Vonni Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I miss them too. I don't know why but they are the only Drop Towers I can get myself on. I rode the one that was at SFOG and the one that was at SFOT. I cant bring up the nerve to ride second and third Gen Drop Towers. Maybe its because first Gens were enclosed cars...I really don't know. But I wish they would have stuck around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlittle Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I was lucky living in Houston, I got to ride the one at Astroworld multiple times before they destroyed it for Texas Tornado. I always remember it having a line too, people loved that ride here. I also got to ride the one at SFOT a couple of times. I enjoyed the one at Astroworld better. It was actually my dad's favorite ride at the park, he would marathon it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arby Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I am lucky that I got to ride Demon Drop the year it opened at Cedar Point and also rode it a couple of years ago during my trip to Dorney. I hope it remains for many years to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) I was lucky living in Houston, I got to ride the one at Astroworld multiple times before they destroyed it for Texas Tornado. I always remember it having a line too, people loved that ride here. I also got to ride the one at SFOT a couple of times. I enjoyed the one at Astroworld better. It was actually my dad's favorite ride at the park, he would marathon it. Â SkyScreamer. Â yeah. . I miss it too (I miss most of the rides at Astroworld) Â Â (in this pic, behind is "Greezed Lightning", the blue cover is the roof of the Dolphin Show, and to the right, you can just see part of the pad for "Gunslinger" (the swings) Â Â and actually, the ride the put on it's slab was "SWAT". . which we rode ONCE, and *hated* . . .most awful thing we've ever been on. They moved it to another Six FLags and changed the name. .but bleh. . hated it. Â (and maybe they didn't pull it out specifically FOR "SWAT". .but that's what ended up there). Edited January 12, 2014 by bert425 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GayCoasterGuy Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I want a new freefall built in the style of a first generation.... but big. Like 400 feet. Imagine that!  Of course, magnets for braking, etc., just don't mess with that dead-weight drop! And switch to nice roomy lapbars  The day in 1983 when we waited in line for what seemed like 3 hours for the EDGE at Great America (Gurnee). I was 9 or 10 and scared to death! The ride was a blur, but an awesome one. It was the first time I can remember a park giving out numbers (with deli tickets!) to keep your place in line. That drop model didn't last long at Great Ameirca. It was later moved to Rocky Point in Rhode Island, and then? Was it Mr. Hyde's at Geauga Lake?  I'm glad I still have this (part of a) pen. The cabin still drops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arby Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Here's a few pictures of Demon Drop at Dorney park in 2011. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 ^Got to try it this summer, great ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrakenKing Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Just found this video of the Magic Mountain one. Doesn't seem like it has that long of a pause either. I also love how Riddler interacts with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 How does the car lift to the top? By chain lift? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonni Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I'm so glad Demon Drop was relocated and wasn't scrapped like so many of the others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goatdan Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I want a new freefall built in the style of a first generation.... but big. Like 400 feet. Imagine that! Of course, magnets for braking, etc., just don't mess with that dead-weight drop! And switch to nice roomy lapbars  This may have been something for the weird ride facts thread, but Disney was VERY interested in doing just that for the Tower of Terror originally. The story is in a book, and there is an online article about how they were originally going to use it in Euro Paris too. I have no idea where the book is, but I believe they did plan on making it much larger, as well as making the build up before the drop much longer, like a traditional dark ride.  http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2006/07/21/4391.aspx  That drop model didn't last long at Great Ameirca. It was later moved to Rocky Point in Rhode Island, and then? Was it Mr. Hyde's at Geauga Lake?  It was. Rocky Mountain used it as one of their signature attractions during the end of their run, and I'm pretty sure it was the final major ride purchased before they were hit by their ownerships improper money issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mstankow Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 I'm surprised no one (AFAIK) has ever tried to theme one of these. Â It seems the original pitch for Tower of Terror was with the idea of using 1st Gen towers. One of the pitch concept arts has a layout that appears to work as two of the towers combined together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
805Andrew Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 The only 1st gen free fall I ever rode was Free Fall at SFMM, but it was a lot of fun. It was the first drop ride that everyone in my family ever rode (my parents, sisters, and I). The drop was very short, but it was very intense. I remember back in 1997 one of my sisters and I were on one car and my parents and my youngest sister were on the next car which stopped at top for almost 10 minutes. When my sister and I got off the ride we noticed my parents and my 6 year old sister stuck at the top. We thought it was funny and no one in my family was panicking. When their car dropped, they got offered a re-ride and my mom was hesitant but my dad said yes. I knew Free Fall's days were numbered after Superman the Escape opened up and when Riddler's Revenge was built around it being taller than it, and Free Fall had nonexistent waits in the upcoming years - and I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. I'm glad SFMM has a proper drop ride again, but I still miss Free Fall some times. Free Fall was thrilling for such a compact drop ride, and it was family friendly too with a 42" height requirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonni Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 ^ A couple of questions for you: Was Free Fall better than Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom, and how long after Free Fall closed was SFMM without a Drop Ride? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RollerCoasterAwesome Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 ^I know you didn't ask me but Freefall was dismantled in February of 2008 and stood non operational from 2005-2006. So the park was without a drop ride for four years. Personally I enjoy Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom more only for the height and the sway from Superman but Freefall was a pretty awesome drop ride when it operated. Just my two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
805Andrew Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 ^ A couple of questions for you: Was Free Fall better than Lex Luthor: Drop Of Doom, and how long after Free Fall closed was SFMM without a Drop Ride? Overall, I like Lex Luthor better, but Free Fall was fun in its own right. Free Fall has that nostalgia factor for me, being the first drop ride I rode. I'm not sure when Free Fall closed, but it was sometime between 2006-2009 I believe. Lex Luther was added in 2012 I think. So no official drop ride for 3-6 years I guess. But many people (especially the GP) would have considered Superman the Escape to be a drop ride and probably think that's the main reason they got ride of Free Fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vonni Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 ^ and ^^ Yeah I was just curious because I've heard a lot of people say that the height of Lex actually kills the thrill because the Drop is so prolonged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollin_n_coastin Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 When I finally had the guts to try Demon Drop, it moved to Dorney so I missed out. In Japan, the TPR tour came across two, I think at Rusutsu Resort and Nagashima, which were both closed. Â Finally saw Demon Drop again at Dorney this past October and although hesitant, finally gave it a go. I'd say these things are as terrifying as the larger drop towers, if not more, because they come closer to your typical mid tower office building elevator in look and feel. There is so much noise and "stuff" going on that the anticipation is just insane, especially when being somewhat enclosed gives a false sense of safety. The drop being really intense sure adds to it. Overall, one of the scariest rides that I've ever been on. They remind me of ultra twisters in that they feel like unpolished, raw mechanical beasts that get the job done in a terrifying way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 There is so much noise and "stuff" going on that the anticipation is just insane, especially when being somewhat enclosed gives a false sense of safety. Â Â agreed! Â Skyscreamer at Astroworld (for the initial couple of years) has a blaring Klaxon (with spinning red emergency lights) that went off just before the car dropped. It could be heard all over the park! I clearly recall standing in Coney Island, playing Skeeball in the arcade there, near the Texas Cyclone, and hearing Skyscreamer going off. Â and the timing of the drop seemed to be determined by whoever was operating it that day. Some times it was only a second you were at the top, and sometimes, you just sat and sat, then the blaring horn and drop. Â eventually they turned the klaxon off -- I'd assume because it was so loud it annoyed some folks. .but I loved it. Â you can hear it in the opening moments of this Youtube clip! (and again at the very end where they film it from the Astroneedle) Â http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZXSFKhPuevk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GayCoasterGuy Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Rocky Mountain used it as one of their signature attractions during the end of their run  I know you meant Rocky Point, but I really liked the slip  they feel like unpolished, raw mechanical beasts that get the job done in a terrifying way.  Yes! Similar to how some (mostly older, including Anton's) coasters feel compared to some "newer" designs (with the 4-across seating cough cough and perfectly parabolic hills cough cough.).  Skyscreamer at Astroworld (for the initial couple of years) has a blaring Klaxon (with spinning red emergency lights) that went off just before the car dropped.  Love it! Tidal Wave at Great America (Gurnee - I would guess the Ca one had it too) had a red siren light that would go off as the train was coming backwards through the station. Very sentimental stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Did you know that Disney's Tower of Terror was originally going to be multiple freefall towers connected together and themed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I actually prefer these to most of the drop towers out there. They put S&S towers to shame and I prefer them to most of the Intamin towers too (including Lex Luthor). It just feels like more of a true free fall experience. I do find the gyro drops at KD and KI to be better rides and of course that little death machine of awesomeness at Knoebels is better as well but that's really about it. I love the first gens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 I can't remember if I ever rode the one at SFOT, but I did get on the ones at SFOG and SFMM. I have fond memories of the one at SFOG since it took several tries before I was brave enough to ride it as a child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJeXeL Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 ^^This. 1st Gens give more airtime than any S&S tower I've been on. I will admit however that Moser drop towers give some decent airtime as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randomman295 Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) Did you know that Disney's Tower of Terror was originally going to be multiple freefall towers connected together and themed? The original concept art is amazing for this. I really kind of wish this was the final design. Â ^^This. 1st Gens give more airtime than any S&S tower I've been on. I will admit however that Moser drop towers give some decent airtime as well. Ever ridden an ARM tower? Once you've ridden one of those, no other drop tower really feels like a no holds barred sky dive. Edited October 16, 2014 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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