The trains on the steel roller coaster reach speeds of 50 mph and spin through two loops while passengers remain standing. The investigation into the death of Timothy Fan, of Long Island City, is focusing on how he became free of the restraints that are supposed to keep riders locked securely into place, said the Hanover County official, who spoke on condition that his name not be used. The 20-year-old New York student killed at Paramount's Kings Dominion Monday night fell while riding in a stand-up roller coaster, a local official said yesterday. (Richmond Times-Dispatch Via Associated Press) The Shockwave roller coaster is shown in a June 1998 photo. Retrieved Janu– via : Park Ride Shut Down in Wake of Accident ^ 'Disabled Boy Dies in Plunge at California Great America'.^ 'Kings Island closes ride after Kentucky accident'.Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Kings Island's tower is measured as the tallest in the world, while Kings Dominion's tower utilizes brakes positioned closer to the ground, producing a longer drop than the tower at Kings Island. Both the Kings Island and Kings Dominion ride claim to be the tallest Gyro Drop towers in the world. The two latest drop towers, installed in 1999 at Kings Island and 2003 at Kings Dominion, are Gyro Drop models with one large circular car, reaching speeds of 67 and 72 mph (116 km/h), respectively. In 2019, Drop Tower at California's Great America was given a brown and green tree-like paint scheme, paying homage to Northern California forests. 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.Īll three are painted in rainbow colors with race track decals.

They feature either four, five or six cars fitting four people on each one. The three original drop towers, opening in 19 at Carowinds, California's Great America, and Canada's Wonderland are Giant Drop models. Ride experience Giant Drop ĭrop Tower at Kings Dominion, as viewed from the Eiffel Tower They were closed as a precaution for several weeks and inspected, then eventually reopened. All five attractions were renamed Drop Tower: Scream Zone (commonly shortened to Drop Tower), and the swirl logos associated with each were removed from the rides' signage.Ī serious incident occurred on Superman: Tower of Power at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, in which a rider's feet were severed by a loose cable, prompting each park to temporarily close their drop tower installation. In 2006, Paramount Parks sold their amusement parks to Cedar Fair, which was followed by the removal of Paramount branding from each park. When Paramount owned and operated the parks, stunt performers performed an action scene periodically near the attraction depicting a performer falling from a platform. With the exception of both Kings Dominion's and Canada's Wonderland's towers, they are located in their park's various backlot themed areas. Martin & Vleminckx constructed the Intamin-built Drop Tower at California's Great America. All were built by Swiss ride manufacturer Intamin, which consist of either Gyro Drop or Giant Drop models. Prior to their acquisition by Cedar Fair, the five parks owned by Paramount Parks featured a drop tower ride named Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, in reference to the Paramount film of the same name. Each installation varies in size and capacity.

Drop zone great america