Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom

Last updated

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom
Lex Luthor, Drop of Doom - Six Flags Magic Mountain.JPG
Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom entrance
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Area Screampunk District
Coordinates 34°25′36″N118°35′53″W / 34.426616°N 118.598089°W / 34.426616; -118.598089
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 7, 2012 [1]
Ride statistics
Attraction type Drop tower
Manufacturer Intamin
Theme Lex Luthor
Height400 ft (120 m)
Speed85 mph (137 km/h)
Capacity550 riders per hour
Vehicle typeGondola
Vehicles2
Riders per vehicle8
Duration1:17
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Fastpass availability icon.svg Flash Pass available
Single rider line availability icon.svg Single rider line available
Attraction transfer icon.svg Must transfer from wheelchair

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom is a drop tower located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The ride is integrated onto the existing Superman: Escape from Krypton tower structure. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Construction and opening

On August 25, 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain released a "GoBigCam" video. The video concluded hinting at a possible new attraction in 2012 to be installed on Superman: Escape from Krypton. [4] On September 1, 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain officially announced that they would be adding Intamin drop towers to the sides of the Superman: Escape from Krypton tower. [2] [5]

On February 5, 2012, Superman: Escape from Krypton closed, so that the park could start construction of Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom on the coaster. Superman: Escape from Krypton was expected to reopen when Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom opened to the public. [6] In middle to late March, the electrical part of the ride was constructed to operate the drop tower. [7] [8] Pieces for the lower part of drop tower arrived at the park on April 2, 2012. [9]

On April 12, 2012, pieces of the ride were taken up in the air by helicopter above the Superman tower (415 feet (126 m) in the air) to connect the ride pieces to the tower. [10] [11] During the first week of May, vertical pieces for Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom were attached to the Superman tower. [12] By the second week of May, all the pieces for the ride were attached to the tower. [13] By May 30, the ride gondolas were placed onto the tower to start testing. [14] Testing began on June 22, two weeks before it opened to the public on July 7, 2012. [15]

Operation

During the 2018 season, Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom offered a virtual reality experience for a limited time. The experience would be called DC Super Heroes: Drop of Doom VR. Riders had the option to wear Samsung Gear VR headsets, powered by Oculus to create a 360-degree, 3D experience while riding. The experience put guests in a battle between Lex Luthor, Superman and Wonder Woman. Lex Luthor would use his anti-gravity ray gun to levitate guests above the skyscrapers as the two heroes battled the Lex Bots. At the end, the anti-gravity ray gun exploded, causing guests to plummet towards the streets. This was the second attraction at Six Flags Magic Mountain to be equipped with virtual reality, with the first one being The New Revolution. [16]

Ride experience

Queue

Guests enter the Lexcorp headquarters, the lair of Lex Luthor. Inside, there are posters advertising Luthor's different corporations such as LexAir, LexPower, Lexcom, and Lexcorp. One wall features blueprints for Lexcorp weapons. One wall features a picture of Lex and the company goal. At the far end is a fake elevator and Lex Luthor's Power suit, his weapon for fighting Superman. From time to time Lex can be heard welcoming guests and thanking them for volunteering to test his newest project. These recordings often feature ominous sayings to tell the guests that something is wrong. Guests then move through a secure access hallway, passing company mottos and offices. This hallway even has a door labeled Research & Development, which is the Flash Pass entrance. Heading outside, guests walk down a short pathway before reaching the loading area. [17] The ride has a single rider line, which is located near the exit. Guests will stand in front of the chain and wait for the ride operator to direct them to the next available seat. [18]

The station for Lex Luthor Drop of Doom Lex Luthor Drop of Doom Queue.jpg
The station for Lex Luthor Drop of Doom

Ride

Superman: Escape from Krypton in 2011, prior to the addition of Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom on the lateral flanks of the structure the following year. Superman Escape from Krypton tower.jpg
Superman: Escape from Krypton in 2011, prior to the addition of Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom on the lateral flanks of the structure the following year.

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom consists of two towers, with each mounted to a lateral flank of the Superman: Escape from Krypton structure. Both rides feature a single floorless gondola seating eight-abreast. Riders are harnessed in by over-the-shoulder restraints. Catch cars hoist the gondolas up the tower for approximately 60 seconds before reaching a dynamic height of 400 feet (120 m). As the gondolas reach the apex, riders are greeted with a pre-recorded audio spiel from Lex Luthor. The gondolas are then released into 5-second free fall descent, attaining a terminal velocity of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h). [5] [19] [20] Mass of the gondolas is 600 kilograms (1,300 lb) without any riders.

When the Superman: Escape from Krypton and Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom operate simultaneously, the steel framework tower that supports both rides is likely to sway as much as 2 feet (0.61 m) side to side. [2]

Records

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom was the tallest drop tower ride in the world at the time of its opening, having superseded The Giant Drop located at Dreamworld on July 7, 2012. [3] [19] Its record was broken on July 4, 2014, by Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom when it opened at Six Flags Great Adventure. [21] Following Zumanjaro’s closure in 2024, it has reclaimed its title as the world’s tallest drop tower.

Preceded by World's Tallest Vertical Drop Tower
11 November 2024 – present [22] 		Succeeded by

Height requirements

In order for guests to ride Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, riders must be at least 48 inches (121 centimeters). Each seat includes an individual over the shoulder restraint. Due to the aggressiveness, very high height and very fast speed of this ride, it is not labeled by Six Flags Magic Mountain as a family friendly ride. The park labels the ride as maximum in the intensity thrill rating. Guests who have acrophobia, high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, are pregnant, or have other health problems are forbidden from riding this attraction.

See also

Related Research Articles

A steel roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its steel track, which consists of long steel tubes that are run in pairs, supported by larger steel columns or beams. Trains running along the track typically rely on wheels made of polyurethane or nylon to keep each train car anchored to the track. The introduction of tubular steel drastically changed roller coaster innovation, allowing for greater speeds, higher drops, and more intense elements such as inversions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman – Ride of Steel</span> Steel roller coaster

Superman – Ride of Steel is a steel roller coaster based on the DC Comics character Superman at two Six Flags theme parks in the United States. Both hypercoasters were manufactured by Intamin and feature identical layouts, opening one year apart; Six Flags Darien Lake in 1999 and Six Flags America in 2000. The roller coaster at Six Flags Darien Lake, was renamed in 2007, to Ride of Steel, dropping the character theme, when the company sold the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Magic Mountain</span> Theme park in Valencia, California

Six Flags Magic Mountain, formerly known and colloquially referred to as simply Magic Mountain, is a 209-acre (85 ha) amusement park located in Valencia, California, 35 miles (56 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It opened on May 29, 1971, as a development of the Newhall Land and Farming Company and Sea World Inc. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added "Six Flags" to the park's name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingda Ka</span> Roller coaster in Jackson, New Jersey

Kingda Ka is a retired hydraulically launched steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States. Manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, Kingda Ka opened as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world on May 21, 2005, surpassing Top Thrill Dragster. It was the second strata coaster ever built, exceeding 400 feet (120 m) in height. Both were made with similar designs, although Kingda Ka's layout added an airtime hill on the return portion of the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Escape from Krypton</span> Shuttle roller coaster at Magic Mountain

Superman: Escape from Krypton, originally known as Superman: The Escape, is a steel shuttle roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. At the time of its opening in 1997, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world, a title which it lost to Top Thrill Dragster in 2003 and regained in 2024 with the closure of the then-tallest coaster, Kingda Ka. Its maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) was tied for the fastest with Tower of Terror II, a similar roller coaster which opened two months earlier at Dreamworld in Australia. Both were the first to utilize Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) launch technology to propel vehicles, although the intended opening date in 1996 at Magic Mountain was postponed due to issues with the launch system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Riddler's Revenge</span> Roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Riddler's Revenge is a steel stand-up roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened as the park's eleventh roller coaster on April 4, 1998, setting multiple world records among stand-up coasters. Originally located in the Movie District section of the park, which later became Metropolis in 2017, The Riddler's Revenge was also the park's single biggest investment at a cost of $14 million. It features a height of 156 feet (48 m), a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h), six inversions, and a track length of 4,370 feet (1,330 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Giant Drop</span> Amusement ride at Dreamworld Australia

The Giant Drop is a drop tower ride located at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. Manufactured by Intamin, the ride was added in December 1998 to the existing Dreamworld Tower which housed the Tower of Terror. For fourteen years, The Giant Drop held the record for the tallest drop tower in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Krypton Coaster</span> Roller coaster in Texas, U.S.

Superman: Krypton Coaster is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Floorless Coaster model opened to the public in 2000 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The well-received ride held the title for the world's tallest vertical loop from its opening until 2013. Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 168 feet (51 m) tall and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twisted Colossus</span> Roller coaster at Magic Mountain

Twisted Colossus is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Originally designed and built by International Amusement Devices, the roller coaster opened as Colossus, a dual-tracked roller coaster, on June 29,1978. It was the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world and the first with two drops greater than 100 feet (30 m). Colossus became well known after appearances in film and television, including the box-office hit National Lampoon's Vacation and the made-for-TV movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. For 19 years, it was the park's main attraction until the opening of Superman: The Escape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goliath (Six Flags Magic Mountain)</span> Steel roller coaster

Goliath is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, California. Manufactured by Giovanola of Switzerland, the hypercoaster is located in the Goliath Plaza section of the park and opened to the public on February 11, 2000. Its sub-tropical theme is characterized by ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization. The ride is nearly identical to Titan at Six Flags Over Texas, but it lacks a 540-degree upward helix prior to the mid-course brake run and features a slightly shorter track layout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New Revolution</span> Steel roller coaster

The New Revolution is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf and designed by Werner Stengel, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 8, 1976. The New Revolution is the world's first modern roller coaster to feature a vertical loop and has been recognized for that accomplishment by American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), who awarded the roller coaster its Coaster Landmark status. However, there were earlier examples of roller coasters with a full vertical loop, such as the steel roller coaster called "Looping the Loop" in Parque Japonés in Buenos Aires, which operated from 1911 to 1930.

The Dreamworld Tower is a 119-metre-high (390 ft) tower located in the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Giant Drop and the former Tower of Terror II uses this tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower of Terror II</span> Roller coaster at Dreamworld Australia

The Tower of Terror II was a steel shuttle roller coaster located at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. When the Tower of Terror opened on 23 January 1997, it was the first roller coaster in the world to reach 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), making it the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world of its time. The ride was situated on the Dreamworld Tower, which also houses The Giant Drop free fall ride. The ride was originally known as the Tower of Terror until it was modified and relaunched in September 2010 as Tower of Terror II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air time (rides)</span> Feeling of weightlessness experienced on an amusement ride

In the context of amusement rides, ':)', or airtime, refers to the time during which riders of a rollercoaster or other ride experience either frictionless or negative G-forces. The negative g-forces that a rider experiences is what creates the sensation the rider feels of floating out of their seat. With roller coasters, air time is usually achieved when the train travels over a hill at speed. There are different sensations a rider will feel depending on the ride being an ejector or floater airtime ride.

Amusement rides and stunt shows themed to the Batman franchise its derivative elements are commonly found at Warner Bros. and Six Flags amusement parks across the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apocalypse: The Ride</span> Wooden roller coaster

Apocalypse: The Ride, formerly known as Terminator Salvation: The Ride, is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Manufactured by Great Coasters International, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 23, 2009. It is located in The Underground section of the amusement park on a plot of land formerly occupied by the Psyclone (1991–2007), Shockwave (1986–1988) and Sarajevo Bobsleds (1984–1986). It was the first wooden coaster to feature onboard audio, and its Terminator theme was short-lived following a corporate restructuring by Six Flags in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road Runner Express (Six Flags Magic Mountain)</span> Steel junior roller coaster

Road Runner Express is a steel junior roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. On November 4, 2010, Six Flags had an investor meeting webcast where they released the new name for the kid's coaster and location in Bugs Bunny World. By April 2011, the entire coaster has finished construction on site. The ride opened on May 28, 2011, for Memorial Day Weekend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Full Throttle (roller coaster)</span> Roller coaster at Magic Mountain

Full Throttle is a launched roller coaster located in Six Flags Plaza at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Designed and manufactured by Premier Rides, the ride opened to the public on June 22, 2013. It featured the world's tallest vertical loop of 160 feet (49 m) when it opened, a record that was surpassed in 2016 by Flash at Lewa Adventure in Xianyang, China. Its top hat element is also unique in the way it is situated on top of a vertical loop. It is the only roller coaster to have track on the bottom and top of a vertical loop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom</span> Drop tower amusement ride

Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom is a decommissioned amusement ride located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. The 415 ft (126 m) attraction is attached to the Kingda Ka roller coaster, and opened as the tallest drop tower ride in the world in 2014. It closed in June 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice League: Battle for Metropolis</span> Series of dark rides at Six Flags parks

Justice League: Battle for Metropolis is an Interactive dark ride located at several Six Flags theme parks across North America. The ride is a collaboration between Sally Dark Rides, Alterface, Oceaneering International, and Pure Imagination Studios, and is themed to the Justice League, DC's famous team of superheroes.

References

  1. ↑ "Lex Luthor: Drop of..." Facebook. June 26, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Martín, Hugo (March 13, 2012). "Thrill ride designers compete to push the limits". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  3. 1 2 MacDonald, Brady (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain (August 25, 2011). "GoBigCam #21". Video. YouTube. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Six Flags Magic Mountain (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags Magic Mountain Announces LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom". Press Release. Six Flags. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  6. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (February 4, 2012). "Superman Closing On Feb 5th For Lex Luthor Construction". The Coaster Guy. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  7. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (April 3, 2012). "First Construction Photos Of Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (April 3, 2012). "Trip Report For 29 Mar 2012". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  9. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (April 3, 2012). "Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom Pieces Have Begun To Arrive". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  10. ↑ Marashlian, Tammy (April 12, 2012). "New ride almost ready to drop". The Signal. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain (April 12, 2012). "Look! Up in the sky..." photo. Facebook. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  12. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (May 3, 2012). "Lex Luthor Track Going Up At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  13. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (May 10, 2012). "Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom Construction Update #1". The Coaster Guy. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  14. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (May 30, 2012). "Lex Luthor Gondola Is On The Track". The Coaster Guy. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  15. ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain (June 22, 2012). "Testing....1...2...3. Dropping". Facebook. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (March 23, 2018). "VR Coming to Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom at Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  17. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (December 8, 2013). "Ride Profile: Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  18. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (March 20, 2013). "Single Rider Line At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  19. 1 2 MacDonald, Brady (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags Magic Mountain adding new thrill ride for 2012". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  20. ↑ Morgan, Matt (September 2, 2011). "Six Thrilling New Theme-Park Rides for 2012". Wired. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  21. ↑ "New for 2014". Six Flags. August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Tallest vertical drop ride". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.