Spinning and dipping, Minnesota fairgoers delight in the classic Tilt-A-Whirl ride as it turns 100
Falcon Heights, Minnesota (AP) — Minnesota fairgoers are reveling in the nostalgia of the Tilt-A-Whirl ride as it marks its 100th anniversary, as screams and giggles fill the air. The iconic carousel-style ride, featuring brightly colored cars and a spinning motion, has been a staple at fairs across the nation since its debut at the Minnesota State Fair in 1926.
Herbert Sellner, an inventor from Faribault, Minnesota, created the Tilt-A-Whirl after a failed attempt to make a water ride with spinning boats. His brother Martin suggested a land-bound version, which became a timeless classic. The ride operates using seven individual motors, harnessing gravity to spin the cars around its dips.
Riders, from young Samuel Mishek, who rode twice in a row, to Valerie Nelson, who first experienced the ride in the 1970s, share their love for the Tilt-A-Whirl. Samuel, 7, loves the ride for its little bumps, while Nelson calls it her favorite ride forever. Thomas Lauthier, the ride operator who brings the Tilt-A-Whirl to fairs across the country, notes that Midwesterners have a particular affinity for the ride, with many families making it a tradition.
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