Six Flags extends VR to tower rides

North America’s first virtual reality drop tower experience has opened at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Unveiled on March 11 as part of the Atlanta park’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Drop of Doom VR offers riders a thrilling encounter with giant mutant spiders as they ride the Arcophobia (Intamin Gyro Tilt) tower wearing Samsung Gear headsets.

This intense ride film, availale for a limited time only, takes passengers on a virtual 100- storey ascent while teetering off the edge of a helicopter. At the top, there is a 360° view above skyscrapers under siege by enormous spiders. A high-intensity gun battle erupts against a giant arachnid, spewing baby spiders that virtually crawl all over the rider’s body before they plunge down between the buildings and a final showdown with a spider the size of a van!

“We continue to explore new opportunities utilising Samsung Gear VR technology and this drop tower concept is a great example of the ability to change content for different rides,” explains Six Flags Atlanta president Dale Kaetzel.

Six Flags plans to roll out VR content to further tower rides over the coming months, including Zumajaro (by Intamin) at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, Giant Drop (also by Intamin) at Six Flags Great America near Chicago, plus S&S towers at La Ronde near Montreal, The Great Escape in New York state and Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.

Arcophobia at Six Flags Over Georgia