Huss Park Attractions creates, designs, builds and supports rides for some of the world’s most popular theme parks, amusement parks, and fairgrounds. In fact, more people have experienced HUSS attractions than any other brand of flat rides.
Building on more than a century of history and over 50 years of experience in the amusement industry, the ride manufacturer is now celebrating a new chapter of innovation with the launch of a refreshed brand identity and website, as well as the new HUSS Creative service and a revamped portfolio. This includes 22 different attractions, with five new signature rides, two new immersive rides and two model fairground attractions.
To find out more about what’s new at Huss Park Attractions, and learn about the company’s passion for creating unique, memorable experiences, we speak to CEO Mirko J. Schulze and Lars L. Hartmann, international sales manager.
Popular rides around the world
HUSS was the first significant producer of flat rides in the world. It is now the flat ride specialist, with more than 65 ride models and over 1,000 rides in the market today.
The firm’s rides have been a staple attraction at fairgrounds and in parks across the globe since 1970, offering experiences that visitors have come to know and love over the last 50 years. Yet it also offers something for guests of the future too.
Its goal is to lead the industry in the flat ride sector. It works to identify trends and enhance its portfolio to meet the rising demand for major flat rides, with new customisation, theming, and lighting options. As a result, it offers experiences for all, from families to thrill-seekers, keeping the experience fresh with unexpected and memorable new twists.
Speaking about what sets Huss Park Attractions apart from the competition, Schulze says that the company’s history has given it a deep understanding of the ride experience. This has allowed it to develop the unique HUSS principle of ‘Let physics do the work’. He adds:
“We are proud of the outstanding performance of each of our rides, which excel in quality, safety, robustness and longevity.”
When it comes to the brand refresh, he says: “This has been long overdue, but HUSS has been very busy! The expansion of the attraction line-up and the associated restructuring of the portfolios finally provided the best opportunity.”
HUSS Creative
For Huss Park Attractions, it’s not just about creating exciting rides. It’s also about creating lasting experiences.
The team is enthusiastic about providing visitors with the gift of special memories, and at the same time, it helps parks to showcase their vision and brand. The new in-house HUSS Creative team can work with operators on customised theming and illumination concepts that will make a ride stand out, distinctive lighting to make it shine, and tailored assistance to bring an operator’s vision to life.
A range of imaginative concepts can be realised with the help of HUSS Creative, from the initial drawings to the finished product. The team can transform ideas into an amazing attraction, complete with unique theming and lighting. Working towards the client’s needs and wants, HUSS Creative can offer a comprehensive design handbook. This includes illustrations, colour schemes, logo creation, and specific design features.
With HUSS Creative, everything comes from one source, says Hartmann. “This team can develop a simple ride into a truly unique experience. The designs are created based on HUSS Creative’s deep knowledge of the attraction. This means that the feasibility of the implementation is there right from the first sketch. The fact that this service is in-house also helps our customers to save both time and money.
“A HUSS attraction is much more than just a fun, trustworthy, and safe ride,” he adds. “Our modern engineering is enhanced by theming and lighting, elevating the attraction to produce a one-of-a-kind riding experience that leaves a lasting impression.”
Exciting new rides from HUSS
Huss Park Attractions has recently expanded its portfolio. It now offers 22 different attractions, ranging from family experiences to thrill rides. This extension has seen the addition of five new signature rides: Break Dance 5, Booster Revolution, Troika 2G, Magic 2G and Spinning Cruiser. All these rides can also be enhanced with customised theming, lighting and onboard sound, for an even more memorable experience.
The first Break Dance 5 attractions are already in production, adding the innovative HUSS Operator Center Stage concept to the fun spins and swings of the classic Break Dance ride. This HUSS Original, which features unpredictable 360° spins, combines both a thrill and a family experience, designed to appeal to a wide variety of guests. It offers both a controlled show ride and countless free ride patterns based on pure physics.
Booster Revolution, a spinning thrill ride, is another HUSS Original. It offers sudden swings at low speeds, building to exciting multiple loops at high speeds. Meanwhile, the gondolas can also freely swing to both sides.
Troika 2G is a popular HUSS Original round ride that has been relaunched with an upgraded design. With unique advanced ride patterns and a distinctive design that appeals to a wide audience, it makes an ideal adventure attraction for the whole family.
New spins and swings
With Spinning Cruiser, guests can enjoy a fun cruising experience with unpredictable accelerations and sudden spins. This leads to a different adventure with every ride. Operators can offer a controlled show ride, which includes limitless free ride patterns. They can also customise their installation with different theming, lighting, music, and special effects.
The experience is made even more memorable by the addition of the HUSS Operator Center Stage feature. With this innovation, the operator controls the show from the middle of the ride, interacting with guests.
The last new signature ride is Magic 2G, which combines lifting and rotating moments. Customers enjoy various ride patterns and constantly shifting acceleration sensations due to the variable spin rates of the carousel and gondolas. Additionally, the lifting mechanism of the ride generates up-and-down movements for moments of weightlessness.
“These new signature rides are based on proven technology,” says Hartmann. “The base concepts have been popular for decades. But we’ve brought them up to date and added exciting new features for a modern audience. We’re able to offer multiple ride experiences in one attraction, which elevates the rides that people know and love.
“From an operator point of view, our signature rides provide a high-capacity attraction on a relatively compact footprint. And they are easy to install on a flat surface.”
In addition, Break Dance 5 and Booster Revolution are both available as mobile attractions for travelling fairgrounds, complete with HUSS Operator Center stage and fully equipped with manual ride and additional show control. The mobile versions feature an innovative podium and backwall design. They can be set up with a crane and a very small crew in one day
Something for everyone
With its innovative and powerful designs, HUSS aims to offer a ride experience that is fun for everyone. Many of its flat rides can offer two rides in one attraction, delivering both an all-inclusive family ride and white-knuckle thrills simply by altering the ride cycles for separate queues. With this one-ride-fits-all approach, the company can help operators appeal to a wide target group of guests, starting at a height of just over one metre tall.
The five signature rides are also the most powerful and fastest rides that the company has ever created. They offer maximum performance, while still maintaining the appeal of the classic versions for a nostalgic, intergenerational experience.
“Our rides are where physics meets fun,” explains Schulze. “At HUSS, we let science do the work. Free-flowing physics creates thrilling spins and loops. Meanwhile, the power of gravity pulls riders back in their seats and then lets them loose to feel the excitement of extreme zero gravity. With nature and science in charge – and HUSS in control – every ride is a new experience, inspiring riders of all ages to line up again and again!”
The appeal of flat rides
This move comes as there has been something of a renaissance in flat rides. Huss Park Attractions is leading the way, meeting the demand from the industry for more innovation in this style of ride.
There are many reasons why flat rides are an important addition to a theme park, amusement park or fairground. Major flat rides can be staged as landmark attractions, offering an extra highlight between roller coasters.
“Major flat rides deliver a great ride experience to a massive crowd,” says Hartmann. “With flat rides, a small number of staff can manage a huge number of guests in a short amount of time. These rides offer a variety of experiences on a compact footprint, while also being easy to operate and maintain.
“Flat rides offer guests more variety. They enrich the attraction mix at any park or fair, and they remain evergreen and popular for decades.”
The compact design of these latest products from HUSS, as well as their flat surface installation, means that they are a straightforward addition for park operators.
Flat rides also tend to have high capacity and throughput. This means that guests spend less time queuing and more time enjoying their time on the attraction. The new signature rides from HUSS are all designed for optimum operation and guest flow. In addition, they feature the HUSS Next Generation Gondola design, created to give visitors more room and comfort while they are riding. Each seat includes an individual lap bar for complete safety.
Upgrade the experience
While the mechanics of the rides are what introduce the thrills and excitement, the experience can be taken to the next level with additional storytelling, thanks to individual show ride cycles.
The length and intensity of the ride cycles can be tailored to match the park’s guest mix. In addition, the ride can also be upgraded with a custom soundtrack and individual motion sound, presented through the onboard sound system. Plus, there is also the option to add special effects and multimedia enhancements.
Meanwhile, the HUSS Operator Center Stage feature allows the ride operator to become part of the show, as they control the attraction from the very heart of the action. Ride operators can interact with guests and directly impact their experience.
With these new features, parks can offer fun beyond the classic ride experience, says Schulze:
“Our new slogan is ‘Your Story – Your Ride’. We create a unique ride experience based on the vision of our customers. For example, cycles with different lengths and intensities cater to different guests and also help to manage queue lines.
“The HUSS ride may be well-known and beloved, but our enhanced features elevate them for a brand-new experience.”
Immersive rides
As well as the signature rides, Huss Park Attractions is also offering two new immersive rides: the Sky Tower Multimedia and the Shot’n Drop Multimedia.
The popular HUSS Sky Tower viewing experience and the newest HUSS film-based attraction, the Explorer, have been combined to create the HUSS Sky Tower Multimedia. Many theme parks and tourist sites continue to have the Sky Tower as an integral fixture. It is easily seen from a distance and is a completely inclusive family ride with a wide appeal for all ages. From the top, it satisfies a fundamental human longing to be among the clouds with a “bird’s eye view.”
Now, Sky Tower Multimedia elevates the experience by immersing visitors in a virtual reality environment or offering tailored film material. The first Sky Tower Multimedia project has already been delivered to the client, and the equipment is ready for installation.
Meanwhile, the Shot’n Drop Multimedia offers a film-based indoor thrill experience. This innovative design combines the state-of-the-art ride system of Shot’n Drop with an engaging multimedia environment. Guests will enjoy high-quality multisensory AV and a high-performance thrill ride, all within one experience. Seated in suspended seats and facing outwards around the tower, they are launched to the top at high speed. They will also experience the feeling of weightlessness on the drop, with the mix of lift and freefall movements offering extreme feelings of acceleration and airtime.
“These new immersive rides offer a unique combination of a real physical ride and an immersive adventure journey,” says Hartmann. “They set new standards in the field of film-based rides and can be operated in parks or as stand-alone attractions.”
The film-based tower rides also have a small footprint. They can be operated all year round, regardless of weather conditions, as visitors are protected indoors.
Reliable, safe and memorable experiences from Huss Park Attractions
Huss Park Attractions’ “mighty machines” are market leaders in terms of dependability and durability. All the company’s rides are constructed to engineering, production, and safety standards much above those required by the industry. These newest inventions are engineered to the same principles as when the firm was formed.
HUSS rides are among the most reliable, safe, and successful around the globe. Several of them have been running for more than 50 years while continuing to satisfy customers and generate revenue for their owners. Huss Parts & Service also offers full service and can deliver parts to all existing HUSS rides. Even the company’s very first ride is still in operation today.
“We strive to earn the confidence a customer has in us when selecting a well-engineered and marketable ride that they know was built to last a lifetime; the feeling of buying the best,” says Hartmann. “At HUSS, quality and originality never go out of style. This culture defines our legacy and our future.”
The very first HUSS Break Dance 5 attraction will premiere under the name Laser Dance at the Prater in Vienna soon. The innovative concept and overall attraction design will be presented to the world publicly by the firm’s client at IAAPA Expo Europe 2023 in Vienna, and additional Break Dance 5 installations are already part of the project pipeline. To meet the HUSS team at IAAPA Expo Europe, visit booth # A-1915 or to book a meeting please click here.
To find out more about the new HUSS attractions portfolio, please visit the new website here, where you can explore the full catalogue.
