Demon Drop


Demon Drop is a drop tower amusement ride at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. Designed by Intamin, it is a Freefall model that was originally located at Cedar Point when it first opened to the public in 1983. It was relocated to Dorney Park following the 2009 season and reopened in 2010. It is one of the oldest of its kind still in operation.

History

Demon Drop debuted at Cedar Point in 1983. It was very popular as it was located at the very front of the park. In 2005, rumors started of the ride being relocated or dismantled when the ride was put up for sale. On October 21, 2009, Cedar Point officials announced that Demon Drop would be moved to its sister park, Knott's Berry Farm, for the 2010 season. In November, fans of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom spotted pieces similar to Demon Drop at its park in Pennsylvania. On December 2, 2009, it was announced that Demon Drop would not be relocated to Knott's Berry Farm. Instead, it would be relocated to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. It officially opened at Dorney Park on July 8, 2010.

Ride Description

The ride can accommodate up to four riders, and consists of three main sections; the loading and unloading station, the lift tower, and the drop and run-out track. Riders are loaded into a gondola type car near ground level at the station and secured with an over the shoulder harnesses. The gondola is then moved backwards horizontally to the rear base of the lift tower and then climbs vertically to the top of the tower in 7.2 seconds. Once there, it slides forward and hangs over the drop track for a few seconds. Without warning, the car is released and riders drop 60 feet in less than two seconds before experiencing the deceleration g-forces as the car enters a pull-out curve which transitions the vertical fall into a horizontal brake run. As the gondola rolls through the brake run to slow down, the riders are facing the sky. Once it stops at the end of the run, a mechanism swings the top of the car down, and the gondola moves in reverse at a downward 45 degree angle to another track where it returns to an upright position. It then returns to the station in reverse traveling below the brake run track.