America. Wheelie (Enterprise) – Six Flags Over Georgia, operated from 1977 to 2012, removed to make room for SkyScreamer. Now at Funspot in Orlando. Enterprise – Attractiepark Slagharren. Bayern Kurve – Kennywood. Berserker (Bayern Kurve) – California's Great America. Centrifuge (Calypso III) – California's Great America. Fiddler's Fling (Calypso III) – Six Flags Great America. The Lobster (Monster III) – Six Flags Great America. A Shuttle Boat ride (Santa Maria) at Bobbejaanland, defunct. Apollo (Apollo 14) – Attractiepark Slagharen, one of two originally built at the park, both were converted to swing rides at some point, and one of the sides ended up at Loudoun Castle. El Torito (de Octupus 1973-2016) (Monster II) – Attractiepark Slagharren. Sky Tower (Zeppelin II) – ,Attractiepark Slagharren. later converted into an observation tower. Monorail – Attractiepark Slagharren. Reuzenrad- Attractiepark Slagharren. monorail- Bobbejaanland Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel 50m) – famous Oktoberfest ferris wheel, owned by showman Willenborg. The Sound Factory, a portable fair ride created sometime between 1998 and 1999, was retired in the early 2000s with hardly any video or photos of it. It returned sometime between 2017–2018 as "The Parkour". The ride was modified with modern seats and no longer flips upside-down. As of September 2024 it is still in operation and can be found at fairs outside of the US.

References

External links

Schwarzkopf Coaster Net — independent website List of Schwarzkopf-designed roller coasters — at the Roller Coaster DataBase