The new Busch Gardens ride Falcon’s Fury will open on May 1. The first drop tower of its kind in the world, mimics the dive speeds of the fastest animal on earth.
The ride at the Tampa theme park in Florida will stand at 335ft (102 metres) tall. Like its bird of prey namesake, riders will pivot 90 degrees in midair to a face-down dive position. An instant later they’ll plunge 60ft down with speed and power like they’ve never experienced.
The ride has been compared to skydiving by its designers who have used special sequencing technology so passengers can’t anticipate when they will drop!
With no connecting structures, Falcon’s Fury will be the tallest freestanding drop tower in North America and you’ll be able to see as far as St, Petersburg Clearwater. More than 100 tonnes of steel have been used to create the tower – the weight of over 25 elephants, and it uses 1,000 horsepower. Staff working at Busch Gardens can access the top of the ride by climbing 365 steps inside the tower which takes around 35 minutes.
The surrounding area of Falcon’s Fury is also being redeveloped into Pantopia, currently known as Timbuktu, boasting elaborately-jewelled theming, feature thrilling rides and attractions, new food and beverage outlets, entertainment and shops, as well as and the newly-renovated theatre.
UK visitors to Florida can now experience three parks for the price of two until 31st December 31. The 3-Park Ticket offers 14 days unlimited entry to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica and Busch Gardens Tampa. Prices start from £89 for adults and £85 for children. See www.seaworldparks.co.uk
