What is the History of the Fun House?
From the world famous Coney Island New York as far back as the early 1900s, Fun Houses have become one of the main attractions of any fairground. The concept of the funhouse is simply to have guests find fun in being a bit off kilter, uneven floors, moving stairs, dark corridors, optical illusions and even halls of mirrors. It means there is an endless amount of experiences to be had, as each person will approach it slightly differently - this even means the experience changes depending on who you’re with.
Unlike most rides or attractions at fun fairs, Fun Houses are there to be explored by guests at their own pace. The concept is simple; you walk in the entrance and have to make it through to the exit. What lies inside the funhouse is a mystery until you see it.
There can be any number of obstacles to get past:
The Earliest Fairground Funhouses
Funhouses have, throughout the years, become more and more high-tech, but originally these huge wooden structures would roll into towns and cities offering sometimes three floors of obstacles and entertainment. Their popularity and fast take-off could be down to the nature of letting guests explore at their leisure - this meant that families could experience funhouses together, plus the gentle nature of these rides when compared to other white knuckle attractions means they are fun for all ages.
Jumping across the pond quickly, one of the UK’s first funhouses opened at the iconic Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1911 and was aptly named The House of Nonsense. It entertained the revellers so much that funhouses then became a common feature of funfairs and seaside resorts. Appearing in Margate, Bognor Regis, Leamington Spa, and other seaside resorts, funhouses rapidly grew in popularity until they became what we have today.
Today we might see bright lights, animatronic figures and striking graphics adorning towering funhouses. There are Funhouses that are filled with electronically-powered features that are bound to make guests jump, scream and giggle, plus tweaks on the design that create new rides such as
Ghost Trains that combine a horror-themed funhouse with a
rollercoaster. Why not find out more in the
History of the Ghost Train?
But let’s not forget the humble beginnings of this beloved attraction; a simple wooden structure where once you step inside nothing is as it seems!
We Are Tricycle are proud to be part of this history steeped tradition and have some amazing fun houses to offer your events. Take a browse and find the one for you, they’re exciting with show stopping looks and thrilling themes, then simply get in touch with We Are Tricycle and we’ll bring the funhouse to your event!
Visit our contact page to see how to speak with our team, or look through our website to marvel at our collection of funhouses, ghost trains, funfair rides and classic fairground attractions.