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Where Can I Find Coin Operated Rides for Children?

Coin-operated kiddie rides historically were found in front of nationwide retail stores like Kmart and Wal-mart. Now you can find them in unexpected places in addition to stores and amusement parks. Also, the children's rides that used to start the minute you put in your coin have been tweaked to add a safety lag time, giving children the chance to get situated first, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Ice Cream Parlors
- Ice cream parlors like Louisiana's Scoop 'N Doos boast coin-operated rides for children, according to a Wall Street Journal article titled "Nostalgia Helps Put Old Kiddie Rides Back in Play." As baby boomers age, they may start reminiscing about the kiddie rides they used to enjoy and long to re-create the same magic for grandchildren. Ice cream parlors are just one way they can do that now, as coin-operated machines are also available in hair salons, museums and even pediatrician offices, according to the WSJ.
Homes
- If you want a coin-operated ride for your children and have between $2,000 and $6,000 to pay for it, as of 2011, you can have a coin-operated kiddie ride in your home. Some parents opt to have the rides reworked to not take the coins, operating by the push of a button instead. Home coin-operated rides for your children can be customized to match room decor, too. For information on who to contact for such a purchase see the Kiddie Rides USA link in References.
Corporate Museums
- Wells Fargo &Co. has coin-operated rides for children in the shape of stage coaches at its corporate museum. The Wells Fargo ride enables children to better understand a time period from long ago as they sit in a coach modeled to replicate the 1850s coaches and those on display at the museum.
Malls
- You can find coin-operated rides for children at malls as well. From Savannah, Georgia in the Southeast to Northern California's city of Stockton, coin-operated kiddie rides grace malls. The Plaza Del Sol Mall in Del Rio, Texas -- as well as the Midway Mall in Sherman, and the Central Mall Port Arthur -- emphasize how Texans feel about keeping kids happy with coin-operated rides at their malls. Florida, Louisiana, Utah, Washington, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia and Massachusetts malls all offer children a chance to climb onto a coin-operated ride, according to the Mall Seeker (see Resources).
Pay to Play
- While coin-operated rides for children in your home may be free, The Wall Street Journal reports that most rides will cost an average of 25 cents if you want to do it in public.

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