The Caterpillar ride is a vintage flat ride engineered by the inventor Hyla F. Maynes of North Tonawanda, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 who dubbed it the Caterpillar when it debuted in Coney Island

Coney Island

Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....

, NY in 1925. It is a fast-paced ride that generates a decent helping of centrifugal force, causing the riders on the inside of the seats to crush the riders on the outside of the seats. It was once found at nearly every amusement park around the country, but is now so rare that an original Caterpillar ride can only be found operating in five parks today. Though only four Caterpillars are known to be operating, there have been reports claiming there are additional Caterpillars in storage or standing (but not operating) at a few other parks.

The ride features a complete circuit of motorized vehicles which are connected end-to-end all the way around the ride, in a manner similar to a Music Express

Music Express

A Music Express is an amusement park and carnival ride based on the original Caterpillar rides of Germany. Several near-identical ride designs are also produced by other companies; Musik Express by Italian company Bertazzon and US Majestic Rides, Himalaya by American company Wisdom Rides,German...

. Also, the cars travel a circular, undulating (wave-like) track very similar to that of a Tumble Bug

Tumble Bug

A Tumble Bug is an amusement park ride with a circular track.Only two full-sized Tumble Bugs remain operating today in the United States—one at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and one at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, PA. All full-size instances were made by Traver...

. This ride is famous for its green canopy that automatically, or manually in the case of Heritage Park's, begins to slowly surround the cars and fully encapsulate them once the ride reaches its maximum velocity, though DelGrosso's operates without it. When covered with the canopy, the ride tends to look like a caterpillar, which is probably how Mr. Maynes got the name for his ride. A high powered fan located at one point under the carriage of the ride, was traditionally — and is still at Idlewild Park — used to surprise riders with a blast of air as the cars go around the track.

The Caterpillar most likely served as Moser Rides' inspiration for the popular Music Express

Music Express

A Music Express is an amusement park and carnival ride based on the original Caterpillar rides of Germany. Several near-identical ride designs are also produced by other companies; Musik Express by Italian company Bertazzon and US Majestic Rides, Himalaya by American company Wisdom Rides,German...

 (sometimes Musik Express or Himalaya) style ride. Without the canopy, the ride does basically look like a stone-age Music Express minus the theming, lighting, and loud music.

Manufacturers

The Caterpillar was manufactured by several old amusement ride companies including:

• Traver Engineering
  Harry Traver
  Harry Guy Traver was an American engineer and early roller coaster designer.Traver was born in Gardner, Illinois...
  
   (famous for inventing the Tumble Bug
  Tumble Bug
  A Tumble Bug is an amusement park ride with a circular track.Only two full-sized Tumble Bugs remain operating today in the United States—one at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and one at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, PA. All full-size instances were made by Traver...
  
  )
• Allan Herschell
• Spillman Engineering

Maynes, the inventor of the Caterpillar and owner of the patent, was paid a royalty by the companies that built the ride, or sometimes the buyer of the ride.

Locations

The only four original Caterpillar rides still known to be operating are:

• The Idlewild Park Caterpillar in Ligonier, PA (Operating with original canopy and undercarriage fan.)
• The DelGrosso's Amusement Park
  DelGrosso's Amusement Park
  DelGrosso's Amusement Park is a family-oriented amusement park located in Tipton, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Altoona, Pennsylvania. The park was purchased by the DelGrosso family in 1946 and was named "Bland's Park" until 2000...
  
   Space Odyssey in Tipton, PA (Operating without canopy and in a space themed building.)
• The Canobie Lake Park
  Canobie Lake Park
  Canobie Lake Park is an amusement park located in Salem, New Hampshire, United States, about north of Boston, Massachusetts.-Description:Canobie Lake Park opened on August 23, 1902, as a trolley park for the Massachusetts Northeast Street Railway Company. The amusement park has opened every summer...
  
   Caterpillar in Salem, NH (Operating with original canopy.)
• The Heritage Park Historical Village
  Heritage Park Historical Village
  Heritage Park Historical Village is a historical park located in Calgary, Alberta. The park is located on of parkland on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir, along the city's southwestern edge. As Canada's largest living history museum by number of exhibits, it is one of the city's most visited...
  
   Caterpillar in Calgary, AB (Operating with original canopy.)

There are also a newer remakes of the classic ride at:

• The Pavilion Nostalgia Park (a small portion of the Myrtle Beach Pavilion
  Myrtle Beach Pavilion
  The Myrtle Beach Pavilion was an amusement park located on the corner of 9th Avenue and Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Considered by many as the "heart" of Myrtle Beach, the Pavilion sat one block away from the beach itself in a pedestrian-populated area, surrounded by similar...
  
   Amusement Park that was relocated to Broadway at the Beach
  Broadway at the Beach
  Broadway at the Beach is a shopping center located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since its inception in 1996, it has grown to be one of Myrtle Beach's premier shopping destinations. Broadway at the Beach is owned and operated by Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc...
  
  ) Caterpillar in Myrtle Beach, SC (Operating without canopy.)
• Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
  Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
  Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach is a historic free entry pleasure park located in the seaside resort town of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on the English east coast. The park first opened in 1909 and has been operating ever since....
  
   known as Mulan.

Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire

Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire

Folly Farm is a farm and visitor attraction in Pembrokeshire, Wales.Set in the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside, Folly Farm is based around four family entertainment zones: a farmyard; a zoo which includes Wales only Giraffes; Europe's largest undercover vintage funfair, including a Wurlitzer...

, Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

also operates a Caterpillar ride with a canopy which was converted from a Toboggan ride in 1955.