originally posted on 1/14/2022
Photo: Courtesy of S&S Worldwide. View full-sized image.
As the new year began, the amusement industry lost a biggie. Stan Checketts, the founder of S&S Worldwide (originally known as S&S Power), passed away peacefully on January 2. At the 2021 IAAPA Expo, there were softly spoken words about his health among colleagues and friends, but Stan’s passing started 2022 on a solemn note.
Born in Logan, Utah, Stan made quite the career there. Enthusiasts know Stan from his inventive entrepreneurship, but an early job found him building cabinets for residential and commercial businesses by starting Custom Manufacturing. That would dramatically change, as he would later go on to build some of the tallest thrill rides in the world.
S&S (named after him and his wife, Sandy, the second “S”) was formed in 1994. Its first rides were air-powered towers. The original Space Shot launch was quickly followed by the Turbo Drop. Frog Hoppers and roller coasters followed. Stan developed a reputation for standing atop his towers while they were completing construction in famously marketable news stunts. Those tower rides can be found in parks around the globe, as S&S rides have opened in 28 countries.
Photo: Courtesy of S&S Worldwide. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy of S&S Worldwide. View full-sized image.
Stan was exceptionally friendly and genuinely enjoyed meeting and visiting with customers, associates and friends. Being the father of a very large number of children, family dinners were a regular occurrence. During his time with S&S Worldwide, he invited ACE to visit the facility in 2005 with cohost Lagoon. There, ACEers were able to experience some prototype rides.
Stan welcomed media and special guests to the test track of S&S’ air-launched coaster.
Photo: David Escalante. View full-sized image.
Stan Checketts and Gary Slade take a ride on the prototype Thrust Air 2000.
Photo: David Escalante. View full-sized image.
After selling the company to other interests, he went on to form Soaring Eagle and reinvigorated the zipline industry with the Soaring Eagle concept. ACEers recently enjoyed the first installation from the company at Glenwood Caverns this past summer at the ACE Preservation Conference.
Stan never stopped playing and never stopped inventing. He was full of fun stories. He will be missed by all who knew him.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
[More information can be found on S&S in issue 149 of RollerCoaster!.]
Photo: Courtesy of S&S Worldwide. View full-sized image.
I was fortunate to know Stan Checketts and some of his family. In 2000, while I was president of ACE, S&S graciously included me among those invited to their Utah facility for the premiere of their first coaster, Thrust Air 2000 (a prototype of sorts for HyperSonic XLC that debuted at Kings Dominion a year later). In every encounter I had with Stan, he revealed a youthful zest for life. At his sprawling mountain home, one found plenty of things to indicate that he liked to play. This included some souped-up snowmobiles that he described as "really fast" and provided inspiration for the aforementioned coaster. He was both an inventor and a thrill seeker and sought to bring the thrills of an adventurer to the masses through amusement rides. While he was a very successful entrepreneur, he was also a true gentleman, was very approachable and incredibly down to earth. The amusement industry lost an icon and a true innovator who made a real impact on the skylines of amusement parks around the globe.
— Bill Linkenheimer
Bill Linkenheimer III and Paul Ruben take a test ride.
Photo: David Escalante. View full-sized image.
Stan was a positive, fun-loving, visionary who lived a productive life by being busy creating new rides and continually having ideas concerning how to perfect rides he had already created. ACE members were able to witness some of Stan’s creativity by touring S&S Power and riding unique prototypes in his private rides area in July of 2005 for the Preservation Con, and Stan was a gracious host who was excited that we were so interested in his endeavors. I had fun planning this event with Stan. He will be missed by those who knew him.
— Yvonne Janik
I always felt I was around royalty when I spent any time with Stan. After all, my first image of the man was when he stood on top of a drop tower, beaming proudly at the photographer in a helicopter filming his antics. I added him to my growing list of those in the industry that had fallen in love with speed and machines … like Fred Grubb and the late Mark Moore. I honestly don’t have the personal memories like those that were close to him, but he was said to be generous while competitive and also tough and inventive. He loved the outdoors, snowmobiling and most anything that went fast. Sometimes I wished he would have slowed down and enjoyed the view. He lived his life with great passion and was a true original in the industry. Always accommodating, he and his pioneering spirit will surely be missed by all who were touched by this playful soul.
— Richard Munch, ACE Cofounder
One of my last times to visit Stan was when S&S – Sansei moved into their incredible new headquarters in 2018. Although Stan was no longer with the company, he was there at the festivities and invited Amusement Today publisher Gary Slade and me not only to his own offices at Soaring Eagle but also to his home. It was there that I witnessed such a strong sense of family. We joined them at the large family dinner and couldn’t have been made to feel more welcome in his home.
— Tim Baldwin
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