A ride to the top of Kings Dominion’s 305 foot tall Drop Tower: Scream Zone is quite a harrowing ascent even for a seasoned coaster vet like myself. There’s quite a difference between a roller coaster car and just seats with restraints. At the top, Drop Tower holds its ring of 56 seats for a few seconds. These few seconds seem like an eternity to first timers. Then, the bottom drops out and the riders plummet at 75 mph towards the ground.
I found a news story from 2003 when the ride was announced. Back then, the park was Paramount’s Kings Dominion and it boasted many movie and television themed rides. I had no idea that the ride was named after the 1994 Wesley Snipes film Drop Zone about a group of skydiving crooks. Seems like a pretty weird tie-in. Did the park think that fans of the movie would be more likely to ride a drop tower by the same name? How much can you really theme a tower ride anyway?
What’s Your Take?
Do you like drop rides? Leave a comment below.
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August 20, 2011 at 00:23
AWESOME droptower, one of the best I've been on!
August 20, 2011 at 03:22
Dose drop Zone slowly lift it's passengers to the top, or does it launch them?
August 20, 2011 at 04:39
It doesn't launch the riderss. It's more of a slow and steady lift.
August 21, 2011 at 03:29
I thought so. I've never seen a drop ride like this in action, but the car/train/whatever the thing that you sit on is dosen't seem like something you'd shoot into the air at high speeds.
August 20, 2011 at 05:28
I think drop towers are overrated, then again I've never been on an Intamin one. I personally prefer space shots.
August 21, 2011 at 01:57
Well, you probably think they're overrated because you've never been on an Intamin one. I always skip the S&S ones as they don't offer enough forces. But the Intamins, even the small ones, they deliver. The KD one, oh man, strong negative Gs from start to finish, it just keeps going. Everyone who gets off of that thing is just smiling and euphoric. It's a wonderful feeling!
August 20, 2011 at 07:14
I'd rather ride a drop tower than a space shot, and this one is simply the best. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I saw somewhere that this tower is the tallest drop tower in North America.
August 20, 2011 at 10:42
I think it is the same height as the King's Island's drop tower.
October 26, 2011 at 17:50
That one's taller, this one's faster
August 20, 2011 at 13:52
Do Disney's multiple Tower of Terrors count as Tower Rides? I've never been on an Intamin Drop Tower ride, although I can say from track records (no pun intended) that I'd prefer a Gyro Drop as pictured above.
August 21, 2011 at 03:33
Yeah, the Tower of Terror is simply a very well themed drop coaster with a longer, pre-determined layout.
August 21, 2011 at 14:48
Great ride. Best drop tower ever, and my personal favorite flat thrill ride.