La Marcus Adna Thompson 1848 to 1919

Born in Jersey, Ohio on 8th. March 1848, he was the eighth of ten children.  From an early age he had designed and built toys and invented farm equipment.  Even at the age of seventeen he was condsidered to be a master carpenter, building farms without help.  He went on to devise seemless hosiery, and by 1877 had formed a partnership in a mill making scarfs and mittens etc.  During the early 1880’s ill health forced Thompson to sell-up and follow another path.  Inventing amusement riding machines became his passion.  On 13th. June 1884 he opened his Switchback Gravity Railway at Coney Island, Brooklyn NY.  This really was the birth of the roller coaster that we recognise today.  This rather basic ‘out ‘n’ back’ amusement ride was however Continue reading The Father of the Gravity Ride →