Known in the USA as the Scrambler, UK as the Twist and Australia as the Cha Cha, the design remains a ‘must-have’ among park and carnival operators because of its timeless popularity and low-maintenance operation.
The Eli Bridge company produced the first Scrambler in 1955 – an amazing success which took the amusement industry by storm. By the end of 1955, 16 units had been manufactured by Eli Bridge, with over 200 orders from waiting buyers! With this kind of demand, other manufacturers and showmen soon latched onto Eli’s success and developed their own versions such as the Gabrik Merry Mixer.
47 years later, it is almost impossible to visit a carnival or amusement park that fails to have a scrambler / twist / sizzler on its attraction list. Put simply, Scramblers offer a great ride experience to people of all ages with a minimum of capital & ongoing expenditure for its owner.
Similar versions of the original Eli Scrambler operated around Europe include A.R.M’s Twist (now Chance Morgan), Wisdom’s Sizzler of which approx 190 units have been manufactured since 1973. Many units of the Sizzler were also manufactured in Australia by Ferrari Manufacturing under licence. The Sizzler, unlike Eli Bridge’s cog-drive, uses hydraulic drives to rotate the cars. By reputation, the hydraulic rotation does not give riders a proper kick-spin like its cog-drive Scrambler cousin – with many ride enthusiasts preferring the latter.
You haven’t been to a carnival until you’ve ridden a grass cutter (as they are affectionately known) whether you’re on a hot date or with the whole family, this ride is enjoyed by all.
favorite ride
tftnfg - May 14th, 2009 at 6:06 am
My Most favorite ride. I’ve been riding it since I was 7!
Manda - June 19th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Hey this is my favorite ride.
ba-boss-bomb - July 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 am
Do NOT sit in the outside seat if you seatmate/mates (up to three can ride in each car)are heavier than you! Your ribs will suffer. DO seat your hot young sweetie on the inside: she’ll be in your arms whether she likes it or not! Great ride!
Thomas T. - July 3rd, 2009 at 2:31 am
this is one of my top 3 favorite carnival rides. i went on it today and it was so fun……
tyler mccane - July 12th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I love the speed it gives and i like to hope
it stays around for some time
Betty Gentry - July 17th, 2009 at 4:12 am
Not been on any park models, but ridden loads of travelling ones, great fun, although you get a bit squashed lol
Danny - July 22nd, 2009 at 5:35 am
awesome ride:)
Nun-ya-buz - August 14th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
The best Scrambler rides are the ones in a bubble!
Ralph - September 20th, 2009 at 5:35 am
My fair don’t have this ride this is one of my all time favorite rides:(
Prince06 - September 30th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Does Wisdom still make the Sizzler ride?
jaymorgan - March 19th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
First ride I ever rode, if you’re going in a full cart, make sure you’re either in the middle or at the left end……
Dylan - May 25th, 2010 at 10:59 am
A few years ago, I bought an unrestored Eli Scrambler to restore. This one still had all the original “Big Eli” labels and should be finished (thought I don’t plan on operating it) next year.
Bryce - June 21st, 2010 at 5:26 am
I went on this ride with my very muscular friend.
I made the mistake of sitting on the right and my ribs felt like they were going to be crushed and snapped.
Alice - July 18th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Scramblers are so cool.
mb - July 21st, 2010 at 12:50 am
You got to see how I puked after I came off an Ely Bridge Scrambler at Dorney Park. Merry Mixers are better
mb - July 30th, 2010 at 5:12 am
Scramblers are the bomb! They were great for drying off if you had just been on a log flume ride, or for cooling off if it was hot and humid out. I didn’t like the ones that would change direction and go backwards– ack.
Moon - August 23rd, 2010 at 2:58 pm
love the g’s
wavymouth - September 10th, 2010 at 7:24 am
WE CALL IT THE CHA CHA
BOBRICK - September 12th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Allways liked the Eli Bridge Scrambler better than Sizzler, or the modern Twist. (Twist is a mirror-image of the others; you sit, & are moved in the opposite direction.) Eli’s Scrambler is completely mechanical; no tires or hydraulics. Some are still powered by gasoline engines. (& the now rare “Merry Mixer”, which used cables to drive the cars, were mostly gas powered.) Nothing like the smell of engine exhaust & blue smoke to make a good day at the fair!
Mike - September 27th, 2010 at 3:11 am
Mike, the Sizzler was the ABSOLUTE first thrill ride I been on. Besides, inhaling gas fumes could kill you.
Unknown - October 2nd, 2010 at 3:55 am
The Sizzler’s a fun ride, but I got a headache.
Annonymous - December 20th, 2010 at 9:13 am
i rode a ride like this called the orbiter BEST RIDE EVER!!!
Angel - December 21st, 2010 at 6:40 am
“Big Eli” Scrambler #055 R94 is still working at Old Town, Kissimmee, FL
Pellen - April 12th, 2011 at 4:56 am
awesome ride my favorite
harry - June 6th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
love this ride got on with friend
paola paz - June 11th, 2011 at 6:52 am
I AM GOING TO HERSHEYPARK WITH MY FRIEND AND WERE GOING TO RIDE THE SCRAMBLER!!!!!!!!!!! CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
LADY JENJEN THE GREEN KNIGHT - June 20th, 2011 at 11:31 am
Loved the Scrambler and Merry Mixer. Sizzler wasn’t quite as much fun.
Spike - June 23rd, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Always a good time on the Scrambler/Sizzler. Myrtle Beach Pavilion had one as a dark ride. They would turn out all the lights and occasionally flash a strobe, all the while blasting loud music. They also had a primitive red laser system so you would see a few laser beams as you’d ride. The best part though, was when the music stopped and the flood lights came on, and you could see just exactly how fast the ride was moving! Great fun.
Ted Russell - July 13th, 2011 at 6:27 am
I have tried asking about many other eli bridge scrambler models that don,t have a 30 panel lighting on the top center which is the deluxe the part that stands on the ground, and many amusement parks and traveling carnivals have their reasons, for example play land park in rye new york sold their scrambler after an accident, Geauga park went out of business, Ocean view park in Virginia closed and was demolished in the past 30 years or so, and I,m curious to know where those same Scrambler rides might be these days and if they can be adapted with deluxe lighting, or any other country that has the eli bridge scrambler.
Carlos Saltz - August 14th, 2011 at 8:06 am
@ Carlos. What type of lighting are you asking about?
Chuck - October 31st, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Scramblers are one of the best rides ever made. The best ride is on the Eli Bridge Model. The other models may be easy to move, but they are not as big. I moved a trailer mounted one in the early 90’s and it was a breeze. There was a time when you almost never stepped on any midway and there wasn’t an Eli Bridge Scrambler.
Jim - November 12th, 2011 at 4:15 am
My last email was in recent months and I had mentioned about many eli bridge ground mount Scrambler models that don,t have deluxe lighting on the top center that looks like a cone, a crown, or a funnel which is a 30 panel lighting with bulbs or fluorescent lights like many other amusement parks and traveling carnivals have. One reason is older Scrambler ground mount models cannot be adapted with that type of lighting, some amusement parks don,t stay open late at night, or some amusement parks and traveling carnivals are just not interested. You can see on any park web site Kings Island or Sandy Lake Park using google search engine type in the name of the park then Scrambler, you can even click on images to see the lighting that I described. At least some Scrambler models have decal stickers on all four sides of all twelve seat cars, and Big Eli Scrambler signs on the front of every seat car door for a sharp look on the ride. If only the same could happen with other Eli Bridge Scrambler ground mount models in other countries in the world including Mexico, Canada, Australia, any country in Europe, and South America, New Zealand, the Philipines, and the Caribbean as well.
Carlos Saltz - February 27th, 2012 at 10:38 am
Any Idea where I can find a video of the Gas powered version of the Old school Scrambler?
Schuyler - May 21st, 2012 at 3:04 am
I first rode on this at a fair my cousin took me to when I was 7. My favorite way that I rode it was at Conneaut Lake Park in PA where it was indoors with music blasting along with strobe lights and black lights. It was shut down and moved outside then the park shut down sometime after that. Don’t know if it’s still around.
Eric - June 14th, 2012 at 5:38 am
Carlos,
Eli Bridge Company is still in business, and they still make the classic scrambler. Looks like they will accommodate whatever lighting package you wish. They’ll even upgrade and repair old rides to new again.
http://www.elibridge.com/scramblers.htm
Ted Russell - June 28th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
ever fair i been to this has been there one of the best hands down. me and my friends would take turns on the outside and would always accidently slip and slam into each other. as the years pressed on the ride keeps looking worst and worst. all of them i been on now and days looks like a machine on its last leg and sounds like its falling apart, but it keeps together.. atleast when i ride it.
James - July 25th, 2012 at 7:38 am
i love the scrambler and my friend and i love it too its so much fun to ride it makes me wanna ride more ;) and more
i luv suckin nips - September 12th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
I FRICKEN LUV DIS RIDDE!
i luv suckin nips - September 12th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
I’m putting together a small museum of individual seats, cages, cars, etc from amusement park rides and carnival rides. If anyone knows of an individual Scrambler Seat (not the whole structure, just one seat if available), please contact me. I don’t resell. This isn’t a buy and sell business. I also want a Skydiver car, Flying Cage, Rock-O-Plane Cage, several others. I am in Youngstown, Ohio and Northern Virginia. Thanks! Jim (330) 774-4107
Jim Amey - January 24th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Looking for Paratrooper Seat too!
Jim Amey - January 24th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Blows the Sizzler out the water
Raymond - May 2nd, 2013 at 8:05 am
Car shopping is something which almost all adults will face in their lives.
If you want to drive, you’ll have to buy yourself a car. The simple ideas below will help you turn the car buying process into something you not only can handle, but that you are a master of.
cars - May 28th, 2013 at 4:58 am
anybody have a copy of a manuel for scramler by eli bridge..it would help me out alot
chris - June 6th, 2013 at 4:30 am
I would like to buy a manual for the cha cha or scrambler ride as I have purchased a ride in Febuary from a showman in Tasmania Australia I live in South Australia and have been informed that Eli Bridge still manufacture the cha cha and parts can be purchased from your company. Please email me to let me know how I can get a manual for the ride
Yours Sincerly
Peter Lloyd.
Peter Lloyd - October 14th, 2014 at 9:27 pm
The Wade Shows carnival quit using this ride and now currently use the Wisdom Sizzler.
Green Ninja - July 1st, 2015 at 7:27 am
Scrambler 0-55/R94 is now fully restored and running at Mike Greenwell’s family fun park in Cape Coral,Florida
Jay S. - April 16th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Six Flags still has their Scrambler that’s been there since 1971. It’s one of the only old school rides they have left.
Mike N. - June 3rd, 2016 at 11:51 pm
Looking to purchase a pre-owned scrambler.
417.890.1408 ext 201
Tony Morris - August 31st, 2016 at 5:06 am
I actually have an old Eli Scrambler car; I bought it about 20 years ago when I was working as the PR person for a west coast park, and it has been sitting in my back yard, aging in a way I love! I am going to be moving soon and will probably need to sell it: any ideas of value?
Annie Parker - December 21st, 2017 at 12:12 pm
scramblers are some of the best rides i like to go on it just makes a big thrill and makes a funny feeling in my belly
j a y d e n - December 31st, 2017 at 6:16 am
I HAVE A OLD SCRAMBLER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE MANUFACTURER,I WAS TOLD MY ELI BRIDGE THEY DID NOT BUILT IT,OR CALL 251-533-4905
JOHN MCCOMBS - January 24th, 2019 at 6:18 am
BRO THIS SCRAMBLER IS SO BAD!!!! STOP MAKIONG THIS ITS DANGEROUSE MY GRANDMA ROAD IT AND SHE GOT TERMINAL CANCER
balls deep - November 18th, 2022 at 12:50 pm
Learn More https://trezor-wallet.at/
Edwinheele - February 20th, 2024 at 12:32 am