Walking onto the Showgrounds at the IISA Convention and Trade Show, you were instantly struck by how much equipment was brought to the show in 2025.  Whether that is a reflection of a resurgence in interest in the show or an increase in the number of orders and deliveries, there was more to see and experience than there has been in quite a while.  Manufacturers like Kolmax, Rides 4 U, Equipment Solutions International, Rides USA, Wadkins Expo Wheels, Dalton Kid Rides, and ADM all had impressive displays.  Rides 4 U's compact spinning coaster and full size Pirate Ship ride were some of the larger attractions to have appeared at the show in years. 



Its was a very warm day at the trade show on opening day with temperature reaching into the 80s.  This was the first hot day of the year for many, with the country experiencing cold temperatures in many areas.  Crowds at the show were steady but not overwhelming and many were pleasantly pleased with all the equipment set up on the grounds. 

Ridebooks.com

Avery Wheelock, of World Wide Safety Group, spent many winters in the Tampa area before moving there permanently.  He was especially impressed with he look of the grounds and the equipment, commenting “this is the best it has been in years!

Wheelock recently purchased ridebooks.com, a huge online resource for ride manuals, bulletins, NDT information and safety notices.  He hopes his purchase of the company will further his mission of increasing safety in the amusement industry, providing an invaluable resource to inspectors, maintenance workers, and equipment owners and operators.

Ride Books was the brainchild of John Ott, a state inspector for the State of NY.  John used to fill his car trunk with ride manuals and notices to have the information he needed in the field.  He consulted with his son who was able to design web sites, to construct ridebooks.com where all the ride manuals and information could be compiled in one place and accessed while on site.  Initially designed for the NY state inspectors, Ott opened the site up to the entire industry through a subscription service.
 
When Ott retired, the service was purchased by Avery Wheelock who saw a good fit for his safety business.  “Now you don't have to carry all those books and papers with you”, gushed Wheelock.

He is hoping to expand the website's use as word gets out about how easy the information is to search on ridebooks.com. 

Wheelock says the key to the site is the searchability of the website so you can easily find the ride and information you are looking for in a couple of clicks of the mouse or keyboard.  Wheelock is hoping the resource will become a staple for ride inspectors and maintenance workers, increasing safety through the quick dissemination of information.

Previously, subscriptions to the site sold for over $200 a year, but Wheelock reduced the price to $149 and in partnership with the OABA, the site's services are available for just $99 with an OABA membership. 

Wheelock hopes the price drop will make the site accessible and attractive to a larger number of people and eventually, ridebooks.com will be a must have resource for inspectors, owners and operators in the amusement industry.

 

Rocky Mountain Construction — Larson International

Its been quite a few years since Larson International has displayed at the trade show.  Larson was purchased by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) in 2022, incorporating the flat ride business and carnival attractions into RMC's inventory.  Larson's offerings include the Super Loops, Flying Scooters, Star Dancer and the Seller rides inventory previously purchased, including the Tilt-A-Whirl and spin rides like the Bear Affair and Berry Go Round.

RMC is known for their hybrid coasters which used wood and metal in construction of state of the art attractions. An example can be found at Busch Gardens here in Tampa with Iron Gwazi.  The hybrid takes a stacked wood coaster and adds a double web I-beam for structure.  The patented combination makes for a much smoother ride and reduces maintenance time and expense.  There is no more daily walking of the track and riders complete the ride much less worse for wear because poly wheels can now be used on the attraction.

Steel Vengeance, voted #1 coaster in the world, is one example and the Texas Giant at Six Flags over Texas was the first to be built. 

RMC has a new coaster coming out in March in Holland for Wallaby Park.  The coaster will have competing trains.  One, a “chill” version, has no inversions, while the “thrill” version has 6 inversions.  The ride has one feature where the ride trains come towards each other at high speeds before veering off, avoiding collision.  This maneuver is not allowed in the U.S,. but the Holland company specifically asked for the feature.  There is also a Top Gun maneuver where the trains sit atop one another upside down like the Top Gun movie. 

The dueling coaster is the first of its kind and is made of steel. 

The ride is part of the company's Raptor series which are single seat coasters with a rail in the middle.  A Raptor ride called Fire Runner will be going to Lost Island in Iowa. 

On the Larson side of the business, the Flying Scooter is still the most popular attraction, because the whole family is able to ride together.  The ride can be made as thrilling or docile as the rider pleases as they control the thrill level on the ride.

Steve Paquin and Josh Burns of RMC/Larson were scouting out the trade show this year and were very impressed with what they observed.   They related that they hoped the company would be able to be here to display in 2026 and were looking for something to display that would make a good impact on the industry.