| Drop Zone | |
| Imagedimensions: | 250px |
| Location: | California's Great America |
| Section: | NorCal County Fair |
| Status: | Operating |
| Previousattraction: | Ameri-Go-Round |
| Coordinates: | 37.3935°N -121.9717°W |
| Location2: | Canada's Wonderland |
| Section2: | Medieval Faire |
| Status2: | Operating |
| Coordinates2: | 43.8444°N -79.5428°W |
| Location3: | Carowinds |
| Section3: | Thrill Zone |
| Status3: | Operating |
| Location4: | Kings Dominion |
| Section4: | Candy Apple Grove |
| Status4: | Operating |
| Coordinates4: | 37.8378°N -77.4439°W |
| Location5: | Kings Island |
| Section5: | Action Zone |
| Status5: | Operating |
| Coordinates5: | 39.3461°N -84.2664°W |
| Type: | Drop tower |
| Manufacturer: | Intamin |
| Model: | Gyro Drop, or Giant Drop |
| Restriction In: | 48 or 54 |
| Virtual Queue Name: | Fast Lane |
| Virtual Queue Image: | Cedar_Fair_Fast_Lane_availability_icon.svg |
| Virtual Queue Status: | available at all five parks |
| Custom Label 1: | Previous name |
| Custom Value 1: | Drop Zone: Stunt Tower |
Drop Tower, formerly known as Drop Zone: Stunt Tower, is the name of five drop tower amusement rides located at Six Flags amusement parks in the United States and Canada. Each installation varies in size and capacity.
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. All were built by Swiss ride manufacturer Intamin, which consist of either Gyro Drop or Giant Drop models. Martin & Vleminckx constructed the Intamin-built Drop Tower at California's Great America.[1] 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. When Paramount owned and operated the parks, stunt performers performed an action scene periodically near the attraction depicting a performer falling from a platform.
In 2006, Paramount Parks sold their amusement parks to Cedar Fair, which was followed by the removal of Paramount branding from each park. 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.
The three original drop towers, opening in 1996 and 1997 at Carowinds, California's Great America, and Canada's Wonderland are Giant Drop models. They feature either four, five or six cars fitting four people on each one. Wonderland and Great America's models fall at a top speed of 62mi/h and are 227feet tall, while Carowinds' model falls at 56mi/h and is 160feet tall.
All three are painted in rainbow colors with race track decals. 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.[2]
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 72mi/h, respectively. Both the Kings Island and Kings Dominion ride claim to be the tallest Gyro Drop towers in the world. 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. The Kings Island variant also spins on the way up, giving riders a view of the whole park.[3]
| Park | Tower height | Drop height* | Speed | Model | Opened | Height requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada's Wonderland | 62mph | Giant Drop | May 4, 1997[4] | 540NaN0 | ||
| Carowinds | 56mph | Giant Drop | March 30, 1996[5] | 540NaN0 | ||
| California's Great America | 62mph | Giant Drop | March 16, 1996[6] | 54 in (137 cm) | ||
| Kings Dominion | 72mph | Ring Drop | March 22, 2003 | 48 in (122 cm) | ||
| 67mph | Gyro Drop | May 21, 1999[7] | 48 in (122 cm) | |||
See main article: Incidents at Six Flags parks.
California Great America's installation was the tallest vertical drop amusement park ride when it opened in 1996.