The 2024 IAAPA Convention and trade show wrapped up in Orlando on Friday with record setting attendance.  Over 40,000 participants came to the show, viewing goods from 1,100 vendors.  There were also 140 learning opportunities for participants, along with announcements from vendors and suppliers.
 
“This year's IAAPA Expo was truly a celebration of community and Collaboration within our industry,” said Jakob Wahl, President and Chief Executive Officer for IAAPA. “Bringing together professionals from every corner of the globe, we saw firsthand the power of shared passion, knowledge, and creativity.  IAAPA Expo is more than just an event; it's an event where ideas come to life and where lifelong connections are made.  Watching the energy and excitement of attendees reminded us why we do what we do - to inspire, to innovate, and to create memorable experiences that bring joy to people everywhere.”

 

Eli Bridge orders Scheduled Through 2026

One of the longest exhibitors at the trade show is Eli Bridge, a company that has been building Ferris Wheels, Scramblers and other rides for almost 125 years.  Owner Patty Sullivan said the company had a great show and 2024 season and they are now booked through the middle of 2026.

“It's a nice felling”, she said of the new orders, adding, “a few months ago, we didn't have much lined up”.  

But the orders came rolling in including an order from Scheels, a company owned sporting goods store that now has 14 or 15 wheels in their stores.

Asked about her most popular products, Sullivan said her trailer mounted wheels and Scrambler were the best sellers as well as her ride parts sales.

Technical Park Sells New Spectaculars to Dreamland Amusements

The Italian company has been busy delivering rides all over the world, with many coming to the United States.  One US customer with lots of rides from Technical Park is Dreamland Amusements.  The company will be receiving a “Heavy Rotation” ride in late 2025 for the 2026 season and a Jet Fighter ride to be delivered in late 2026 for the 2027 season.  The Jet Fighter holds 20 people and takes 3 people about 5 hours to set up.  Both rides will be great spectacular editions to the Dreamland lineup and the first to appear at their events in the United States.  The ride can reach speeds of up to 3.6gs.


Marco Grigolo of Technical Park said traffic at the show was “very good”, and he had lots of interest from parks and carnivals. 

In addition to the Dreamland sales, Technical park had several other orders to put in the pipeline including a sale to Frankie's Fun Park, a chain of FECs.  A Street Fighter Revolution was ordered, which followed another order the company made last year.  Grigolo said the order shows the company is happy with Technical Park, their products and service.

Technical Park had a new ride they were displaying.  The attraction shown on display has a western theme and alternatively is also known as the Drone.  The concept for the ride is brand new and none have yet been sold but the company has high hopes for it.  The ride is interactive and passengers are able to control some of the movements.

 

Rides 4-U Inks First Portable Zero Gravity Sale

The company with the most rides on display at the show was once again Rides 4-U, representing SBF/Visa and several other brands.  Company President Len Soled said the company had a “strong show.  All three segments of the market (parks, carnivals and FECs) were on par with last year but carnivals were extremely strong.”



One ride that caught a lot of attention was the company's Zero Gravity ride.  The first portable model is going to North American Midway Entertainment (NAME) and 5 models are going to Frankie's Fun Park.  Soled said he is looking for big things from the ride.



Rides 4-U's compact spinning coaster was also on display.  Soled said they made several improvements to the piece to make it easier to move including use of a jib boom to move the track that later becomes part of the scenery.  The new version can be set up in 2 hours.  TDK Amusements of Pennsylvania purchased the ride

The Drop N' Twist on display is going to an overseas customer but 3 versions were purchased by Frankie's Fun Park.

The Dance Party ride on display is going to an amusement park in South Padre Island, TX. 

Also sold were two Pirate 32 rides, one previously sold to Poor Jack's Amusements in February and a second to the Hauser family's West Coast Amusements in Canada.

Soled's new Tagada ride, which holds 14 people, also showed a lot of interest.  Beauce Carnaval of Canada purchased one version and TDK Amusements bought a second version.

As previously reported, Fun Spot added 5 new rides to their parks this year and Soled's Rides 4-U brokered the sales.  Rides 4-U also has an exclusive with Sesame Place in Mexico for ride placement as well as Gillian's Wonderland in NJ.

Soled said the company was one of the few still taking in trade ins on new equipment.  They have received about a dozen trade ins during the year of top-quality equipment.

“In my 40 years, this is one of the top 5 shows we have had here,” said Soled.  “There were volumes of people, and we are looking forward to the Gibtown trade show for the carnivals in February which we think will be very strong.”

 

KMG sells Three Lunarix Rides to USA

KMG introduced their new Lunarix ride last year, and sales are starting to pile up.  The ride, a cross between an Inversion and Speed, reaches as high as 78'.  It holds 16 riders at a time.  The ride travels on one trailer and does not require a crane for set up.  It takes about 4 hours to set up and does not require a water ballast tank.  It travels on one road-legal trailer.  The ride also comes with a full LED package.


The first edition of the ride is going to Australia, but version #5 will be going to Kissel Entertainment in the US.  Other US purchases of the ride include one to Peachtree Rides for an early 2029 delivery and a copy to Sean Butler in April of 2029. 

Also coming soon to North America is an X-Drive ride going to Canada and an X-Drive for Power's Great American Midways for summer of 2025.   A Move -It is also coming to a park in March of 2029.

Amy Kroon of KMG said the show was “very good, busy.  It started slow until noon on opening day then picked very strong.”

To help improve parts and service for KMG products, Kroon's brother, Mikey Kroon will be coming to the US for much of the summer, to be based in Chicago.  He will be working with Partners Showmen's Supplies on parts and maintenance for US customers and working with shows and parks in the US.