OMG Me and my girlfriend used to love this ride. Im sad that they are no longer allowed to use them. So excited to find this site. The swingin gym brings back so many fun memeries!
I would “ride” this with my friends until we were too tired to stand up. The word ride doesn’t fit the description of The Cage. You were responsible for supplying all the power to operate The Cage. It took some coordination to do this. You would bend your knees and have your hands on a bar and then push. The person on the other side would do the same thing when the cage moved back their direction. As you did this the cage would swing back and forth and go higher and higher within the frame of the “ride.” If you did this correctly, eventually it would go up and over the top. With the right coordination you would go around in circles and go faster and faster! There were NO safety features!! No restraints. No padding. If you fell, it wasn’t unusual to hit the bar with your face. I had a friend brake her nose. …Another friend broke his arm. There was a brake that someone on the ground would ingage to slow you down and stop the cage from moving. As dangerous as this was, it didn’t stop us. I remember playing on it when there was no adult in sight. We would just let it slow down on its own.
Grew up in Las Vegas in the Hyde Park neighborhood. About twice a year “Ray Barber” carnivile would come around. This was in the 70’s. We would get stoned and then get on the Flying Gym, we loved
it ! It says on your ticket, ride at your own risk. After we got tired, we would ride the “Rock -o- Plane. Man.. what memories ! “What I remember HA, HA.
I rode this ride with a friend of mine in Keansburg, NJ when we were about 13 and 14 years old. We first went together and would try daily until we got it over and then we would go solo. It was the greatest exercise and the most fun. It was especially great when there was a really big muscle guy who would get in and look at these two girls and think what are they going to do. Haha – we would get it over in no time (of course we practiced almost every day) and muscle head couldn’t get it over at all. They are the greatest. I too would love one in my backyard!!!
If someone would get me the specs or some really good detailed pictures, I’ll build one. If i can get it to work, we can talk about cost to build and deliver. I loved this as a kid too at Frontier City Amusement Park in Oklahoma city. Would love to build one.
I would love to get the specs to have one built. I remember this ride as a kid…at Knobles Grove Amusement Park in PA. I would love to have one as an adult for exercise purposes.
rode these at La Vida Hot Springs in Brea Ca back in the 60’s and 70’s. They were great and yes, it was good to wear some non slip shoes for traction because once it got over the top it would sling you pretty good. Never got hurt on it, and would count how many loops you could make in the allotted time, usually a half hour. I was probably 8 or 9 when I was able to get it over the top by myself. It was great fun and a work out.
We always “rode” this in Lake Arrowhead, CA. We actually rode it so much that we got to the point we were able to get it going on our own. We could also pause it at the top. So much fun! And a pretty good workout! :-)
I will just ride in the 70s I was probably 15 years old it was one of the best rides at the carnival we will go on the ride all night me and my friends would ride it at the carnival in Wayne New Jersey
Actually the chances of two or more people going over the top even once is pretty slim. This ride works best if done by one rider. I worked at a New England area carnival in my late teens ( early 70s’). I got that box going over Three hundred and Fifty times. It was a way to attract customers. I counted out loud with each revolution over the top. I earned my dinner that day.
Where can they be bought my dad gift me one as kid and local carnival. Two to four can’t flop it over. Gitta be good.i want for grand babies. Please let me know.
OMG Me and my girlfriend used to love this ride. Im sad that they are no longer allowed to use them. So excited to find this site. The swingin gym brings back so many fun memeries!
charlene - November 14th, 2010 at 1:11 am
I am interested in purchasing one of these units. Does anyone know of one that is for sale?
Joe Kay - March 21st, 2011 at 10:22 pm
what da hek was this ride like and why are they no longer allowed to use them?
Oliver Liell - July 9th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
when i was a kid i rode this and it was alot of fun do they still have them around
russ - August 1st, 2011 at 11:23 am
AT LEAST THERE STILL AROUND BUT WHERE ARE THEY?
oliver - December 4th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
I would “ride” this with my friends until we were too tired to stand up. The word ride doesn’t fit the description of The Cage. You were responsible for supplying all the power to operate The Cage. It took some coordination to do this. You would bend your knees and have your hands on a bar and then push. The person on the other side would do the same thing when the cage moved back their direction. As you did this the cage would swing back and forth and go higher and higher within the frame of the “ride.” If you did this correctly, eventually it would go up and over the top. With the right coordination you would go around in circles and go faster and faster! There were NO safety features!! No restraints. No padding. If you fell, it wasn’t unusual to hit the bar with your face. I had a friend brake her nose. …Another friend broke his arm. There was a brake that someone on the ground would ingage to slow you down and stop the cage from moving. As dangerous as this was, it didn’t stop us. I remember playing on it when there was no adult in sight. We would just let it slow down on its own.
Jane Rice - June 11th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Grew up in Las Vegas in the Hyde Park neighborhood. About twice a year “Ray Barber” carnivile would come around. This was in the 70’s. We would get stoned and then get on the Flying Gym, we loved
it ! It says on your ticket, ride at your own risk. After we got tired, we would ride the “Rock -o- Plane. Man.. what memories ! “What I remember HA, HA.
Ray - July 15th, 2012 at 8:59 am
I rode this ride with a friend of mine in Keansburg, NJ when we were about 13 and 14 years old. We first went together and would try daily until we got it over and then we would go solo. It was the greatest exercise and the most fun. It was especially great when there was a really big muscle guy who would get in and look at these two girls and think what are they going to do. Haha – we would get it over in no time (of course we practiced almost every day) and muscle head couldn’t get it over at all. They are the greatest. I too would love one in my backyard!!!
Francine - November 13th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
If someone would get me the specs or some really good detailed pictures, I’ll build one. If i can get it to work, we can talk about cost to build and deliver. I loved this as a kid too at Frontier City Amusement Park in Oklahoma city. Would love to build one.
Blair - May 16th, 2013 at 9:41 am
Where can I purchase one on these for restoration.
It make for the best exersize machine around.
Rich - January 20th, 2014 at 5:26 am
I would love to get the specs to have one built. I remember this ride as a kid…at Knobles Grove Amusement Park in PA. I would love to have one as an adult for exercise purposes.
Brenda - June 11th, 2016 at 9:50 am
rode these at La Vida Hot Springs in Brea Ca back in the 60’s and 70’s. They were great and yes, it was good to wear some non slip shoes for traction because once it got over the top it would sling you pretty good. Never got hurt on it, and would count how many loops you could make in the allotted time, usually a half hour. I was probably 8 or 9 when I was able to get it over the top by myself. It was great fun and a work out.
joe hughes - July 25th, 2018 at 8:59 am
We had one at Noble Park in Paducah KY. Loved it! I never looked at it as dangerous. I was able to make it go over 100 times one night.
Auntie M - June 13th, 2019 at 12:47 pm
We always “rode” this in Lake Arrowhead, CA. We actually rode it so much that we got to the point we were able to get it going on our own. We could also pause it at the top. So much fun! And a pretty good workout! :-)
Jeff - March 9th, 2021 at 10:28 am
I will just ride in the 70s I was probably 15 years old it was one of the best rides at the carnival we will go on the ride all night me and my friends would ride it at the carnival in Wayne New Jersey
Gary - November 11th, 2021 at 6:10 am
Actually the chances of two or more people going over the top even once is pretty slim. This ride works best if done by one rider. I worked at a New England area carnival in my late teens ( early 70s’). I got that box going over Three hundred and Fifty times. It was a way to attract customers. I counted out loud with each revolution over the top. I earned my dinner that day.
Kenneth Allen - December 10th, 2021 at 8:20 am
I’m interested in buying one of these. Rode it non stop in 70s
Angel - July 30th, 2022 at 11:56 am
Where can they be bought my dad gift me one as kid and local carnival. Two to four can’t flop it over. Gitta be good.i want for grand babies. Please let me know.
Justine Bailes - October 4th, 2022 at 8:10 am