NEWS: Bill Kitchen plans Polercoaster concept for Las Vegas

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/tourism/full-scream-ahead-company-proposes-650-foot-tall-roller-coaster-strip

 

As Las Vegas turns to high-adrenaline rides to freshen its appeal to visitors, one developer has quietly started to move ahead with a roller coaster that would look down on all but one building on the Strip.

 

U.S. Thrill Rides LLC has submitted plans to the Federal Aviation Administration in April to build the 650-foot-tall Polercoaster, the company’s name for a scream machine that combines an observation tower with a coaster on the way up and down. Due to the height and location — a map with the application shows it at the Tropicana — the agency must assess any potential hazard posed to the planes flying in and out of nearby McCarran International Airport.

 

Because the FAA is still evaluating the project, critical pieces such as financing and a firm deal on the site still have not fallen into place.

 

However, U.S. Thrill Rides president Michael Kitchen said the company has already held discussions with banks willing to furnish loans for the Polercoaster, with an estimated cost approaching $100 million.

 

He declined to comment on the location. A spokeswoman for Tropicana did not comment.

 

“This will be the tallest roller coaster in the world,” he said. “Since Las Vegas is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, we think it will get higher visibility and foot traffic than other places.”

 

Windmere, Fla.-based U.S. Thrill Rides has built about 300 rides, many of them roller coasters for amusement parks. Company founder and CEO Bill Kitchen, Michael Kitchen’s father, said he conceived the Polercoaster idea as a way to add thrill ride to an existing destination that lacks much open land.

 

“It goes very high, so you get an enormous amount of thrill from a very small amount of space,” Bill Kitchen said. “Using a couple of acres that you would need on for a regular roller coaster would be out of reach on the Strip because of the cost.”

 

The Polercoast would resemble something like the Stratosphere tower, with a round top that would including dining, retailing and an observation deck. The Stratosphere, at 1,149 feet, would still be far taller.

 

On the Strip, only the unfinished Fontainbleau resort at 735 feet has gone higher than the proposed Polercoaster; the Palazzo would be eight feet shorter.

 

Polercoaster’s center core would contain two glass elevators to the top for people who just want to look but not ride. Around that would run a regular spiral track to guide the self-propelled eight passenger cars to the top. Outside of that and the structure’s supporting pillars would be downhill ride, including numerous twists, turns and loops.

 

Altitude has become something of the new theme for inducing tourists to leave more of their money in Las Vegas. The attractions include:

• The Slotzilla zip line, now under construction on Fremont Street.
  
• A hybrid zip line and ski lift that would whisk visitors from the top of one tower at Rio to the other and back. The FAA approval became final on Saturday.
  
• The 550-foot High Roller observation wheel that Caesars Entertainment is building just off the Strip next to the Flamingo as part of The Linq.
  
• A multi-stage zip line connecting MGM Resorts International’s Luxor and Excalibur resorts. A company spokeswoman said the project is now in the design phase, following a monthslong process in which the FAA decertified a heliport on the Excalibur’s roof that was an obstacle to approving the zip line.

U.S. Thrill Rides currently does not operate a ride in Las Vegas, but added the Sky Screamer ride in the mid-1990s that was part of the now-dismantled amusement park at the MGM Grand.

A look at the Polercoaster concept as seen on the U.S. Thrill Rides website.

Edited June 18, 2013 by jedimaster1227

[Subject_12]

Finally! I saw this on Robb and Elissa's IAAPA videos, and thought it was interesting. Glad to see it actually being built.

[simaticable]

If this does come to fruition, this would crush Kingda Ka by nearly 200 ft. Oh crap...

[Geauga Dog]

So basically it's a second yet smaller Stratosphere for the south end of the strip with a coaster wrapped around it. Why. especially with the airport right there?

[ernierocker]

I think we can view this as just another crazy Vegas project until track is literally being lifted into place.

[larrygator]

I don't ever see this happening, especially this close to the airport.

[UberBeavis]

Yeah, in Vegas, I wouldn't even get excited if track was being lifted in to place - how many projects are sitting half built already?

[downunder]

Even the Lemon Chill guy is calling "bullsh**".

 

It sucks it's not a straight drop, it looks a bunch of tame coasters stacked on top of each other.

[rcdude]

This looks like a very neat concept, but I'm guessing it won't happen. I do think we'll see one of these rides somewhere in the next decade or so, just not in Las Vegas.

[Vtafro]

Got to love when words in a press release / quoted post, get changed because of the forum grep.

[Schrecken]

A 600ft coaster would be awesome, but this looks like it needs at least a couple of long drops. Otherwise, the coaster may indeed be record tall, but perhaps not as exciting as it could be.

[cal1br3tto]

I am disappointed that this isn't themed to polar bears.

[robbalvey]

I am disappointed that this isn't themed to polar bears.

This was quote and lol worthy!

[Coaster Cow]

[*]A grape flavored fruit chew zip line and ski lift that would whisk visitors from the top of one tower at Rio to the other and back. The FAA approval became final on Saturday.

 

Ahahaha I love this site. Also, ^^ I was thinking more like Pole Dance than Polar, seeing as how it's called the poler coaster.

[RoCo]

^My thoughts as well; it's VEGAS, for crying out loud.

 

But seriously, I think this would be a pretty amazing experience. The changing views would be spectacular.

 

Fingers crossed...

[805Andrew]

If this ever goes into fruition they will doing what the Stratosphere should have done. I like the fact that they want to put this at the South end of the Strip (hopefully the airport won't be too much of an issue) as the action packed parts of the Strip are the South (Mandalay Bay to NYNY) and the Center (Bellagio to Venetian). The North end of the Strip by the Stratosphere is dead.

[Kyle Coleman]

I will only believe in this one when I see the grand opening on tv. I can't even begin to count how many projects have been announced and then died in the 18 years I have lived here.

[JonnyRCT3]

I remember seeing this in a TPR video about IAAPA 2013. Neat little concept, although the stratosphere hotel already has a similar concept (the building at the top). And as the person above me mentioned, this could just end up being yet another cancelled Vegas project.

 

INB4 Kingda Ka fan-boys.

[Moose]

I don't see this being financially sustainable. The amount of Money they would have to bring in from coaster rides r and observation deck visits to offset the construction and operating expenses would be very difficult to pull in.

[AllenA07]

I see this opening on the same day that the Arrow fish hook coaster opens on the Stratosphere.

Edited June 19, 2013 by AllenA07

[Jew]

^That one should have become reality. Damn neighbors!

[Wes]

POLOCOASTER

[coastercrazy 9]

A very crude mockup of what POLOCOASTER will look like...

[gisco]

I don't see this ever happening. I don't see how they could ever get enough people to go up in the tower to make this viable.

[VegasCoasterGirl]

Hopefully my wishes come true.