Scrapped Stratosphere Tower coaster idea

I know this is an old topic, and that this ride will likely never be built, but I was just remembering this whole idea and thinking about the technical aspects of it.

http://www.gettheloop.com/loopdecember1/loop023.html#3

I'm just curious if any of the actual mechanical details were ever released? They say the train would be brought to the top via elevator, but isn't that central shaft already home to their 4 regular elevators? Additionally, would the train have been switched off the track at it's lowest point to be brought back in? While I actually think this ride concept is a bit ridiculous, I am interested nevertheless in how they had planned to build/run it. *** Edited 8/13/2008 2:53:55 PM UTC by DannyThompson***

Ever been on an Intamin First generation drop ride, like Demon Drop at Cedar Point? It would have worked something like that.

Ah, gotcha. I guess the elevator structure would have been external, on the side of the central tower shaft? Regardless of how they would have done it, the ride would have been terrifying, mainly from a questionable-structure perspective (for me, anyway). It would have looked pretty sick, too.

LOL, is this real?

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Using economic and scientific studies, the Stratosphere staff adequately answered the concerns, Gilmartin said, but the most confounding argument was the one put forward by a planning commissioner who said, "If you guys build this, it's going to bring tattooed, pierced teen-agers and undesirables to the area." "I enjoy thrill rides," said Gilmartin, who sky dives and bunjee jumps and also has a resume that prominently features his role as a political lobbyist. "I laughed because I thought, 'Wait a minute, does that make me an undesirable?' I've been dealing with this thing for the last three months, and this whole thing is all about misconceptions of amusement ride crowds." Members of coaster enthusiast organizations also took exception to being labeled an unsavory lot and mounted an e-mail and letter-writing campaign supporting the project.

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Hahah, I know, I couldn't believe that part either. I don't recall that being an issue, but I wasn't all that involved in this whole thing back then.

No kiding matt! Most enthusiasts are way worse than tattooed, pierced teen-agers and undesirables! ;)

I'm wondering how you stereotype pierced and tattooed people in a town that exists solely on the premise of excess and absurdity. I'd rather hang with those cats than a bunch of suit any day.

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It's not like the Stratosphere is the "high class" end of the strip. I'd almost expect that from a proposal for Wynn, Bellagio, etc. But Stratosphere? That place is already a dump!

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Jeff: So now you stereotype people who dress nicely or have jobs with dress codes? How is that any different than what Moosh just humorously did?

Don't really care -- and I *never* dress well. Just thought I'd throw it into the mix.

*** Edited 8/13/2008 5:05:58 PM UTC by Ensign Smith***

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I still wonder if there's a business model contained in that idea that a park could draw from. Yes, what made the ride feasible (or at least reasonable) was the existing structure of the tower. But what if a park built such a tower, put a 'premium' high cost restaurant at the top as well as an upcharge observation deck, and bolted on the fishhook coaster, thus securing by far the 'tallest coaster in the world' title, as well as gaining a really cool restaurant. I dunno, somehow I could see this at Universal Orlando or even Cedar Point.

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It's an idea, a vertical multi-use entertainment venue with rides involved, but I'd picture it more as a stand-alone project than something within an existing park, probably in an urban setting where space would be at a premium. I'm thinking something like the Japanese rooftop coaster taken to the next level.

My only point is that suits are rarely as interesting.

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Cool thought.

As for the "tatoo thing," you guys are right most coaster junkies are WORSE that teenagers.

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Haven't tats and piercings and that whole thing become so mainstream that the people truly standing out as doing their own thing are the suits?

I'm taking it back. :)

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Three words.

Ten Tub Flyers!

Someday we'll all walk around topless, and the suits will be identified by the necktie tattoos on their chests. ;)

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Oh boy! The high-powered suits will not only have necktie tats, but pinstripe ones as well. :P

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The ride was scrapped for many reasons. One being the proximity of the stratosphere to a residential community and the concern of noise levels and the 2nd being that the ride's track would have had to cross Las Vegas Blvd. The ride never got past the schematic phase. Zoning was a huge problem.