Emergency crews in Portland, Oregon rescued 28 people who were stuck on a ride at Oaks Amusement Park. The riders were dangling upside down for about half an hour on the AtmosFEAR ride, which operates like a pendulum and has the capacity to swing riders completely upside down. Firefighters worked with engineers at the park to manually lower the ride, and all riders were evacuated and medically evaluated. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries, although one rider with a pre-existing medical condition was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Chris Ryan, who was at the park with his wife for his birthday, witnessed the situation and described it as scary. They had initially planned to ride the AtmosFEAR, but they walked away when they saw the ride was stuck and heard people expressing concern. They ended up riding the Ferris wheel instead and were later alerted by a loudspeaker announcement that the park was closing and that people should evacuate. Park staff immediately called 911 when the ride stopped, and emergency responders arrived about 25 minutes later. Park maintenance workers were able to return the ride to its unloading position shortly after first responders arrived.
The AtmosFEAR ride has been in operation since 2021 and had not experienced any prior incidents before this incident. The park announced that the ride will remain closed until further notice and that they will work with the ride’s manufacturer and state inspectors to determine the cause of the stoppage. Oaks Amusement Park, which first opened in 1905, offers a blend of modern thrills and turn-of-the-century charm on a midway that has delighted generations of Northwesterners. The park expressed their appreciation to the first responders and staff for their prompt action in ensuring a positive outcome for the situation.
Overall, the incident at Oaks Amusement Park was successfully resolved without any injuries to the riders. Emergency crews worked swiftly to rescue the stranded passengers and evacuate them from the ride. The park’s quick response in calling 911 and working with engineers to lower the ride contributed to the safe resolution of the situation. The park will continue to investigate the cause of the stoppage and ensure the safety of all their rides before reopening the AtmosFEAR ride to the public. Visitors to the park can rest assured that their safety and well-being are a top priority for the park staff and management.
