High Roller (Stratosphere) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids High Roller |
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The High Roller at the top of Stratosphere Las Vegas
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| Stratosphere Tower | |
| Location | Stratosphere Tower |
| Coordinates | 36°8′50.59″N 115°9′19.40″W / 36.1473861°N 115.1553889°W |
| Status | Defunct |
| Opening date | April 29, 1996 |
| Closing date | December 30, 2005 |
| Cost | $900,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | S&MC |
| Designer | Premier Rides |
| Model | Family Coaster |
| Track layout | Helix |
| Lift/launch system | Tires |
| Drop | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Length | 865 ft (264 m) |
| Speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 0:40 |
| Max vertical angle | 13° |
| Capacity | 700 riders per hour |
| Acceleration | 5 mrsn |
| G-force | 2 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| High Roller at RCDB | |
The High Roller was a special roller coaster built on top of a very tall building. This building was the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada. It stood about 909 feet (277 meters) above the ground. This made it the highest roller coaster in the world compared to the land around it. The High Roller was made by a company called S&MC GmbH Structures and Machines. It was a steel roller coaster, meaning its tracks were made of strong metal.
History of the High Roller
The High Roller opened on April 29, 1996. There was a special party for important guests the day before it opened to everyone. It was one of the first two rides to open at the Stratosphere Tower. The other ride was called Big Shot. People seemed more excited about the Big Shot ride than the High Roller.
Unlike most amusement parks, you paid for each ride on the High Roller. You didn't buy one ticket for unlimited rides. In 2001, it cost $5 to ride the High Roller. This price was later lowered to $4.
Why the High Roller Closed
The High Roller closed down on December 30, 2005. It was then taken apart. The ride needed expensive repairs, costing over $500,000. Also, it was the least popular ride at the Stratosphere. Because of these reasons, the owners decided to remove it. Taking the coaster down was a big job. Workers used special tools to cut the metal tracks safely.
What Was the Ride Like?
The High Roller was located very high up on the tower. Its track wrapped around the tower's main pole. Because of where it was built, the High Roller wasn't a super fast or intense ride. The main thrill was simply being so high up!
The ride itself didn't have a very big drop. It only dropped about 20 feet (6 meters). Some people said the ride felt a bit bumpy. This was especially true when the coaster turned sharply around the tower. Even though it looked like there was nothing below you, there was a platform under the track for safety.
Many riders didn't think the High Roller was very exciting. For example, one expert called it one of the most "overrated" roller coasters. They said it was too slow and didn't have enough drops or loops. Other riders also gave it low ratings. The High Roller got an average score of 2.77 out of 5.0. The other rides at the Stratosphere, like Big Shot, X-Scream, and Insanity, all got much higher scores.
