Iconic roller coaster returns to Prague’s fairgrounds after major renovation

The Cyclone will ride again at Prague's Matějská pouť this February after a major renovation, thrilling visitors for the first time since 2018.

Jason Pirodsky

Written by Jason Pirodsky Published on 25.01.2025 14:58:00 (updated on 01.02.2025) Reading time: 2 minutes

The Cyclone roller coaster, an iconic part of Prague's Matějská pouť (St. Matthew's fun fair) for decades, is returning to the city's fairgrounds after a seven-year hiatus. Originally built in 1963 and a staple at the Výstaviště fairgrounds since 1975, the roller coaster was removed in 2018.

Now, after undergoing extensive renovations, the Cyclone is set to thrill fairgoers once more, bringing an exciting chapter of Prague's fairground history back to life when it returns to this year's fair, which runs from Feb. 22 to April 15.

The Cyclone had been part of Prague’s cultural landscape for more than 40 years, and its return eagerly anticipated by locals. The extensive restoration project has been a journey for the Štaubert family, who have maintained the coaster since it first arrived in Prague.

A legacy of thrills

The Cyclone was manufactured in 1963 by the Italian company S.D.C. as one of their Galaxy models, which operated at amusement parks around the world and especially in the U.S. It was initially operated by the state in Czechoslovakia until it was taken over by the Štaubert family.

For over four decades, it served as one of the main attractions at Prague's annual fun fair, drawing crowds year after year with its 13-meter-high steel structure and thrilling ride experience. The roller coaster was known for its speed and exciting twists, earning its status as a must-ride attraction.

However, in 2018, the Štaubert family received an unexpected notice that their beloved ride, along with other iconic attractions at the Výstaviště fairgrounds, would need to be removed to make way for urban revitalization plans. The decision, spearheaded by the city’s then-mayor, came as a shock to the family.

"Demolishing and relocating the coaster was unthinkable for us at the time," Jaroslav Štaubert, who oversees the roller coaster operations, told Novinky.cz.

Renovation and return

After leaving the fairgrounds, the Štaubert family faced the daunting task of preserving the Cyclone. They secured a plot of land in Chotouchov, near Kolín, and began the process of restoring the roller coaster.

The renovation was a meticulous and time-consuming effort, as the entire structure had to be dismantled, cleaned, and rebuilt piece by piece. Key parts of the roller coaster were reinforced, with certain sections of the track and supporting materials upgraded to ensure safety.

“There were no major changes to the original design,” says Štaubert. “The roller coaster was built by experienced engineers and had always met safety standards from the start. We just added some extra reinforcements in areas that we knew were under more strain from constant use.”

The result was a fully restored roller coaster, which was successfully tested and opened for limited public use in 2024.

Encouraged by the positive response from visitors who traveled from all over the country to ride the Cyclone, the Štaubert family began negotiations with the operators of Matějská pouť, the Kočka family, to bring the coaster back to Prague for its 2025 season.

The Cyclone will be back at the Výstaviště fairgrounds from Feb. 22 to April 13, and it is sure to become a key attraction once again. What happens to the coaster after this spring, meanwhile, is still undecided.

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