Carnival Ride Rebuilds
Jupiter 7 Project Astroliner
The Astroliner is a carnival ride simulator developed in the mid 1980s. In its time it was ahead of its time, because back then no one developed a flight simulator that would go along with a movie. Astroliner have been in my family for two generations now. My father owned one and I did as well. Unlike my fathers, when he bought his it was slightly used. I found my Astroliner in a gravy yard of old carnival rides and parts. My father and I did a total rebuild on the Astroliner from the ground up. We did the rebuild in six months and had it ready just in time for the last Michigan State with Wade Shows (Carnival Group).
After the first year of running the Astroliner. I took my story “Jupiter 7” and developed it in the story and then used the Astroliner the tell that story. When riders ride the Astroliner they are getting a unique story. I developed new characters, simulator videos, radio station, and much much more. From that point on additions where added to the Astroliner. After the rebuild, my mission was to bring a “Disney” like experience to road carnival and to people who couldn’t afford going to a Disney park.
The Astroliner was retrofitted with interactive effects that would interact with the film and passengers that rode it. Most intense and difficult install was a pneumatic monster that would take part of an Alien encounter.
2016 Henry Ford Maker Fare: best attraction voted by visitors to the Henry Ford Maker Fare.
2016 & 2017 Astroliner was awarded most innovated design and attraction by the Henry Ford Maker Fare Committee.
Dragon Fly
The Dragon Fly was original designed by my Father in the late 1980’s. it was as swinging dragon ship that customers would pull ropes to make it move and swing. The Dragon fly was rebuilt from the ground up and updated with signage, lights and new entry path.
2018 Dragon Fly was awarded most innovated design by the Henry Ford Maker Fare committee.
Starlight Castle
More info coming soon.
Mathew Roll's Portfolio 