Skyscraper (roller coaster)

Skyscraper is a roller coaster planned for a future Skyplex entertainment complex located in Orlando, Florida. Under development by American manufacturer US Thrill Rides and Swiss manufacturer Intamin, the attraction will be a Polercoaster model which utilizes an observation tower for its main support structure. The project was originally scheduled for completion by 2016, but a number of delays resulted in the date being pushed back several times. The status of the project became uncertain by 2019, when its main website was taken down and construction had failed to break ground. If completed, Skyscraper would become the tallest roller coaster in the world at over 500 feet (150 m) and would feature both the steepest drop and highest inversion.

Skyscraper
Concept art of the Skyplex complex, including Skyscraper tower and roller coaster
Skyplex
LocationSkyplex
Coordinates28.45017°N 81.47066°W / 28.45017; -81.47066
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerUS Thrill Rides
ModelPolercoaster
Track layoutCustom
Length5,200 ft (1,600 m)
Speed65 mph (105 km/h)
Inversions7
Duration3:00
Capacity1000 riders per hour
TrainsSeveral trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.

History

In 2012, owners of Mango’s Tropical Café in Orlando selected the Polercoaster design concept pitched by US Thrill Rides to become their flagship attraction at the future-planned Skyplex indoor entertainment complex. After several successful negotiations for land, development of both the roller coaster and Skyplex began.[1] In May 2014, investment for the project was sought, and a website was formed to assist with the endeavor. Documents uncovered by an Orlando news agency revealed that the roller coaster would be located in Central Florida along International Drive at the intersection with Sand Lake Road.[2][3][4]

Skyscraper was officially announced on June 5, 2014. Construction on the main complex was expected to begin in 2015, with the ride opening in 2016.[5][6] However, design changes and a lengthy process for obtaining the necessary permits caused several delays in breaking ground, and the timeline was updated to reflect construction on the complex beginning in mid-2017.[7][8] The addition of virtual reality headsets to Skyscraper was announced in late 2016, and the expected opening date was updated to 2019.[9] By April 2017, portions of the roller coaster's track had been completed by Intamin and were placed in storage, but construction of the complex was still on hold pending permit approval.[10]

In January 2019, Skyplex's budget was scaled back from $500 million to $250 million, with plans to retain Skyscraper's original coaster design but include less retail development around the base of the structure.[11] The complex's projected opening date was pushed back further to 2020, with rides opening sometime later.[11] By June 2019, the website promoting the project was taken down,[12] and reports surfaced in 2020 that Universal used a variety of legal tactics to derail the project.[13][14] There have been no updates from developers since early 2019.[14]

Characteristics

Designed by US Thrill Rides, the steel track of Skyscraper will be approximately 5,200 feet (1,600 m) long. Wrapping around the central tower, the roller coaster will feature seven inversions including zero-g rolls and raven turns.[5][6][15][16] When complete, Skyscraper will operate with several small trains. Each train will have two rows that seat four riders each for a total of eight riders per train. The ride is expected to accommodate a theoretical capacity of 1000 riders per hour. Each seat will feature a lap restraint as opposed to over-the-shoulder harnesses to avoid obstructing the view.[5][6][15]

Records

When Skyscraper opens it will break several world records. With a structure exceeding 500 feet (150 m) in height, it is expected to obtain the record for the world's tallest roller coaster.[3] As of 2016, Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure standing at 456 feet (139 m) holds the record.[5][15] Skyscraper will have an inversion near the highest point of the ride,[16] breaking Steel Curtain’s 197-foot-tall (60 m) record for the highest inversion in the world, set at Kennywood in 2019.[6][17] The ride will also have the steepest drop in the world at 123 degrees, exceeding the 121.5-degree drop record set in 2019 by TMNT Shellraiser in Nickelodeon Universe.[16]

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References
  1. "World's Tallest Rollercoaster and Entertainment Complex "The Skyscraper™ at SKYPLEX™" To Electrify Orlando Skyline in 2016". Mango's Tropical Cafe. June 5, 2014. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  2. "Skyscraper Skyplex". American Immigration Group LLC. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  3. Fais, Scott (June 5, 2014). "Is this 500-foot-tall roller coaster coming to I-Drive?". News 13. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  4. Fox, Greg (May 31, 2014). "Polercoaster coming to Central Florida, sources say". WESH. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  5. Bevil, Dewayne (June 5, 2014). "World's tallest roller coaster planned for Orlando's I-Drive". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  6. Dennis, Andrea (June 5, 2014). "World's tallest roller coaster 'Skyscraper' officially coming to I-Drive, will open in 2016". WESH. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  7. "Europe's fastest and highest rollercoaster just opened at Ferrari Land, Spain". The Telegraph. April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  8. Dineen, Caitlin (October 19, 2016). "StarFlyer developer can move forward with permitting". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  9. Story, Ken (November 15, 2016). "Joshua Wallack confirms new VR headsets for Skyplex roller coaster, and 'SkyLedge'". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  10. Bilbao, Richard (April 17, 2017). "Joshua Wallack: Vertical construction on Hollywood Plaza will begin this week". Orlando Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  11. Pepperman, Kelly (January 11, 2019). "International Drive developer talks new coaster, more parking". WKMG. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  12. Levine, Arthur (June 3, 2019). "Orlando's Skyplex". tripsavvy.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  13. Zanetti, Bill (May 8, 2020). "Orlando Begins to Reopen – Our Trip Down International Drive". MiceChat. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  14. Dickerson, Bryan (May 5, 2020). "Sorcery: Florida wave pool curse fact or fiction?". wavepoolmag.com. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  15. "Skyscraper at Skyplex Orlando World's Tallest Roller Coaster Announcement". YouTube. Theme Park Review. June 5, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  16. Kitchen, Michael (November 19, 2014). "Interview with Michael Kitchen about Worlds Tallest Roller Coaster in Orlando". Theme Park Review (Interview). Interviewed by Robb Alvey. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  17. "GateKeeper Is Breaking More Records". Cedar Point. August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
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