Larson / A.R.M. Drop Tower Review | Most Powerful Drop Towers

[@vinniet2828]

I've been on a portable model that's no taller than 70 feet and holy moly... that airtime is insane and the brakes really hit hard.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They always pack a punch.

[@hootowl2112]

It's all about the springs at the top that help disengage from the catch car that carried you up there. They push these sping loaded hooks into an open position and force the gondola downward so those hooks don't get the chance to re-engage. Fabbri has a slightly taller model utilizing a lift chain rather than the standard cable and catch car that allows for an even lower time between cycles.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks for elaborating why it may be so intense.

[@krs12]

Spot on review! These drop towers are amazing!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sure are!

[@michaelrock2265]

I've ridden the one at Santas Village in Illinois, and also rode one at a local fest near my town. The drops on those seriously pack a punch. Do not underestimate a ride based on its size.

[@sergeantjadonsoriginalchan3063]

I rode in in phoenix Arizona at castles n coasters arizona’s best amusement park when I visit my grandparents

[@CanobieCoaster]

I heard that one may have been removed unfortunately.

[@tentenchu8140]

I've only ever been on the ones at Knoebels and Morey's, but they both provide a huge sucker punch on the drop.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They're excellent.

[@StamfordBridge]

The Super Shot at Kentucky Kingdom is small enough that I let my guard down. That thing felt as if it nearly ripped my heart out.

[@jsho574]

First Larson drop tower I've been on. I definitely was not expecting quite the gut drop.

[@CanobieCoaster]

These rides never fail to deliver.

[@bisem433]

I agree with the views. I have never been to Sydney but I love the view of Lake Erie from Waldemer's tower! I always thought that the tower at Konebels packed the strongest punch and your explanation for that makes sense. One operator at Konbels said she never gets tired of the look on rider's faces when they return to the ground!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I love seeing the reactions.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

The one at Moreys Piers was broken during my visit, and Knoebels chose to not operate theirs on my visits there. But I have thoroughly enjoyed all the ones that I've ridden. I put my feet out and arms out. The airtime is perfect, as no part of my body has any contact with the seat or restraint. That does result in landing somewhat hard when the brakes hit, but it's worth it. My favorite is Waldameer's for that view, but the one at Magic Springs will always be special, because that was my first, and I had no idea how good it would be.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wouldn't be opposed to more padding be a more comfortable landing.

[@KondaaKage]

I've finally gotten the chance to ride the Larson Drop Tower at my home park (Enchanted Kingdom). I swear, the drop was one of the most insane ones I've been on. Those two seconds of airtime are just so out of this world. This drop tower was actually my introduction into drop towers, and quite an impression it makes. It was just so good I had to ride it twice in a row.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They're epic.

[@corkscrewfoley]

I've always been, 'Intamin do the drop tower to perfection,' and while I still believe that, I did the 100 ft portable model at our local fair, and I my legs were jello afterwards. I couldn't get over the sheer power of the ARM/Larson drop towers.

[@CanobieCoaster]

These have more power than Intamin ones.

[@Kittyhat]

Someone needs to order a hyper-sized one of these and create the best drop tower of all time. Also Castles n Coasters' installation is killer because you don't brake until you're below the palm trees and the nearby restaurant building, making that last bit of freefall even more panic-inducing. Amazing headrush on these that's only matched by the Intamins

[@sergeantjadonsoriginalchan3063]

I rode it and loved it

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish there were even taller ones.

[@InsaneCoasterJunkie]

I always love riding X-Scream as a guest but last season I got the chance to operate it and found some new respect for it and I can't wait to operate it more this season!

[@SkyrushFanboy]

Heck yeah bro

[@CanobieCoaster]

Hope you had fun working it!

[@Lucky_9705]

The Danbury Fair had one of these at their annual carnival about 8-9 years ago. I rode it, and the drop was super powerful and awesome.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Cool! Was it Stewart Amusements?

[@SkyrushFanboy]

Xscream at Waldameer is my favorite because the view of Lake Erie is amazing

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a fantastic one.

[@BoulderDashBoy]

Great video as always! The one at lakeside in Denver particularly scares me given that parks lax safety precautions. Restarting was a solid foot above me, craziest experience on a drop tower by far

[@Kittyhat]

Never seen that thing open lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

Still need to visit that park.

[@coyote_bravo2723]

These things are awesome. My home park of Castles N’ Coasters has one of these and it’s one of the most fun things there

[@lyingdogfacedponysoldier201]

Best ride in the state, for now

[@Kittyhat]

@@lyingdogfacedponysoldier201 Nah those laterals and positives on Desert Storm are awesome. And their pirate ship runs an excellent cycle if you're into consistent floater

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's arguably their best ride.

[@stephenboshears4832]

I used the Rideforces app on the one at Lake Winnie and it pulled 4.5g’s on the break run.

[@Daniel_Coasters]

What was the negative gs?

[@stephenboshears4832]

@@Daniel_Coasters it’s a drop tower so zero

[@CanobieCoaster]

Wow, that's a hard stop.

[@globbler]

I have a question. Ive been on this model at castles and coasters and it was super intense. Im going to Magic Mountain for the first time in 2 days and am wondering how drop of doom is going to feel in comparison. Thanks!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Drop of Doom is way taller, but you don't get the same gut punch. Drop of Doom is more about raw speed coming down and a little float at the start.

[@11_credits]

I rode one at my local carnivwl, and it was actually my first drop tower. This problably added to my feeling that we didn't acceleate but were already at the highest speed when the drop started.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Seeing one of these at a carnival is a treat.

[@ScottyMania313]

Oh man, I love how they look on a carnival skyline with their iconic tops. I've only been on two, but four times, both the A.R.M. 90-foot model, one Wade Shows, and the other Skerbeck. What always gets me is the noise you hear when you go down, it's loud and mechanical. I love that 3-second gut punch and then the relief when it slows down. In Michigan, one of the most popular carnivals is Livonia Spree, right near Detroit. It's cool going up and seeing some of the buildings of the city skyline. That noise when you go down though. Arghhhhh lol Now both of those fairs, I don't think they carry that ride model or any drop tower anymore. I wonder if it was a hassle or didn't get enough ridership to profit.

[@Kittyhat]

isn't it funny how it fits in with Castles n Coasters skyline because of the same shape motif? Works with the arcade/restaurant buildings/zipline towers

[@CanobieCoaster]

I loved seeing one at a fair. Easily the best ride there.

[@Adrians_films]

There needs to be a giga sized version of these towers

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish!

[@timothykaczmarek5871]

The first-time i rode X-Scream at Waldemeer, i swear i left my underwear at the top of that thing!! My asshole was whistling the National Anthem on the way down!! Now, whenever i ride these things, it's either a commando or a jockstrap for me!!!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Lol

[@A_Red_Fox]

I remember in 2019 when i went to Silverwood i got my last ride of the day on panic plunge just as a massive lightning storm was rolling in. It was probably just than a few miles out when i rode and it was cool seeing streaks of lightning shooting through the clouds while going up.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Wow that would be extra scary.

[@ryryt8634]

I just rode one of these in the summer at a carnival, I heard it was about be at the top but it still hit me when it dropped .

[@CanobieCoaster]

They are intense.

[@thesledgehammerblog]

Been on the one at Silverwood a couple of times, usually I don't have a problem with drop towers but those ones are surprisingly intense for something that's basically just a drop.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree these are intense.

[@jameslitwin5635]

The model that went to the Super Bowl actually ended up traveling with Bates Brothers Amusements, a carnival supplier in NE Ohio the following summer. I got to ride it at the Canfield Fair in 2017. I haven’t seen it since, so I’m not sure what they did with it after the 2017 season

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks for sharing where it went.

[@_AT41]

I’ve only been on 1 of these but I can confirm, the stomach drop/butterflies feeling is very intense. This is my favorite sensation on any ride so that’s a big plus for me. The only other drop tower that powerful was the Orlando freefall, which also happened to be 430 ft tall. That thing was insane. Too bad the idiots operating it modified the seats and made it unsafe.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I find the Larson ones more powerful than Orlando Freefall, but the latter had the height and tilt to compensate.

[@noahkessler5500]

I’ve been a few of these and they all are amazing. For some reason I find the one at delgrosso’s to be the strongest one, everytime I ride it my stomach drops so much compared to any other coaster/ride I’ve been on.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's the best ride at that park without a doubt.

[@chrisogrady28]

Have you got much experience with the Fabbri mega drip towers like Detonator at Thorpe Park? They pneumatically launch you down faster than Freefall so you get terrifying ejector at the start of the fall

[@CanobieCoaster]

Those ones are excellent.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

I love the one at Wladameer.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Me too.

[@thrillridefreak8884]

I love these drop tower models. Even the small carnival ones freak me out a little lol.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They're excellent.

[@evangrubis]

Not sure if this is what is happening at Knobles, but I know that you can vary the material of the brake fins for mag brakes like these to get different forces. Something like aluminum is less conductive and therefore produces less strong eddy forces. Maybe Knobles requested aluminum brakes vs standard copper / brass ones on other models? But I am not sure as I have never seen these brake fins unpainted

[@CanobieCoaster]

Maybe, I don't know for sure why it hits the bottom faster.

[@Stagnant_Gravy]

These always surprise me, the smaller ones are just as powerful as the big ones, it’s insane. The small one at Delgrosso’s is probably the only drop tower I’ve ridden where I felt the forces press my spine 💀

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Never rode that one

[@CanobieCoaster]

Whatever the secret sauce may be, I love it.

[@davidpalomeque4689]

I’m quite pissed that they removed the one at Gillian’s Wonderland Pier!! That was my favorite ride at the whole park!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I was sad to see that go as well.

[@Fox_on_a_Rollercoaster]

This looks like a similar strong drop as on the small portable and very rare drop tower built by Rodlsberger. I agree with the strong airtime on smaller compaired to bigger ones, for one exeption for whatever reason: Volturm at Bayern Park. Stat wise it's an ordinary gyro drop from funtime, but man the airtime is super strong all the way down. All other funtime towers that I ride on a regular basis can't provide that. Doesn't matter if portable (Skyfall by Goetzke, Hangover the Tower by Schneider) or fixed installations (Highlander at Hansa Park). No idea why this one is different. Still, I prefer the small Rodlsberger one. Less "dead time". Never tried a Larson/ARM one, but I would love to!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I've never heard of Rodlsberger. I'll have to keep an eye out for one

[@Fox_on_a_Rollercoaster]

@@CanobieCoaster To my knowledge only one of them has been built. It was traveling under the (I think Austrian) showman Bügler. It was named "Adrenaline". It used to be in the park "Freizeit-Land Geiselwind" (quite some rare credits here) but it's in refurbishment for two years now. The park named it "tower of fear". The park already has a Huss Shot'n'Drop. They didn't reply to my emails when or if the Rodlsberger Tower will come back.

[@jtwoolley]

POWERFUL. PLEASE DO A TOP RIDES AT CASTLES N COASTES

[@CanobieCoaster]

I will after a return visit.

[@VinceKeytsman]

i've ridden one and these are so good!!! i would die to ride it again

[@CanobieCoaster]

I love them.

[@codeblue0076]

How do these compare the Detonator at Thorpe park (Megadrop)?

[@CanobieCoaster]

My issue with Detonator is that they had a countdown spoiling the moment you drop. That drop is forceful, but these ones are punchier.

[@Coyotek4]

I won't lie ... this is the one ride at Knoebels that scares the ish out of me, and it's the one ride I haven't gone on. Haven't been on the one at Morey's Pier, either.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They're intense and I love them.

[@5nak_music]

The supershot at Castles n Coaster always felts so sketch, lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

I loved that ride.

[@sFRONTIER4]

I've been on the one at Kentucky Kingdom, and that drop felt out of control.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a ton of fun.

[@sergeantjadonsoriginalchan3063]

I rode one in Arizona when i visit family there at castles n coasters it has the square gondola it was called skydiver

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes, I've ridden that one.

[@sergeantjadonsoriginalchan3063]

I wish a Minnesota park had a super shot drop tower

[@CanobieCoaster]

They would be great in many locations.

[@chrisogrady28]

I'm still trying to work out what effects the initial drop impulse power on drop towers. As we should all know, mass does not effect freefall speed, it has to be a combination of aerodynamics, friction of the rails, and the speed the release mechanism can disengage. I've never ridden an S&S combo but aren't they meant to use the compressed air to accelerate you faster than 9.81ms^2? I don't have enough drop tower riding experience but I do have a physics and engineering background.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I have never studied the physics on them. These provide a perfect freefall. I put my arms and legs out, and my body hovers perfectly between the seat and restraints all the way until the brakes hit. On most taller drop towers, especially the ones by S&S, I may get airtime at the start of the drop, but my butt almost instantly lands back on the seat, and it stays there the rest of the way down.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Not sure if it's how they're released or the gondola set-up.

[@themeparkreconnoiter9787]

After Waldameer clears more land to expand the park, they should also add a Twin S&S Tower and replace a Larson/A.RM. Tower because Waldameer is changing, they're adding more coasters and other attractions. It's fine they're sticking with a Larson/A.R.M. Tower like they have for now, but Waldameer is changing and By then they will be WAY TOO GOOD for a Larson/A.R.M. Drop Tower as well. I'm hoping Waldameer, Kentucky Kingdom, and Alabama Adventure would get Twin S&S Towers like Detonator at Worlds Of Fun, and Sasquatch at The Great Escape someday. Kentucky Kingdom and Alabama Adventure are way too good for Larson A.R.M. Towers but after Waldameer clears more land to expand the park adding more bigger steel coasters and other attractions. They'll probably won't need an Larson A.R.M. Tower anymore. So XScream will be replaced or revived into a Twin S&S Tower.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer these towers to S&S ones myself.

[@themeparkreconnoiter9787]

I like the Larson/A.R.M Drop Towers too and I know there are parks out there that would be perfect for them.

[@Undercoverelevator212-s2n]

Using the Internet Archive, it looks as though ARM and Larson were going to create the Spin Shot, which unlike S&S's version, would've been a Super Shot with rotation. I'm not sure why this was dropped (pun intended).

[@CanobieCoaster]

Would the tower have spun or would the vehicle have spun?

[@Undercoverelevator212-s2n]

@@CanobieCoaster That I do not know. Maybe the entire tower considering the Vertigos have the entire tower spin and they use the same structure.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

If the taller faster ones didn’t stop at the top those would be even scarier like Zumanjaro

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish Larson built even taller ones.

[@kenrutherford1109]

That kind of ride would make my stomach feel weird. I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like that feeling.

[@SlimFury]

Proof that bigger isn't always better. Larson towers are the best drop towers on the market.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They're excellent.

[@clairefunnell8481]

Do look like fun. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@CanobieCoaster]

Most definitely are.

[@BrianBarbera-o9k]

It kind of looks like the Stratosphere

[@CanobieCoaster]

Stratosfear is one of these ride types.

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

The one Larson arm tower I rode I found incredibly underwhelming and overrated. Atmosfear at knoebels is quite underwhelming. Demon drop at dorney has the same no clue when you’re going to drop, and you drop like a shipping container getting copious floater all the way down, atmosfear has nice floater but nowhere near as good as demon drop. Ik it’s an unpopular opinion but i do really think demon drop absolutely rocks the socks off atmosfear.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

You should give them another go

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

@@ThrillsofColdplayI will eventually but even after doing 3 rides on atmosfear that was all I thought of them.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I haven't done the one at Knoebels, as they choose to not operate it every time I visit, but I have loved the others that I've done. Demon Drop provides outstanding airtime as well. It's not as open of a vehicle, which is why some people don't give it the credit it deserves. It's interesting that it actually meets all criteria to be considered a roller coaster as well as a drop tower. It's kind of like a dive coaster, just with even fewer elements.

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

@@OklahomaCoasterFan I personally don’t see demon drop as a credit, but I get why others do. Will say turning back upright however is absolutely BRUTAL.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's odd you didn't find them intense. Most people tend to agree they're super forceful.