Parachute Tower (Intamin product)

Product
Parachute Tower
Status In production
Introduced 1976
Number built 16
Latest built Dragonwatch (1 July 2023)
Statistics
Manufacturer
 Intamin, Liechtenstein
Type Paratower

Parachute Tower is a Paratower produced by Liechtenstein manufacturer Intamin. The ride consist of a tower with a series of radiating arms at its top. A "parachute" is attached to each arm by cables and slowly lifts to the top of the tower. The parachute is then released, offering a quasi-freefall ride experience.

Revisions

The model originally debuted in 1976. The original version featured a large tower with a ring-like structure at the top, with the ride vehicles being suspended from this ring. This first, larger version would eventually be discontinued, with the last incarnation opening at Lotte World in South Korea.

Intamin also fabricates the Children's Parachute Tower, with early installations at Kings Dominion, Cypress Gardens, and Hili Fun City. This version is a smaller version than the original. Later versions would open at Disney's California Adventure in 2001 and Tokyo DisneySea 7 months later. A modified version would also later open as part of the Toy Story Land expansion at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris. This featured a different top, with the ring being replaced by a series of six walkways, from which the parachutes where suspended. Disney would also install this attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland. These newer rides have since manufactured this design for other parks outside of Disney. Dragonwatch has the same design as these Disney models, but uses an electronic system instead of a hydraulic system. It is the first installation to do so.

Completed Attractions

Name Park Location Opened Closed Version
Children's Parachute Tower Hili Fun City
UAE
Unknown Unknown Children's Parachute Tower
Fundangler Cypress Gardens
USA
December 9, 1979 1981 or later Children's Parachute Tower
Great Gasp Six Flags Over Georgia
USA
April 9, 1976 August 14, 2005 Parachute Tower 1200
High-Altitude Fall Lotte World
South Korea
1990 1997 Unknown
Jumpin' Jellyfish (2x) Disney California Adventure Park
USA
February 8, 2001 Operating Children's Parachute Tower
Jumpin' Jellyfish (3x) Tokyo DisneySea
Japan
September 4, 2001 Operating Children's Parachute Tower
Minolta Space Tower Expo '86
Canada
1986 1986 Parachute Gyro Tower 1200
Parachute Training Center: Edwards AFB Jump Tower Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags St. Louis
USA
June 1983
1978
2022
1982
Parachute Tower 1200
Sky Jump Knott's Berry Farm
USA
1976 1999 Parachute Gyro Tower 1200
Sky Flower Tokyo Dome City
Japan
1978 Closed January 31, 2024 Parachute Tower 1200
Snagglepuss' Parachute School Kings Dominion
USA
1980 or earlier 2003 Children's Parachute Tower
Texas Chute Out Six Flags Over Texas
USA
April 10, 1976 September 3, 2012 Parachute Tower 1200
Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop Walt Disney Studios Park
France
August 17, 2010 Operating Unknown
Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop Hong Kong Disneyland
China
November 18, 2011 Operating Unknown
Rainforest Drop Tower (2x) Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
China
2017 Operating Parachute Tower
Dragonwatch Toverland
Netherlands
July 1, 2023 Operating Parachute Tower

External links

The official web page