Here’s a theme park nightmare story I hope to never experience. Riders were left dangling 300 feet in the air for more than four hours when WindSeeker, a thrill ride at Knott’s Berry Farm, malfunctioned for the second time this month. The state Division Occupational Safety and Health has grounded Knott’s Berry Farm’s thrill ride WindSeeker indefinitely while they review the incident.
Knott’s Berry Farm is a small theme park owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. and located a few miles from the Disneyland Resort. The park is known for its thrill rides and Windseeker was added in 2001. The theme park is great and it offers an affordable alternative to Disneyland. But as a parent, I can’t begin to imagine how upset I would be if my son were stuck 300 feet in the air like that.
Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. has similar WindSeeker rides in six of its theme parks and has also experienced problems in its North Carolina and Ohio parks.
The state Division Occupational Safety and Health plans to look at the cause of the incidents, as well as why it took so long to rescue guests. Currently, crews have to use a crank to manually raise guests to the top of the tower, then a mechanic must climb to the top to release the brake.
WindSeeker takes riders in swing-like chairs about 300 feet in the air and rotates at a 45-degree angle, offering a panoramic view of the Orange County area. Below is a video to give you an idea of the ride experience.
If being stuck in the air wasn’t crazy enough, Knott’s response to the incident was even more surprising. According to Knott’s spokesperson Jennifer Blazey, riders were offered T-shirts and a free chicken dinner when they reached the ground.
I’m not trying to say that anyone should sue, but a refund or free tickets to return another time seems like the first step. The riders lost more than four hours while stuck in the air. The last thing I would want would be a chicken dinner. However, an “I survived the WindSeeker” t-shirt feels appropriate.
Photo via Knott’s Berry Farm
