The Jungle Thriller Ark

Swoop through the jungle at unbelievable speeds – choose yourself a beast or a bike, hold on tight and lean to the right!

About the Jungle Thriller Ark

Dating from 1934, the dazzling Ark features a collection of highly-stylised Art Deco wooden animals, motorbikes and chariots which speed around, rising up on ‘hills’, much like a waltzer. Many arks of the time were later converted to waltzers, as the public appetite grew for faster, more thrilling attractions, but thankfully this one was kept as original as possible.

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Who can ride, and what does it cost?

The Ark is suitable for adults and children. It’s a fast ride so isn’t suitable for the very young. 

A brief history of the Jungle Thriller Ark

The Ark was originally built by Orton & Spooner in 1934 for the Thurston family. In 1938 it was sold to showman Teddy Andrews, who also owned our set of Gallopers at the time. He had bought the modern, fast Ark to replace the Gallopers, which were seen as old-fashioned and out of date.

In 2005 Teddy decided it was time to pass the Ark on to a new custodian, and was very happy for it to come to us to continue being used and loved.

That winter saw a major restoration, including stripping it back to its original 1934 paintwork, which Joby painstakingly replicated. The decoration on the Ark you see today is historically faithful to when it first left the factory.

Want to know more about the Ark? Buy the book here.

Find out more

Want to feature the fair in a video or photoshoot?

If you’d like to talk to us about hiring the fair, or about a feature for film or television, you’ll find our hire section has lots of information.

Want to find out more about our rides and fairground art?

At selected locations you can join Joby Carter for a 1 hour guided tour talking about the history of our rides and fairground art through the decades. Book tickets here.

Find your nearest fair

Excited to try out our vintage steam fair rides and attractions? Find out when Carters are visiting a location near you.

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