After months of speculation it has been officially reported that a new 570-foot-tall roller coaster, called the Skyscraper, is on the way to Orlando’s International Drive.
The Polercoaster from US Thrill Rides will be built as part of the Skyplex Entertainment complex on the northeast corner of the intersection of Sand Lake Road and International Drive.
With nearly one mile of track, Skycraper will include 8-passenger vehicles that will reach speeds up to 65 miles per hour. The coaster will have the capacity to carry up to 1,000 people per hour. The ride is expected to cost less than $20 a ticket.
The Skyplex complex will be completely indoors and feature billiards, video games, a bar, simulators and a high-speed go-cart track. A 55-story glass elevator will transport guests to the top an an observation deck, complete with a fine dining restaurant.
According to the developers website, a ride on Skyscraper, “the world’s tallest rollercoaster begins with a quick briefing on the amazing adventure you are about to experience. Upon loading the Skyscraper ride vehicle visitors begin their assent to the top of the Skyplex tower. As the vehicle climbs to its ultimate height of over 500’, riders get a spectacular view of Central Florida and on a clear day can see all the way to both coasts. At the apex riders prepare for the most exciting decent of their life, spiraling down the Skyscraper structure, at some times completely inverted until reaching the base of the tower where the Skyscraper actually shoots out over International Drive before coming to rest at the ride base. Each rider is captured on video as they experience the Skyscraper and the videos can be transferred to phones, Facebook, Instagram, so they can be shared with friends.”
Although Skyplex developers still need to file plans with the Federal Aviation Administration, they do not anticipate any issues.
The project is estimated to cost about $200 million. Groundbreaking is set for 2015, with the facility opening the following year.
