If you’re in the market for jaw-dropping excitement, A.R.M. Inc. in Wintersville is your source. One of only five amusement ride manufacturers in the U.S., they have designed and manufactured their thrill-inducing products in the Jefferson County Airpark since 1998.
The company has a worldwide market but primarily serves small family parks and portable carnivals, said Mike Gill, president, who has been with the company for 25 years.
Designed for screams and adrenaline rushes, the rides have hair-raising names like Super Shot, Highflyer/Screamer, Mega Bounce and Vertigo. The riders of Super Shot sit mid-air, feet dangling until the ride abruptly accelerates toward the ground and, slowed by a magnetic braking system, then glides to a stop. The Super Shot comes in 70, 90 and 105-foot models, all transportable on a trailer.
In the 30,000-square-foot Wintersville facility A.R.M. houses 3D drafting and design and manufactures the custom-designed rides. They have 44 employees.
The company also creates prototypes and makes replacement parts and services their rides.
