Posted Thursday, June 7, 2001 10:59 AM | Contributed by Jeff
The new Skyscraper at Virginia Beach is kind of like sky-diving, according to riders. The huge crane-like structure costs $20 per person to ride.
Read about it from Pilot Online.
J1
Thursday, June 7, 2001 11:23 AM
those rides are AWSOME!!!
TrBiggar
Thursday, June 7, 2001 11:36 AM
I've seen one of those on a Discover or TLC show. If I recall correctly, those things need liquid nitrogen or something extreme like that for cooling the structure, or fractures will happen.
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Next up: Stupid human tricks! Followed by: Stupid pet tricks!
Why can that never happen?
MABrider
Thursday, June 7, 2001 12:09 PM
Dorney Park has one of those. I think it is called Skyrider(?). I did not go on it. It looks the same as the pics posted here. From the lift hill of Steel Force look directly right and that thing (Skyrider?) looks as high! But I think it is more like 165'.
*** This post was edited by MABrider on 6/7/2001. ***
janfrederick
Thursday, June 7, 2001 1:14 PM
There was a rumor a while back concerning what Knott's was planning to build on the old Haunted Shack site. I sure hope it's a Skyscraper. I'll be there with $100 the day it opens!
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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.
Taipan
Thursday, June 7, 2001 1:15 PM
Isn't there one on International Drive in Orlando? I saw it, but didn't get a chance to ride it as spent what time I had at the Kennedy Space Center, IOA, BGT & USF. :)
Coaster Joe
Thursday, June 7, 2001 1:43 PM
Actually TrBiggar, the liquid nitrogen fills the tubular steel arm structure of the ride. It doesn't prevent fractures....it actually lets the ride-op know if the ride does fracture (loss of pressure in the tubular steel). What an ingenious way to inspect the ride. Could you imagine having to climb up the side of that thing otherwise??
EASTCOAST RIDER
Thursday, June 7, 2001 3:26 PM
i was jsut there didnt get to ride it though
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CP is the best hands down even without a record:'(
Antuan
Thursday, June 7, 2001 3:47 PM
Doesn't Great Adventure have something like that too. I remember seeing it in boardwalk...It wasn't open though.
Mamoosh
Thursday, June 7, 2001 4:08 PM
janfrederick: Knott's was originally going to build a skycoaster but that got nixed. I've never heard anything about a skyscraper although I agree it would be great to have one. The rumor now is that they are going to build an S&S ejector seat type ride, the same one rumored as the 4th attraction at SFMM. Nothing confirmed from either park, tho.
Matthew
janfrederick
Thursday, June 7, 2001 4:18 PM
Hmmm...well whatever it is, I hope it's something different from SFMM.
Also, I heard that the reason the skycoaster was nixed was due to some non-competition clause. I guess since the skycoasters and S+S rides are made by different manufacturers, with different rules, that they could indeed build the same ride within a certain distance.
Come-on Knott's! Skyscraper! ;)
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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.
Skrappy
Thursday, June 7, 2001 5:13 PM
I saw one of those things at a fair here in Atlanta on Memorial Day. There was a large group of people standing there watching it run but no one was willing to give it a whirl. The one that was here in Atlanta was different in that there were four seats on either end with riders sitting in a "FaceOff" like position; each rider's back to another's back. It was real cool to watch but I could think of better things to do with $20 so I passed on it.
FloridaCoasterRider
Thursday, June 7, 2001 8:14 PM
Ha! 20$? We have one at Boomers in South Florida, and tickets only cost 8$! Lots of fun!
Wolf
Thursday, June 7, 2001 10:39 PM
It's just gaseous nitrogen, but it's pressureized and has a valve at the bottom. If the pressure drops below a certain level, it means the arm has a crack in it.
RockDown
Thursday, June 7, 2001 11:07 PM
I saw one on Daytona Beach as well. It didn't look that great so I didn't do it, but now that its supposedly a buzz around it I wish I had.
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aIrtIme'S ovErRaTed..
SmArtAce
Thursday, June 7, 2001 11:58 PM
Ive always wanted to ride one of those since i saw the one on tv on one of those coaster shows. I think the one i saw was called Katanga skyscraper or something along those lines.
(post 100!!!)
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CP in 2002, get to the point
Jeff
Friday, June 8, 2001 12:36 AM
Now I'm kicking myself for not riding a similar ride at IAAPA for free. I guess at the time I wasn't that crazy about seeing the Georgia Dome that close!
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
CoasterBearVa
Monday, June 11, 2001 12:03 AM
While doing the annual Florida Coaster fest vacation I had the chance to ride the Skyscraper ride on International Drive, it's right beside a putt putt golf course. Having only seen the arms from a distance I was a bit intimidated by both the structure and the open seating. A five point buckle system just doesn't seem that safe to me. Anywho.. I plunked down the $20 and had the most intense ride of my life. We were the only riders on the ride but we stopped at the top for the night view. My heart was pounding harder than on any coaster I've ridden (current count 100+). The first roll I held on for dear life but once the Skyscraper hit the full speed of 60mph it was hands up! Running backwards was slightly odd too on the first spin the cart flipped twice rolling to the ground! Very Intense. In fact I think i'm taking a drive to Va beach Tuesday to catch a spin.
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Riding the rails from the East Coast to the West Coast