Posted | Contributed by Jeff
Anton Schwarzkopf, known for his innovative steel coasters, dies Monday morning following a 15-year battle with Parkinson's Disease.
Schwarzkopf began building coasters in the Sixties, and produced them for several decades, even enduring bankruptcy. He is perhaps best known for shuttle loops and an array of portable rides that include Jumbo Jets, Looping Stars and Wildcats.
His son Weiland now runs a new company with the Schwarzkopf name.
NNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
But as everyone knows, all good things must come to an end, unfortunatly in Anton Schwarzkopf's case, it wasn't a good ending. We all will miss you very very much, Anton.
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Intamin: Steel gifts from the gods.
CCI: Wooden gifts from the gods.
*** This post was edited by TrBiggar on 7/30/2001. ***
Rest in Peace Anton.
I will ride Shockwave with honor.
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Lying requires 2 people.
1 to lie and 1 to listen.
R.I.P
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Current Favorite Coasters:
1)Raging Bull 2)Millennium Force 3)Medusa (SFMW) 4)Vertical Velocity (SFGAm) 5)Incredible Hulk, The
This will forever be a sad day in the life of all coaster enthusiast. My prayers are with the family.
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What is life without ups and downs!?!?
Jeff JUST beat me to it!! I have been getting emails about this.
I cannot begin to explain how much of an impact he had on the amusement industry. Folks, I may stand behind Arrow for the rest of my life, but I have never experienced extreme rides like the ones that he is responsible for. Shockwave in Texas, Mindbender in Georgia, Superdooperlooper and Laser in Pennsy, Tig'rr at Indiana Beach, even the Jumbo Jet and Wildcat at Cedar!! There are so many great coasters by him, the list could go on forever. But my heart will alway lie with the amazing 38 second ride found in his shuttle loops. Thank God Viper at SFOG is still operating!
My prayers and thoughts are with everyone that he has associated with, be it family or fan.
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Thanks for riding Tidal Wave and enjoy your day here at Mariott's Great America!!
www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173
I have ridden more Schwarzkopf steel coasters than any other steel coasters.My next ride on the Ripper at Thrillville,USA shall be dedicated to the memory of Anton Schwarzkopf.
May we never forget him for his brilliant creations. The world will never be the same without him.
When I go to SFoG next week I will think of him as I ride Mindbender and Viper. He will be missed.
My rides on Greezed Lightnin and Viper at SFAW tommorrow will be in his memory, and i hope that AstroWorld has the courtesy to open the Texas Tornado, his best ride, on the day after his death. RIP Anton. You have contributed so much to the coaster world.
*Walks away sobbing*
yeah, he will definatly be missed..he made a shuttle looper at PKD called King Cobra, but it was removed in 1985 before i was able to ride...but i still remember it :) i think about it everytime i board anaconda :) Anton, you will be greatly missed...thank you for your influence on the coaster world!!!
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ROLLERCOASTERS....BETTER THAN OXYGEN BABY!!!!!!
Though I have only been on one of his coasters, Herr Achterbahn, (literally, Mr. Rollercoaster in German) as he was nicknamed, will be greatly missed.
R.I.P. Anton Schwarzkopf
What a shock. And I was riding two of his brilliant rides this morning. Very sad.
Its astonishing to think how many people he's touched with his creative and inventive designs. Today I noticed people of all ages enjoying his coasters. Hopefully his memory will continue to live on through the coasters he designed.
My prayers go out to his family.
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so sad i will ride EVRY ONE OF HIS RIDES CAN FIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not like he was creating any rides within the past 5 years anyway!
I mean no disrespect in any way what-so-ever, but the company itself has long taken over any of his designs and efforts he has put into the company.
His memory will live on and classic designs will be cherished and built upon for future designs to come... but face it... I don't think he was making difference since Parkinson's disease has taken over him. He probably had very little to no input within the past decade of anything on his company.
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The Great Escape... Soon to become Six Flags Adirondack Escape!!!
In my opinion, he was the first person to figure out how to build great steel coasters, both big and small. Untill several companies emerged big time in the 90s, no one could bend track like him and his crew. Big beautiful curves, smooth transitions, and loops with just lap bars. Heck, the man even invented the linear accelerated coaster back in the 70s (No, not linear motors, the first coasters propelled by means other than gravity).
May his great creations live on, thrilling people for a long, long time!
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- Peabody
R.I.P,
I 'm going to knotts on thursday and will ride Montezooma's Revenge in his memory and honor.
R.I.P Anton,
I thought you were the greatest of them all, Mindbender @ Galaxyland, one of the best coaster's in the world, I will miss you for your great knowledge, and the first one to prove you don't need OTSR's to have fun on a ride. *sigh* this is soooo sad, we might never see one of his layouts ever again, so twisted, fun and intense.
-KrakenGuy
You are right sfne guy. Monday has done it to us again(sobbing).
Darren Mullins
My mother passed away a year ago after battling Parkinson's for 20 years. My prayers are with his family and friends.
