{
  "id": 4344637,
  "title": "Spinning and dipping, Minnesota fairgoers delight in the classic Tilt-A-Whirl ride as it turns 100",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/spinning-and-dipping-minnesota-fairgoers-delight-in-the-classic-tilt",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-30T04:23:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/08/29/spinning-and-dipping-minnesota-fairgoers-delight-in-the-classic-tilt-a-whirl-ride-as-it-turns-100"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nHerbert 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.\n\nRiders, 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.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Tilt-A-Whirl celebrates 100th anniversary at Minnesota State Fair",
    "Invented by Herbert Sellner after failed water ride attempt",
    "Midwesterners particularly fond of nostalgic ride"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Tilt-A-Whirl's 100th anniversary marks its enduring appeal, particularly in the Midwest, where it has become a family tradition and a timeless classic at fairs and carnivals nationwide.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Spinning and dipping, Minnesota fairgoers delight in the classic Tilt-A-Whirl ride as it turns 100",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/spinning-and-dipping-minnesota-fairgoers-delight-in-the-classic-tilt-4348850",
        "published": "2026-08-30T04:53:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}