Drop Tower: Scream Zone

Drop Tower: Scream Zone
Drop Tower: Scream Zone at Kings Island
California's Great America Area Action Zone Coordinates 37°23′36.72″N 121°58′18.05″W / 37.3935333°N 121.9716806°W Status Operating Opening date March 1996 Replaced Ameri-Go-Round
Canada's Wonderland Area Medieval Faire Coordinates 43°50′39.88″N 79°32′34.06″W / 43.8444111°N 79.5427944°W Status Operating Opening date 1997
Carowinds Area Thrill Zone Coordinates 35°06′17.72″N 80°56′38.86″W / 35.1049222°N 80.9441278°W Status Operating Opening date March, 1996
Kings Dominion Area Candy Apple Grove Coordinates 37°50′15.96″N 77°26′38.10″W / 37.8377667°N 77.4439167°W Status Operating Opening date March 22, 2003
Kings Island Area Action Zone Coordinates 39°20′45.80″N 84°15′59.07″W / 39.3460556°N 84.2664083°W Status Operating Opening date 1999
General statistics
Attraction type	Drop tower
Manufacturer	Intamin
Model	Gyro Drop, or Giant Drop
Height restriction	48 or 54 in (122 or 137 cm)
Previous name	Drop Zone: Stunt Tower
Fast Lane available at all five parks

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.^[1]

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.

Due to an incident that occurred on a giant drop ride at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom all five Intamin-designed drop tower rides at Cedar Fair parks were closed to inspection on June 22, 2007.^[2] They reopened several weeks later.

Ride experience

Giant Drop

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

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

The Drop Tower at California's Great America

Park	Tower height	Drop height*	Speed	Model	Opened	Height requirement
Canada's Wonderland	230 feet	200 feet	62 mph	Giant Drop	1997	54 in (137 cm)
Carowinds	174 feet	100 feet	56 mph	Giant Drop	March 1996	54 in (137 cm)
California's Great America	224 feet	207 feet	62 mph	Giant Drop	March 1996	54 in (137 cm)
Kings Dominion	305 feet	272 feet	72 mph	Gyro Drop	March 22, 2003	48 in (122 cm)
Kings Island	315 feet	264 feet	67 mph	Gyro Drop	1999	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.

Records

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

References

1. "Intamin". Martin & Vleminckx. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
2. "Kings Island closes ride after Kentucky accident". The Columbus Dispatch. 2007-06-23. Retrieved June 5, 2011.

External links

• Official page at Canada's Wonderland
• Official page at Carowinds
• Official page at Kings Dominion
• Official page at Kings Island