High Roller (Stratosphere)
{{Short description|Defunct steel rollercoaster at Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas}}
{{About|the coaster at Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas|the coaster at Valleyfair|High Roller (Valleyfair)|the Ferris wheel in Las Vegas|High Roller (Ferris wheel)|other uses|High roller (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
|name=High Roller
|image= Stratosphere Top - November 2003.jpg
|caption= The High Roller at the top of Stratosphere Las Vegas
|location=Stratosphere Tower
|section=
|type= Steel
|type2=
|type3=
|status=Defunct
|opened = {{Start date|1996|04|29}}
|closed = {{End date|2005|12|30}}
|manufacturer=S&MC
|designer=Premier Rides
|model=Family Coaster
|track=Helix
|lift=Tires
|height_ft=
|drop_ft=20
|length_ft= 865
|speed_mph= 30
|inversions=0
|duration=0:40
|angle=13
|capacity=700
|cost=$900,000
|acceleration=5 mrsn
|gforce=2
|restriction_in=48
|rcdb_number=141
|coordinates={{coord|36|8|50.59|N|115|9|19.40|W|display=title,inline}}
}}
The High Roller (also known as the Let it Ride High Roller{{cite book| last = King | first = Lesley S.|author2=Karl Samson |author3=Don Laine |author4=Barbara Laine |author5=Mary Herczog | title = Frommer's American Southwest| publisher = John Wiley & Sons| series =Frommer's Complete Guides| volume =182| edition =2nd| year =2006| location =Hoboken, NJ| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=WDngxiafqp4C| isbn = 047178074X}}) was a steel roller coaster constructed {{convert|1070|ft|m}} over the Las Vegas Strip. It was the highest roller coaster in the world when compared to the surrounding terrain. It was located on top of the Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas, Nevada, which is the tallest free-standing observation tower in the United States.{{Cite web |url=http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Tower/Observation-deck |title=Stratosphere Hotel website |access-date=2012-07-31 |archive-date=2012-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720044642/http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Tower/Observation-deck |url-status=dead }}{{cite web| last =Koyen| first =Jeff| title =World's Coolest Observation Decks| publisher =Travel+Leisure| date =October 2010| url =http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-coolest-observation-decks/20| accessdate = 4 August 2012}} The coaster was manufactured by S&MC GmbH Structures and Machines.{{Cite web|title=Roller Coaster Manufacturers|url=http://www.coastergallery.com/Manu.html#SMC|work=CoasterGallery.com|accessdate=September 30, 2009}}
History
The ride opened on April 29, 1996,[http://www.rcdb.com/141.htm RCDB listing for High Roller] in a special VIP gala opening, one day before the ride and casino opened to the general public.{{cite news | last = AP | title = New casino has high-rolling rides | newspaper = Lodi News-Sentinel | location = Lodi, California | pages = 10 | date = 25 April 1996 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x9A0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=PSEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=5654,2703459 | accessdate = 30 July 2012 }}{{cite news| last =Thompson| first =Gary| title =Tower draws rave reviews| newspaper =Las Vegas Sun| date =30 April 1996| url =http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1996/apr/30/tower-draws-rave-reviews/?history | accessdate =30 July 2012 }} High Roller was one of the first two amusement rides to open on the Stratosphere tower at the casino opening (the other being Big Shot).{{cite book| last = Mitchell | first = Susan K. | title = Mega Structures: the Biggest Thrill Rides | publisher =ReadHowYouWant.com | edition =Easyread Super Large 20pt| year =2008| location =Pleasantville, NY| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=zbZ5N8ZnSHIC| isbn = 978-1427089434}} Even initially, Stratosphere guests exhibited considerably greater excitement over the Big Shot gravity drop tower than they did over High Roller.
As with the other rides at the Stratosphere Las Vegas, admission to the High Roller was typically charged per ride, as opposed to a single pass that allowed for unlimited rides as is typically the case in most United States amusement parks. The cost to ride the High Roller was $5 per rider in 2001 (barring residency and other discounts).{{cite book| last = Rinella | first = Heidi Knapp |author2=Christine Battuz| title = The Lobster Kids' Guide to Exploring Las Vegas | publisher = Lobster Press| series =Lobster Kids' Guides| edition =illustrated| year =2001| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=x6B6--f_E6AC| isbn = 1894222296}} This price was later lowered to $4.
=Closure and removal=
High Roller was closed on December 30, 2005, and dismantled. The ride was in need of refurbishing that would cost over $500,000 and was the least popular of the Stratosphere rides, leading to the decision to remove it.{{Cite web|title=High Roller meets fast cutter|url=http://www.thefabricator.com/article/plasmacutting/high-roller-meets-fast-cutter|first=Stephanie|last=Vaughan|work=Thefabricator.com|date=December 12, 2006|accessdate=June 5, 2011}} It was initially estimated that removal of the ride would take three months and be accomplished largely by crane,{{Cite web|title=Stratosphere's High Roller ride to close |url=http://www.lasvegasvegas.com/content/stratospheres-high-roller-ride-close |first=R.C. |last=Clark |work=Thefabricator.com |date=27 December 2005 |accessdate=30 July 2012 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} but the use of plasma cutting, as opposed to gas cutting, sped the removal of the coaster (the lack of need to transport flammable acetylene canisters for gas cutting also improved safety). The {{convert|300|lb|abbr=on}} track segments were also removed by elevator as opposed to being removed by crane.
Ride experience
The High Roller sat high on top of the tower's observation pod and its track wound around the central mast. Due to these design limitations, the High Roller was neither a fast nor intense ride experience; the height alone was the primary thrill element. The height of the ride itself from base to top was quite modest, only having a drop of {{convert|20|ft|m}} . Some writers described the ride as being bumpy while the coaster banks sharply around the tower. While it seemed to riders that there was nothing between the track and the Las Vegas Strip below, a platform was present underneath the ride.
The ride garnered generally poor reviews from its riders. For example, it was ranked as the 8th most overrated roller coaster by About.com's Arthur Levine, who criticized High Roller for its low speed and acceleration, as well as its lack of drops and inversions.{{cite web| last = Levine| first = Arthur| title = 10 Most Overrated Roller Coasters in North America| publisher = About.com| year = 2008| url = http://themeparks.about.com/od/rollercoasterarticles/ss/OverratedCoasters_3.htm| accessdate = 30 July 2012| archive-date = 31 July 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120731055154/http://themeparks.about.com/od/rollercoasterarticles/ss/OverratedCoasters_3.htm| url-status = dead}} Aggregated reviews on themeparkcritic.com gave the ride an average of 2.77 out of 5.0, compared to Stratosphere's other rides—Big Shot, X-Scream and Insanity—which all garnered ratings above 4.0 out of 5.0.[http://www.themeparkcritic.com/ride/187/the-high-roller.aspx Theme Park Critic rating page for High Roller]
Although there were never any serious incidents or injuries on the High Roller, the ride was well known for its frequent break-downs, and all the rides on Stratosphere would frequently shut down temporarily due to high winds (greater than 45 mph).{{cite news| title =A ride rises on Las Vegas Boulevard| newspaper =Las Vegas Sun| date =14 October 2003| url =https://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2003/oct/14/a-ride-rises-on-las-vegas-boulevard/ | accessdate =30 July 2012 }}{{cite book| last = Parker | first =Quentin|author2=Paula Munier |author3=Susan Reynolds | title =The Sordid Secrets of Las Vegas: Over 500 Seedy, Sleazy, and Scandalous Mysteries of Sin City| publisher =Adams Media | year =2011| location =Avon, MA| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=KA4QM2iyP7QC| isbn =978-1440511950}} Notable incidents early in High Roller's operation included a drive cylinder breaking loose and cracking safety glass in an observation level below, and an incident where two wheels came loose—derailing the train and forcing riders to be rescued.{{cite news| title =Two wheels fall off Tower roller coaster| newspaper =Las Vegas Sun| date =27 December 1996| url =http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1996/dec/27/two-wheels-fall-off-tower-roller-coaster/ | accessdate =30 July 2012 }} One major break-down in 1996 necessitated in High Roller being re-engineered.
See also
References
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