Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom entrance
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Area Colossus County Fair
Coordinates 34°25′36″N 118°35′53″W / 34.426616°N 118.598089°W / 34.426616; -118.598089Coordinates: 34°25′36″N 118°35′53″W / 34.426616°N 118.598089°W / 34.426616; -118.598089
Status Operating
Soft opening date July 6, 2012
Opening date July 7, 2012[1]
General statistics
Attraction type Drop tower
Manufacturer Intamin
Theme Lex Luthor
Height 400 ft (120 m)
Speed 85 mph (137 km/h)
Capacity 550 riders per hour
Vehicle type Gondola
Vehicles 2
Riders per vehicle 8
Height restriction 48 in (122 cm)
Flash Pass available
Single rider line available
Must transfer from wheelchair

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom is a drop tower located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The ride is integrated onto the existing Superman: Escape from Krypton tower structure.[2][3]

History

On August 25, 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain released a "GoBigCam" video. The video concluded hinting at a possible new attraction in 2012 to be installed on Superman: Escape from Krypton.[4] On September 1, 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain officially announced that they would be adding Intamin drop towers to the sides of the Superman: Escape from Krypton tower.[2][5] The ride opened on July 7, 2012.

Construction history

On February 5, 2012, Superman: The Escape closed, so that the park could start construction of Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom on the coaster. Superman: The Escape was expected to reopen as Superman: Escape from Krypton when Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom opened to the public.[6] In middle to late March, the electrical part of the ride was constructed to operate the drop tower.[7][8] Pieces for the lower part of drop tower arrived at the park on April 2, 2012.[9]

On April 12, 2012, pieces of the ride were taken up in the air by helicopter above the Superman tower (415 feet (126 m) in the air) to connect the ride pieces to the tower.[10][11] During the first week of May, vertical pieces for Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom were attached to the Superman tower.[12] By the second week of May, all the pieces for the ride were attached to the tower.[13] By May 30, the ride gondolas were placed onto the tower to start testing.[14] Testing began on June 22, two weeks before opening to the public on July 7, 2012.[15]

Ride

Superman: Escape From Krypton in 2011, prior to the addition of Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom on the lateral flanks of the structure the following year.

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom consists of two free fall drop attractions, with each mounted to a lateral flank of the Superman: Escape From Krypton structure. Both rides feature a single floorless gondola seating eight-abreast. Riders are harnessed in by over-the-shoulder restraints. Catch cars hoist the gondolas up the tower for approximately 95 seconds before reaching a dynamic height of 400 feet (120 m). As the gondolas reach the apex, riders are greeted with a pre-recorded audio spiel from a voice representing the fictional DC comic book character Lex Luthor. The gondolas are then released into 5-second free fall descent, attaining a terminal velocity of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h).[5][16][17] Mass of the gondolas is 600 kilograms (1,300 lb) without any riders.

When the Superman: Escape From Krypton and Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom operate simultaneously, the steel framework tower that supports both rides is likely to sway as much as 2 feet (0.61 m) side to side.[2]

Records

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom was the tallest drop tower ride in the world at the time of its opening, having superseded The Giant Drop located at Dreamworld on July 7, 2012.[3][16] It shared the title of the world's fastest drop tower with The Giant Drop.[16] Its record was broken on July 4, 2014, by Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom when it opened at Six Flags Great Adventure.[18]

Height requirements

In order for guests to ride Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, riders must be at least 48 inches. Each seat includes an individual over the shoulder restraint. Due to the aggressiveness and very high height of this ride, it is not labeled by Six Flags Magic Mountain as a family friendly ride. The park labels the ride as maximum in the intensity thrill rating. Guests who have fear of heights, high blood pressure, or who are pregnant are not allowed to ride the ride attraction.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Lex Luthor: Drop of...". Facebook. June 26, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Martín, Hugo (March 13, 2012). "Thrill ride designers compete to push the limits". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  3. 1 2 MacDonald, Brady (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain (August 25, 2011). "GoBigCam #21". Video. YouTube. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Six Flags Magic Mountain (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags Magic Mountain Announces LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom". Press Release. Six Flags. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  6. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (February 4, 2012). "Superman Closing On Feb 5th For Lex Luthor Construction". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  7. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (April 3, 2012). "First Construction Photos Of Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (April 3, 2012). "Trip Report For 29 Mar 2012". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  9. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (April 3, 2012). "Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom Pieces Have Begun To Arrive". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  10. ↑ Marashlian, Tammy (April 12, 2012). "New ride almost ready to drop". The Signal. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain (April 12, 2012). "Look! Up in the sky...". photo. Facebook. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  12. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (May 3, 2012). "Lex Luthor Track Going Up At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  13. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (May 10, 2012). "Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom Construction Update #1". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  14. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (May 30, 2012). "Lex Luthor Gondola Is On The Track". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  15. ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain (June 22, 2012). "Testing....1...2...3. Dropping". Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  16. 1 2 3 MacDonald, Brady (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags Magic Mountain adding new thrill ride for 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  17. ↑ Morgan, Matt (September 2, 2011). "Six Thrilling New Theme-Park Rides for 2012". Wired. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  18. ↑ "New for 2014". Six Flags. August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.

External links


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