On August 25, 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain released a "GoBigCam" video. The video concluded hinting at a possible new attraction in 2012 to be installed on Superman: Escape from Krypton. On September 1, 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain officially announced that they would be adding Intamin drop towers to the sides of the Superman: Escape from Krypton tower. The ride opened on July 7, 2012.
Construction history
On February 5, 2012, Superman: Escape from Krypton closed, so that the park could start construction of Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom on the coaster. Superman: Escape from Krypton was expected to reopen when Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom opened to the public. In middle to late March, the electrical part of the ride was constructed to operate the drop tower. Pieces for the lower part of drop tower arrived at the park on April 2, 2012. On April 12, 2012, pieces of the ride were taken up in the air by helicopter above the Superman tower to connect the ride pieces to the tower. During the first week of May, vertical pieces for Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom were attached to the Superman tower. By the second week of May, all the pieces for the ride were attached to the tower. By May 30, the ride gondolas were placed onto the tower to start testing. Testing began on June 22, two weeks before opening to the public on July 7, 2012.
Queue
The entrance to the ride is themed to the Lexcorp headquarters, the lair of Lex Luthor. Inside there are posters advertising Luthor’s different corporations such as LexAir, LexPower, Lexcom, and Lexcorp. One wall features blueprints for Lexcorp weapons. One wall features a picture of Lex and the company goal. At the far end is a fake elevator and Lex Luthor’s Power suit, his weapon for fighting Superman. From time to time Lex can be heard welcoming guests and thanking them for volunteering to test his newest project. These recordings often feature ominous sayings to tell the guests that something is wrong. Guests then move through secure access and pass company mottos and offices to reach the loading area.
Ride
Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom consists of two towers, with each mounted to a lateral flank of the Superman: Escape From Krypton structure. Both rides feature a single floorless gondola seating eight-abreast. Riders are harnessed in by over-the-shoulder restraints. Catch cars hoist the gondolas up the tower for approximately 60 seconds before reaching a dynamic height of. As the gondolas reach the apex, riders are greeted with a pre-recorded audio spiel from Lex Luthor. The gondolas are then released into 5-second free fall descent, attaining a terminal velocity of. Mass of the gondolas is without any riders. When the Superman: Escape From Krypton and Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom operate simultaneously, the steel framework tower that supports both rides is likely to sway as much as side to side.
Records
Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom was the tallest drop tower ride in the world at the time of its opening, having superseded The Giant Drop located at Dreamworld on July 7, 2012. Its record was broken on July 4, 2014, by when it opened at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Height requirements
In order for guests to ride Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, riders must be at least 48 inches. Each seat includes an individual over the shoulder restraint. Due to the aggressiveness, very high height and very fast speed of this ride, it is not labeled by Six Flags Magic Mountain as a family friendly ride. The park labels the ride as maximum in the intensity thrill rating. Guests who have acrophobia, high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, are pregnant, or have other health problems are not recommended to ride this attraction.
