Drop tower

A drop tower or big drop is a type of amusement ride incorporating a central structure or tower. Drop towers vary in height, passenger capacity, lift type, and brake type. Many are custom-made, although there are some mass-produced designs. Riders experience free-fall initially, followed by rapid heavy deceleration.

With most drop towers, a gondola carrying riders is lifted to the top of a large vertical structure, then released to free-fall down the tower. Brakes activate to slow the gondola as it approaches the bottom of the ride. Some designs expand on this concept with features such as rotating gondolas, or several bounces before coming to rest.

Most drop towers require child riders to exceed a minimum height; limits vary widely depending upon the nature of the tower, with a 30-foot (9 m) tower for smaller children from 37 inches (95 cm) tall, and a 115-foot (35 m) tower having a 51-inch (130 cm) restriction.

Certain drop towers accelerate as they fall, leading to riders being lifted out of their seats.

Drop tower (disambiguation)

Drop tower is a type of amusement ride, based around a central structure or tower, where the gondola is lifted to the top of a large vertical structure before being released and falling towards the ground. It may also refer to:

Drop Tower: Scream Zone

Drop Tower: Scream Zone, is a general name given to drop tower thrill rides of varying sizes owned by five Cedar Fair amusement and theme parks, which include all five former Paramount Parks.

History

Prior to their acquisition by Cedar Fair, the parks were owned by Paramount Parks, where the rides were named Drop Zone: Stunt Tower after the Paramount film of the same name. All the rides were built by the Swiss ride manufacturer, Intamin and are either the Gyro Drop, or Giant Drop models. All of the rides are currently operating. With the exception of Kings Dominion's tower, they are located in their park's various backlot themed areas, with each having originally carried the theme of a group of stunt performers preparing to film a falling scene in an action movie. Although all the rides were manufactured by Intamin, the installation at California's Great America was constructed by Martin & Vleminckx.

In 2006, the Paramount Parks were sold to Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, who removed the ride names licensed by Paramount. All five attractions were renamed Drop Tower: Scream Zone, and the "swirl" logos associated with each were removed from the rides' signs for 2008 season.