Power Tower

Power Tower is a thrill ride located at two Cedar Fair parks in the US, Cedar Point and Valleyfair. The attractions are powered by air in large cylinders in which an aircraft steel cable, connected to the internal piston, travels and is also connected to the external rider car. Hydraulic cylinders at the base of the tower provide an extra measure of safety in case of a ride malfunction. Both rides were designed and manufactured by S&S Worldwide of Logan, Utah. As of the 2020 season from their respective websites, both changed their height requirements from 52 inches (130 cm) to 48 inches (120 cm).

This article is about the amusement ride. For other uses, see Power tower.
Power Tower
Overview of Cedar Point with Power Tower in the center, Millennium Force on the left and Top Thrill Dragster on the right.
Cedar Point
Coordinates41°28′57.74″N 82°41′4.42″W
StatusOperating
Cost$10,000,000[1]
Opening dateMay 9, 1998
Valleyfair
Coordinates44°47′58.17″N 93°27′24.50″W
StatusOperating
Cost$10,000,000
Opening dateMay 2000
ReplacedTot town
General statistics
Attraction typeSpace Shot, Turbo Drop
ManufacturerS&S Worldwide
DesignerStan Checketts
ModelCombo Tower
Height275 or 300 ft (84 or 91 m)
Drop240 or 250 ft (73 or 76 m)
Speed60 mph (97 km/h)
Vehicle typeFreefall carriage
Vehicles4 (Cedar Point)
3 (Valleyfair)
Riders per vehicle12
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
RestraintsOver-the-shoulder restraints with interlocking seatbelt
Launch SystemPneumatic
Fast Lane available at both parks

Cedar Point
Cedar Point's Power Tower from below

Power Tower at Cedar Point is a multi-tower attraction featuring a pair of Space Shot rides and a pair of Turbo Drop rides, arranged in a square-footprint with a crowning marquee and crisscrossed arches joining the four rides at their peaks. Power Tower is the only four-towered drop tower ride in the world to date, devoting two towers to each drop cycle. The ride was announced on August 20, 1997 and opened to guests in 1998.[2]

Sixteen new LED lights from Chauvet Professional were installed on Power Tower before the 2012 season.[3]

Ride specifications
  • Height: 275 ft (91 m)
  • Drop height: 240 ft (73 m)
  • Top speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
  • G-force: min -1.0 g, max +4.0
  • Ride Duration: 45 sec
  • Capacity: 1,700 rides per hour
  • Thrill Rating: 5

[4]

Valleyfair
View of Power Tower at Valleyfair

Power Tower at Valleyfair is a multi-tower attraction featuring a pair of Turbo Drop rides and a single Space Shot ride, arranged in a triangular-footprint with a crowning marquee joining the three rides at their peaks.

Power Tower is the tallest ride in Minnesota. The ride was originally intended to be 300 feet (91 m) tall, but the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits Valleyfair's rides from being built taller than 275 feet (84 m) because of the nearby Flying Cloud Airport.[5]

Ride specifications
  • Height: 275 ft (84 m)
  • Drop height: 250 ft (76 m)
  • Top Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
  • G-force: min -1.0 g, max +4.0
  • Ride Duration: 45 sec
  • Capacity: 1,300 rides per hour
  • Thrill Rating: 5

[6][7]

Records

Cedar Point's Power Tower was the tallest vertical ascending and descending thrill ride upon debut up until July 1998, when Supreme Scream opened at Knott's Berry Farm.

Preceded by
Pitt Fall		 World's Tallest Vertical Drop Ride
May 1998–July 1998		 Succeeded by
Supreme Scream

See also

References
  1. http://www.idexter.com/coasters/parks/cedar_point/power_tower/pt_index.html
  2. "Cedar Point plans Power Tower ride". Indiana Gazette. August 21, 1997. Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "CHAUVET® Professional Takes Cedar Point Guests on Colorful Rides". Chauvet Professional. September 20, 2012. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  4. "Power Tower — Cedar Point". Experience the Point. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  5. "Park gets clearance for towering new thrill ride". Free Lance-Star. August 29, 1999. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  6. "Power Tower". Valleyfair. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  7. "Power Tower to Open at Valleyfair for 2000". Ultimate Roller Coaster. August 18, 1999. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
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