Attractions in the most famous amusement parks worldwide are often signed ‘Zamperla Rides’, a name that immediately brings us back to Italy. And indeed, Zamperla, the amusement group, is an outstanding Made in Italy company, active in creating transportable mechanical rides and fixed installation attractions.
Entertainment classics
The company was founded in 1966 in Altavilla Vicentina, Veneto, from Antonio Zamperla’s intuition that attractions designed for adults could also work well for children. Thus, the first Baby Boom Cars (bumper cars for children), mini-scooters, the first travelling go-kart and other rides, which have since become classics in the world of organised entertainment, were created.
The company achieved international success thanks to the passion and hard work of Antonio’s son, Alberto, a humble and visionary entrepreneur (as only great Italians can be) who liked to call himself a ‘carny’. In 1979, the company landed in the New Continent, first in Montreal and then in New Jersey, where a sales office was opened.
Landing in major amusement parks
Alberto Zamperla is also credited with signing contracts with the world’s major amusement parks, from Coney Island to Disneyland and Paramount. In 2019, the lnternational Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions inducted Antonio Senior and Alberto Zamperla into the industry’s prestigious Hall of fame, along with Walt Disney and George Ferris, the inventor of the Ferris wheel. Among the many international projects, the one that made it possible to transform the cooling tower of the nuclear reactor of the disputed Kalkar nuclear power plant (which never came into operation) into the spectacular ‘Vertical Swing’ attraction, a gigantic swing with rotating seats, stands out.
The Fastest Rollercoaster Ever
Alberto Zamperla sadly passed away recently. Now at the company’s helm is his son Antonio, born in 1980, who was appointed CEO of Central Amusement International Inc. in January 2021. Today, the Zamperla Group employs 450 people, maintains its headquarters in Altavilla Vicentina, has a turnover of millions of euros and exports 98% of its creations to the USA, Asia and Canada, where Zamperla has announced that by 2024, it will build the fastest Rollercoaster ever.
Congratulations to those who, with humility and talent, have brought Italy to the world’s amusement parks!