Drop Tower: Scream Zone

Drop Tower: Scream Zone
Drop Tower: Scream Zone
CWdroptower.jpg
Drop Tower: Scream Zone at Canada's Wonderland
California's Great America
Opening date March 1996
Canada's Wonderland
Opening date 1997
Carowinds
Opening date March 1996
Kings Dominion
Opening date March 22, 2003
Kings Island
Area Action_Zone
Opening date 1999
General Statistics
Attraction Type Drop tower
Manufacturer Intamin AG
Model Gyro Drop, or Giant Drop
Tower Height 174 ft - 315 ft
Drop Height 100 ft - 272 ft
Speed 56 mph - 72 mph
Previous Name Drop Zone: Stunt Tower
Cedar Fair Fast Lane Availability.png Fast Lane available (Kings Island only)

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.

Contents

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 AG 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.

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.

Ride experience

Giant Drop

Drop Tower Scream Zone at Kings Dominion, as viewed from the Eiffel Tower

The three original Drop Towers, opening in 1996 and 1997 at Carowinds, California's Great America, and Canada's Wonderland were of the "Giant Drop" model. 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 62 mph (100 km/h) and are 227 feet (69 m) tall, while Carowinds' model falls at 56 mph (90 km/h) and is 160 ft (49 m) tall. All three are painted in rainbow colors with the race track decals and were themed that the riders were "stunt actors" about to film the final stunt scene of a movie.

Gyro Drop

The two latest Drop Towers, 1999 at Kings Island, and 2003 at Kings Dominion have been gyro drops, with one large circular car, both taller and going at a faster speed (67 and 72 mph (116 km/h) respectively). Interestingly, both the Kings Island and Kings Dominion ride claim to be the tallest gyro drops in the world. And in fact, both are correct. Kings Island's tower is the tallest in the world. While Kings Dominion's tower isn't taller, the brakes start farther down, therefore providing a longer drop than Kings Island's.

Locations

Park Tower Height Drop Height* Speed Model Opened
Canada's Wonderland 230 feet 200 feet 62 mph Giant Drop 1997
Carowinds 174 feet 100 feet 56 mph Giant Drop March 1996
California's Great America 224 feet 207 feet 62 mph Giant Drop March 1996
Kings Dominion 305 feet 272 feet 72 mph Gyro Drop March 22, 2003
Kings Island 315 feet 264 feet 67 mph Gyro Drop 1999
  • *Drop height is only the space between the top of the tower and the braking, what is considered the "freefall" section.

Records

California Great America's installation was the tallest vertical drop amusement park ride when it opened in 1996.

Preceded by
Space Probe
World's Tallest Vertical Drop Ride
1996
Succeeded by
Pitt Fall



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