The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd

IAAPA 2014: World’s tallest rollercoaster a 'gamechanger', says its creator

by Jak Phillips | 20 Nov 2014

The theme park capital of the world is on course to quite literally scale new heights when the world’s tallest rollercoaster opens in Orlando, Florida, in Q2 2017.

The record-breaking ‘Polercoaster,’ designed by US Thrill Rides, will shoot riders 570ft into the air at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. The innovative design sees the ride travel vertically around a supporting tower, offering four minutes of twists and turns within an incredibly confined space. The planned attraction on International Drive - dubbed ‘Skyplex’ - was designed by Orlando-based architectural firm HHCP. The accompanying $250m shopping and entertainment complex will measure 495,000sq ft and will also feature a 535ft observation deck.

Speaking to Attractions Management at IAAPA 2014, the Polercoaster’s inventor Bill Kitchen said the design represents a 'gamechanger' for rollercoasters.

“Orlando’s home to the biggest and best attractions in the world, so if you want to get noticed you have to do something pretty spectacular,” said Kitchen, who is founder and chair of US Thrill Rides.

“It’s a feat of engineering to send a ride - which comprises 10,000 tons of steel - skywards and we’ve overcome substantial challenges. It’s completely cutting-edge and takes rides to another level - if anyone can beat this then I hope it’s going to be us.

US Thrill Rides is partnering with several other firms to bring the ride to fruition, including Celtic Engineering and S&S-Sansei Technologies. It is set to usurp the world’s current tallest rollercoaster - the 456ft Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.

Kitchen added: “We’ve had unbelievable interest and the phone has not stopped ringing this week since we announced it. We’re expecting there to be several more Polercoasters in Europe and China, as well as a 250ft version scheduled for 2016 at LakePoint Sporting Community in Atlanta.”

The theme park capital of the world is on course to quite literally scale new heights when the world’s tallest rollercoaster opens in Orlando, Florida, in Q2 2017. The record-breaking ‘Polercoaster,’ designed by US Thrill Rides, will shoot riders 570ft into the air at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. The innovative design sees the ride travel vertically around a supporting tower, offering four minutes of twists and
TAW,VAT,HAM
The Polercoaster will form the centrepiece of a new entertainment complex on Orlando's International Drive
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7783     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7783     
 
 
 
company profile
Company profile: bbspa_Group
In an extremely competitive world where clients have ever increasing demands, creating a successful wellness and spa project is more and more complex. To help you differentiate yourself and protect your investments, we founded bbspa_Group, a global consulting company dedicated to wellness and spa projects, which puts the focus on your success.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
At the Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat, reclaimed brick walls create multiple courtyard enclosures
Rossana Hu studied at the University of California at Berkeley, where she met Lyndon Neri
"Interior projects carried out by architects have a depth that’s generally lacking today"

Neri & Hu’s latest project

The museum is largely underground, with the roof forming a new public space
Konieczny studied at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. He launched KWK Promes in 1999
"Many buildings nowadays look interesting, but when you analyse deeper, there’s nothing more than the form"

On designing the World Building of the Year

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta
"Winning the Pritzker is a great joy and a great responsibility"

On winning the Pritzker Prize

The Valencia Parque Central project is approaching completion
Mary Bowman studied at the University of Virginia and the Architectural Association
"Marina One was quite special in the degree of integration between the landscaping and architecture "

The Gustafson Porter + Bowman partner on the landscape projects changing the face of our cities

The Newspaper Cafe in Jinhua Architecture Park, China
Born in Kobe, Japan and later growing up in New York, Mori has become a trailblazer for women in architecture around the world
"Every decision you make, you should think seven generations ahead"

From a compressed earth cultural centre in Senegal to the sleek Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Mori’s work shares a clarity of purpose

features
"I believe gardens are where the soul rests"

With a focus on desert landscapes and collaborations with Zaha Hadid and OMA, the principal of Francis Landscapes has a deep belief in the power of nature

W Beijing
Ed Ng
"Of all hospitality design, we feel that F&B is the most fun. You can be creative and it’s where you get all the limelight"

When ABConcept’s co-founder got The brief for the Four Seasons’ Mei Ume restaurant, he jumped straight on the plane to London. He tells us why

The aim is to promote sport via learning and engagement
"Whenever you’re looking at it, the elevation is running away from you, so it never looks quite as big as it really is "

FaulknerBrowns’ Dutch sports facility

cladkit product news
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates
The Leisure Media Company Ltd
The Leisure Media Company Ltd