Drop Tower (Six Flags)
{{Short description|Drop towers at
Great America }}
{{ infobox attraction
| name = Drop Zone
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Drop Tower Scream Zone (Kings Island) 2.jpg
| imagedimensions = 250px
| caption = Drop Tower at Kings Island
| location = California's Great America
| section = NorCal County Fair
| cost =
| soft_opened =
| opened = {{Start date|1996|03|16}}
| closed =
| status = Operating
| previousattraction = Ameri-Go-Round
| replacement =
| coordinates = {{coord|37|23|36.72|N|121|58|18.05|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=inline}}
| location2 = Canada's Wonderland
| section2 = Medieval Faire
| cost2 =
| soft_opened2 =
| opened2 = {{Start date|1997|05|04}}
| closed2 =
| status2 = Operating
| previousattraction2 =
| replacement2 =
| coordinates2 = {{coord|43|50|39.88|N|79|32|34.06|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=inline}}
| location3 = Carowinds
| section3 = Thrill Zone
| cost3 =
| soft_opened3 =
| opened3 = {{Start date|1996|03|30}}
| closed3 = 2024
| status3 = Removed
| previousattraction3 =
| replacement3 =
| coordinates3 = {{Coord|35|06|17.72|N|80|56|38.86|W|region:US-SC_type:landmark|display=inline}}
| location4 = Kings Dominion
| section4 = Candy Apple Grove
| cost4 =
| soft_opened4 =
| opened4 = {{Start date|2003|03|22}}
| closed4 =
| status4 = Operating
| previousattraction4 =
| replacement4 =
| coordinates4 = {{coord|37|50|15.96|N|77|26|38.10|W|region:US-VA_type:landmark|display=inline}}
| location5 = Kings Island
| section5 = Action Zone
| cost5 =
| soft_opened5 =
| opened5 = {{Start date|1999|05|21}}
| closed5 =
| status5 = Operating
| previousattraction5 =
| replacement5 =
| coordinates5 = {{coord|39|20|45.80|N|84|15|59.07|W|region:US-OH_type:landmark|display=inline}}
| type = Drop tower
| manufacturer = Intamin
| designer =
| model = Gyro Drop, or Giant Drop
| theme =
| height_ft =
| speed_mph =
| gforce =
| capacity =
| vehicles =
| riders_per_vehicle =
| duration =
| restriction_in = 48 or 54
| virtual_queue_name = Fast Lane
| virtual_queue_image =Cedar_Fair_Fast_Lane_availability_icon.svg
| virtual_queue_status= available at all four parks
| single_rider =
| custom_label_1 = Previous name
| custom_value_1 = Drop Zone: Stunt Tower
| custom_label_2 =
| custom_value_2 =
| accessible =
| transfer_accessible =
| assistive_listening =
| cc =
}}
Drop Tower, formerly known as Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, is the name of four drop tower amusement rides located at Six Flags amusement parks in the United States and Canada. A fifth installation which operated at Carowinds closed after the 2024 season. Although each installation was manufactured by Intamin, they all vary in size and capacity.
History
Prior to their acquisition by Cedar Fair, the five parks owned by Paramount Parks featured a drop tower ride named Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, in reference to the Paramount film of the same name. All were built by Swiss ride manufacturer Intamin, which consist of either Gyro Drop or Giant Drop models. Martin & Vleminckx constructed the Intamin-built Drop Tower at California's Great America{{cite web|title=Intamin|url=http://www.martin-vleminckx.com/mva_web_3_019.htm|publisher=Martin & Vleminckx|access-date=16 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125045107/http://www.martin-vleminckx.com/mva_web_3_019.htm|archive-date=25 November 2013}} on the former site of a very similar ride called "The Edge", which was removed to make room for Drop Zone. With the exception of both Kings Dominion's and Canada's Wonderland's towers, they are located in their park's various backlot themed areas. When Paramount owned and operated the parks, stunt performers performed an action scene periodically near the attraction depicting a performer falling from a platform.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
In 2006, Paramount Parks sold their amusement parks to Cedar Fair, which was followed by the removal of Paramount branding from each park. All five attractions were renamed Drop Tower: Scream Zone (commonly shortened to Drop Tower), and the swirl logos associated with each were removed from the rides' signage.
Ride experience
=Giant Drop=
The three original drop towers, opening in 1996 and 1997 at Carowinds, California's Great America, and Canada's Wonderland are Giant Drop models. They feature either four, five or six cars fitting four people on each one. Wonderland and Great America's models fall at a top speed of {{convert|62|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} and are {{convert|227|ft|m}} tall, while Carowinds' model fell at {{convert|56|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} and is {{convert|160|ft|m|abbr=on}} tall.
All three were originally painted in rainbow colors with race track decals. When Cedar fair owned the parks in 2006, the one in California was giving an only purple and red scheme. In 2019, Drop Tower at California's Great America was given a brown and green tree-like paint scheme, paying homage to Northern California forests.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagreatamerica.com/blog/2019/fun-news-drops-now|title=Fun News Drops Now|publisher=California's Great America}} On Canada’s Wonderland’s installation retains its original color scheme.
=Gyro Drop=
{{Stack|File:Kings Dominion Drop Tower at beginning of drop.jpg, as viewed from the Eiffel Tower]]}}
The two latest drop towers, installed in 1999 at Kings Island and 2003 at Kings Dominion, are Gyro Drop models with one large circular car, reaching speeds of 67 and {{convert|72|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}, respectively. Both the Kings Island and Kings Dominion ride claim to be the tallest Gyro Drop towers in the world. Kings Island’s tower is measured as the tallest in the world, while Kings Dominion's tower utilizes brakes positioned closer to the ground, producing a longer drop than the tower at Kings Island. The Kings Island variant also spins on the way up, giving riders a view of the whole park.{{Cite web |title=Drop Tower: Scream Zone at Kings Island Reviews & Info |url=https://www.themeparktourist.com/guides/kings-island/drop-tower |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=www.themeparktourist.com |language=en}}
Locations
{{Stack|File:California's Great America 5.JPG}}
| class=wikitable |
| Park
!Tower height !Drop height* !Speed !Model !Opened !Closed !Height requirement |
|---|
| Canada's Wonderland
|{{convert|230|ft}} |{{convert|200|ft}} |{{convert|62|mph|abbr=on}} |Giant Drop | |{{convert|54|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} |
| |Carowinds
|{{convert|174|ft}} |{{convert|160|ft}} |{{convert|56|mph|abbr=on}} |Giant Drop |{{convert|54|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} |
| California's Great America
|{{convert|224|ft}} |{{convert|207|ft}} |{{convert|62|mph|abbr=on}} |Giant Drop | |54 in (137 cm) |
| Kings Dominion
|{{convert|305|ft}} |{{convert|272|ft}} |{{convert|72|mph|abbr=on}} |Ring Drop |March 22, 2003 | |48 in (122 cm) |
| Kings Island
|{{convert|315|ft}} |{{convert|264|ft}} |{{convert|67|mph|abbr=on}} |Gyro Drop | |48 in (122 cm) |
- *''Drop height is only the space between the top of the tower and the braking, what is considered the "freefall" section.
Incidents
{{main|Incidents at Six Flags parks}}
- On May 17, 1996, one of the cars on Drop Tower in Carowinds failed to ascend to the top of the tower after the safety control system locked the brakes. Park maintenance was unable to manually release the braking system. Three riders were stranded 160 feet (49 m) in the air for nearly three hours before being rescued.{{Cite news |date=1996-05-18 |title=3 park visitors stuck in the 'Zone' 3 hours |pages=37 |work=The Charlotte Observer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-3-park-visitors-s/59929024/ |access-date=2023-12-13}}
- On August 22, 1999, Joshua Smurphat, a 12-year-old boy was killed after falling from the Drop Tower installation at California's Great America. His family claimed the harness was not locked properly and he had a mental disability. An investigation was inconclusive and no charges were filed.{{cite news |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=1999-08-23 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-08-23-9908240010-story.html |title=Disabled Boy Dies in Plunge at California Great America |access-date=2021-08-24 }} Following the incident, the rest of the Drop Tower locations were shut down for inspections.{{cite news|last=Jameson|first=Tonya|date=August 23, 1999|title=Carowinds closes popular ride|work=The Charlotte Observer|publisher=Staff Writer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67106723/carowinds-closes-popular-ride/|access-date=January 9, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
Records
California Great America's installation was the tallest vertical drop amusement park ride when it opened in 1996.
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box| title=World's Tallest Vertical Drop Ride | before=Space Probe | years=1996 | after=Pitt Fall}}
{{S-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Drop Tower: Scream Zone}}
- [http://www.canadaswonderland.com/rides/Thrill-Rides/Drop-Tower Official page at Canada's Wonderland]
- [http://www.carowinds.com/rides/Thrill-Rides/Drop-Tower Official page at Carowinds]
- [http://www.kingsdominion.com/rides/Thrill-Rides/Drop-Tower Official page at Kings Dominion]
- [http://www.visitkingsisland.com/rides/Thrill-Rides-12-14-11-44/Drop-Tower-2 Official page at Kings Island]
{{California's Great America}}
{{Canada's Wonderland}}
{{Carowinds}}
{{Kings Island}}
{{Kings Dominion}}
Category:California's Great America
Category:Amusement rides manufactured by Intamin
Category:Amusement rides introduced in 1996
Category:Amusement rides introduced in 1997
Category:Amusement rides introduced in 1999
Category:Amusement rides introduced in 2003