Star Breaker – Familie Goeke
The historic Mini-Star-Lifter with a colourful past
Operator: Familie Goeke (Düren) · since 2023
The Star Breaker operated by the Goeke showman family is a children's ride with an unusually eventful history. Built by Ihle, it belongs to the Mini-Star-Lifter type. Instead of simply going round in circles, it moves up and down, giving young riders changing views of the fairground. The Star Breaker is an alternative to traditional children's floor carousels and a striking meeting point for families.
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What to expect
- Family-friendly
Highlights & records
Historic Ihle Mini-Star-Lifter; rebuilt after a fire in 1996.
On the road for decades and rediscovered time and again: the Star Breaker combines funfair tradition with fun for children.
What a ride on the Star Breaker is like
The Star Breaker combines movement with a view. During the ride, the seats not only rotate around a central axis but are also lifted up. This changes the children's view of the funfair. At times, their parents waiting nearby are at eye level; then their view reaches further across the surrounding attractions. This variety is what makes the Mini-Star-Lifter special.
The compact design can be observed clearly from the outside. If you are not ready to get on yet, you can first watch the movements from the edge. This lets parents see how the ride behaves over a complete cycle. For many young visitors, watching is already part of the experience: first observe, then buy a ticket and finally try the ride for yourself.
General
- Manufacturer
- Ihle (Germany)
- Model
- Mini-Star-Lifter
- Year built
- 1975
History of the children's ride and its operators
The ride was manufactured by Ihle in 1975. Its history therefore stretches back considerably further than its current design. Previous operators include Krumpen from Düren, Martin Vent from Jülich and Ralf Meurer from Brühl. In 1996, the ride was extensively rebuilt following a fire. It is therefore a historic ride whose appearance has changed over the decades.
The Star Breaker has been travelling with the Goeke family from Düren since 2023. The takeover marked the start of a new touring phase for the Mini-Star-Lifter. The showman's business continues to present it at regional funfairs. For example, the ride was announced for the Rheinbacher Herbstkirmes 2026. Reports from Brühl also show that the Star Breaker is popular with families. This makes the ride's history particularly interesting: behind today's children's ride are several generations of showmen and an extensive restoration.
Timeline
1996 extensively rebuilt following a fire. With the Goeke family from Düren since 2023.
- Operator
- Goeke family (Düren)
- With operator since
- 2023
- Type of operation
- Travelling
- Status
- Active / in operation
Previous operators
Krumpen (Düren) until 1983; Martin Vent (Jülich) until 2009; Ralf Meurer (Brühl) until 2022
Who is the Star Breaker for?
The attraction is aimed at younger funfair visitors who enjoy moving rides and want to experience a ride that changes height. The focus is on the fun of movement, not the extreme sensation of a large looping ride. This makes the Star Breaker part of the family offering at fairs, without it simply being another children's ground-level carousel.
You can find out the age and height restrictions, and whether an adult needs to accompany you, directly at the ride. The current ride price is also available there. These details may change over time and should be checked before your ride. If you'd like to discover more attractions for children, our attraction overview has additional ideas for your next funfair visit.
Upcoming funfair dates
Ride Star Breaker – Goeke family live
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