SkyScreamer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids SkyScreamer
SkyScreamer at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Ride statistics
Attraction type	Tower Swinger
Manufacturer	Funtime
Model	Star Flyer
Speed	43 mph (69 km/h)
Vehicles	16
Riders per vehicle	2
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Flash Pass available

SkyScreamer is an exciting amusement ride found at many Six Flags theme parks across North America. It's like a giant swing ride that takes you super high into the sky!

This amazing ride was created by a company called Funtime from Austria. Their special design is called a "Star Flyer." Since 2011, Six Flags has added SkyScreamer rides to ten of their parks.

On SkyScreamer, you sit in a two-person swing chair. These chairs are attached to a spinning part that goes up a tall tower. When you reach the very top, you swing around in a huge circle. You can go as fast as 43 miles per hour! From up high, you get amazing views of the park and everything around it. This ride is fun for people who love big thrills and also for families looking for a cool experience.

History of SkyScreamer Rides

The first two SkyScreamer rides were announced in late 2010. They opened in 2011 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Six Flags St. Louis. The one at Six Flags St. Louis opened on May 14, 2011. The ride at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom opened a bit later, on May 27, 2011. It was placed right next to the Medusa roller coaster.

In 2011, Six Flags decided to add SkyScreamer to two more parks: Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Great Adventure. Then, in 2012, La Ronde also got a Star Flyer tower. La Ronde's ride opened on May 19, 2012, and they named it Vol Ultime, which means "Ultimate Flight" in French.

Six Flags Great Adventure opened their SkyScreamer on May 23, 2012. It was part of a new area called Adventure Alley, which had a cool old-school amusement park feel. A few days later, on May 27, 2012, Six Flags Fiesta Texas opened their SkyScreamer.

In 2012, Six Flags New England wanted to build a really tall Star Flyer ride. It was planned to be about 385 feet tall! This was taller than the city's rules, but they got special permission.

However, for 2013, Six Flags announced SkyScreamers for Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia instead. Six Flags Over Georgia's ride was 242 feet tall and opened on May 24, 2013. The ride at Six Flags Over Texas, called the Texas SkyScreamer, was even taller. It was named the "world's tallest swing carousel ride" by Guinness World Records for a time!

On August 29, 2013, Six Flags announced that the New England SkyScreamer would finally come to Six Flags New England in 2014. This ride is over 400 feet tall! It officially opened on May 23, 2014, and for a while, it held the record for the tallest swing ride.

In 2015, Six Flags Mexico got its own SkyScreamer. This 242-foot-tall ride was the first of its kind in Latin America.

After a short break, Six Flags continued adding these rides. On September 1, 2016, Six Flags America announced their new ride for 2017. It was a 242-foot-tall SkyScreamer named Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth. This was one of the first SkyScreamers to be themed after a DC Comics character. Six Flags Mexico later changed their SkyScreamer's theme to Supergirl in 2018.

In 2018, Six Flags announced another SkyScreamer for the newly named Six Flags Darien Lake. This 242-foot-tall ride opened in May 2019. It is planned to be the tallest ride in New York State!

How the SkyScreamer Ride Works

New England SkyScreamer reaching its full height.

Even though SkyScreamer rides are different heights at each park, they all work in a similar way. You sit in one of 16 chairs, each holding two people. These chairs are connected to a spinning part that moves up and down a tall central tower.

First, a seat belt goes over your lap to keep you safe. Then, a lap bar is locked into place. When the ride starts, the spinning part slowly rises up the tower. As it goes higher, it starts to spin faster around the central tower.

When you reach the very top, you're spinning at full speed, about 43 miles per hour! You swing in a big circle, about 98 feet wide. You stay at the top for a little while, enjoying the amazing views. Then, the ride slowly comes back down. As it gets to the bottom, it slows down and stops spinning, so you can get off.

Sometimes, SkyScreamer rides can even spin backward! This happens during special events or for a limited time. The rides at St. Louis, Discovery Kingdom, Fiesta Texas, New England, and La Ronde have all done this.

The New England SkyScreamer and Texas SkyScreamer are a bit different from the others. Their spinning parts hold 12 two-seat chairs instead of 16. When they reach the top, the chairs swing in an even bigger circle, about 124 feet wide. However, they spin a little slower, at about 35 miles per hour. The feeling of the ride is still just as thrilling!

SkyScreamer Locations

All SkyScreamer rides in North America were set up by a company called Ride Entertainment Group. Here's a list of where you can find them: