Drop Tower
Group of rides with shared characteristics
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The drop tower is a type of tower ride. It consists of a gondola which is launched upwards, launched downward, or allowed to freefall, depending on the particular type of ride. On some drop towers, the gondola spins around the tower, giving riders a 360-degree view. Others tilt riders forward (such as Falcon's Fury), or allow guests to ride standing up.
The precursor to the modern drop tower is the Freefall.
Tallest vertical drop towers
Name | Park | Country | Manufacturer | Height | Drop Speed | Record holder | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drop | Structure | |||||||
** | Sirocco Tower | Six Flags Qiddiya | Saudi Arabia | S&S Worldwide | 145 metres | Unknown | 97 km/h | N/A |
1 | Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom | Six Flags Magic Mountain | USA | Intamin | 122 metres | 126.5 metres | 136.8 km/h | July 2012 - July 2014 November 11, 2024 - Present |
2 | Giant Drop | Dreamworld | Australia | Intamin | 119 metres | Unknown | 135 km/h | 26 December 1998 - July 2012 |
3 | Highlander | Hansa-Park | Germany | Funtime | 103 metres | 120 metres | 120 km/h | N/A |
4 | Voltrum | Bayern Park | Germany | Funtime | 93 metres | 109 metres | 113 km/h | N/A |
At 126 metres tall, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom was the tallest drop tower from its opening in 2014 until the opening of the 131 metre-tall Orlando Free Fall in 2021. Orlando Free Fall closed in 2022 and Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom closed in 2024.
Products
- Skyfall, manufactured by Funtime
- Intamin models: Giant Drop, Gyro Drop, Ballistic Tower, Sky Jump
- S&S-Sansei Technologies models: Combo Tower, Double Shot, Rotating Tower, Space Shot, Spin Shot Tower, Turbo Drop
- Zamperla models: Flash Tower, Jumpin' Tower, Sky Tower, Z-Max
- Drop'N Twist, manufactured by SBF Visa Group
- Family Freefall Tower, manufactured by Zierer
- Free Fall Tower, manufactured by ABC Rides
- Frog Hopper, manufactured by S&S-Sansei Technologies & Wisdom Rides
- Gravity Tower, manufactured by Moser's Rides
- Happy Tower, manufactured by SBF Visa Group
- Jumpin' Star, manufactured by Zamperla
- Mini Tower, manufactured by Preston & Barbieri
- Power Tower, manufactured by Maurer Söhne
- Spring Ride, manufactured by Moser's Rides
- Scary Drop, manufactured by Fabbri
- Shoot, Tilt & Drop Tower, manufactured by BEAR
- Shot 'n' Drop, manufactured by HUSS
- Sky Drop, manufactured by Zamperla
- Super Shot, manufactured by Larson International & A.R.M. (USA)
- Tilt Tower, manufactured by ABC Rides
- Tower, manufactured by SBF Visa Group