Falcon's Fury
Falcon's Fury is a free-standing Sky Jump drop tower attraction at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay amusement park in Tampa, Florida, United States. Manufactured by Intamin subsidiary Intaride, the ride reaches a maximum height of 335 feet (102 m), making it North America's tallest free-standing drop tower. Riders experience about five seconds of free fall, reaching a speed of 60 miles per hour (100 km/h). The ride's name was chosen to invoke a falcon's ability to dive steeply at high speed to capture prey.
| Falcon's Fury | |
|---|---|
Falcon's Fury logo and the ride in operation | |
| Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | |
| Area | Pantopia |
| Coordinates | 28°2′15.5″N 82°25′22″W |
| Status | Operating |
| Cost | US$5,000,000 – 6,000,000 |
| Soft opening date | August 16, 2014 |
| Opening date | September 2, 2014 |
| Replaced | Sandstorm |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Drop tower |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Model | Sky Jump |
| Theme | Falcon |
| Height | 335 ft (102 m) |
| Drop | 310 ft (94 m) |
| Speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Site area | 3,600 sq ft (330 m2) |
| G-force | 3.5 |
| Capacity | 800 riders per hour |
| Vehicles | 1 |
| Riders per vehicle | 32 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Height restriction | 54–77 in (137–196 cm) |
Quick Queue available | |
The project was originally planned to begin in 2012 with the ride opening in 2013, but it was delayed by one year. Construction began in 2013 with a scheduled opening date of May 1, 2014; however, the opening was delayed due to mechanical and technical issues. Following a preview opening to park employees in early August and a soft opening on August 16, 2014, Falcon's Fury officially opened to the public on September 2, 2014. Public response to the ride has been positive, with reviewers praising the height of the tower and the drop experience.