The Troubled History of The World's Most Forceful Rollercoaster - Shaft/Tower Of Terror

Join us on our first Expedition to Africa as we look at the world's most forceful roller coaster. Shaft of Terror or as it is known Tower Of Terror. Located at Gold Reef City Theme Park it once had the most G-Forces on any coaster in the world. Until it had to refurbished.
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expeditionthemepark
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Credits -
Special thank you to ellocoaster.com/ for providing some of the pictures of the first version of Tower Of Terror.
Rick Lancaster Music - 80s Synth - • Royalty Free Horror 80...
P3 Drones - • City of Johannesburg
Livinginsa tv - • Exploring Gold Reef Ci...
• Exploring the Aparthei...
Robert Berry - • Vintage Carowinds home...
James Carroll - • Golden Loop - Gold Ree...
Just JC - • Anaconda Roller Coaste...
Patrice Coppex - • Giovanola Rollercoaster
Theme Park Review - • Shock Wave Stand Up Ro...
Tower Of Terror Footage -
mark kenyon - • The Tower of Terror - ...
VirtuallyVids - • Tower Of Terror Gold R...
Alec Booth - • Gold Reef City - Tower...
anustup roy - • Tower of Terror: Gold ...
Thumbnail taken by Richard Bannister - www.themeparks.ie

[@flwrcrwnbncr]

“Did it not latch into place before the refurbishment?” Is literally the scariest question I’ve ever heard omg

[@SNORKYMEDIA]

but surely it went up a lift hill before so was ALREADY on the track - it just went round a corner.... then down

[@RandomPerson-nd2ey]

12:25 for anyone wondering. Maybe they figured that even with the worst case scenario, it can't roll back because the latches on the lift?

[@spider0804]

Not scary at all, if it missed the hold it would just go down as usual, there is no danger in that.

[@DomWPC]

he misunderstood it they're talking about the elevator lift latching into place, it didn't need to before because it didn't exist, there was a regular lift hill there

[@qicle]

No it did not latch into place because it didn’t need to. Lol he even shows the track before in the video

[@TheNightmareRider]

Park Owners: This ride is too forceful! The riders are complaining, what do we do? Engineers: Did you try working the shaft?

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hahaha

[@billclinton984]

😂😂😂

[@5MadMovieMakers]

This ride still looks like something made up in RCT3

[@metleon]

I've tried topping the G Forces in RCT, and you still need a surprisingly high drop to do it without using a loop. I was using the steep to level track on the Vertical Drop Coaster in RCT Classic and had to go much higher than I wanted to.

[@theknownunknown3320]

I live in Johannesburg and every time I go to Gold Reef City a bit but I'm too scared to go on the Tower of Terror

[@kennethwilliams6916]

Felt like R.C.T.2...!!!

[@estiefication]

I'm from South Africa and remembered the day my friends and I went to the park just after the Tower of Terror opened. I hate roller coasters so my friends told me I should at least ride one that day. It was the Tower of Terror as they said it was the fastest ride meaning it will be over quickly. I still remember dangling over the edge not being able to see the drop and looking at the lap bar and wondering "Holy shit, is this safe?" Anyway now I can say that I got to ride in it's wild days, so that is something. Also another thing, it's really weird going to the apartheid museum where they try to instill the sadness of all that happened in our history and across the parking lot you can hear the thrill from people going on the rides.

[@Croz89]

It's like going to Germany for Oktoberfest and having a day trip to Auschwitz.

[@Mar_Ten]

Always a bit odd when you read a comment and there is a quite dutch word in there...

[@alleyoliver3315]

I interned in SA last fall (Cape Town, but we started in Joburg for some sight seeing). I remember going to the Apartheid Museum and thinking the exact same thing, that it was a weird place for a theme park. But it is kind of cool to know I was near where one of the rides on this channel was!

[@terrours7105]

Every boomer ever: I will write an entire paragraph about my life comparing to this video.

[@renaatvn9366]

Spreek jij Nederlands?

[@777KingRich777]

wow, highest g's is a weird claim to fame. "not the tallest, not the fastest, but we WILL bust a blood vessel!"

[@cloutelfin8323]

777KingRich777 Fr LOL

[@je4a301]

In Germany, nearly every thrill ride on the carneval is advertised with it's high G-force. lol

[@wyattvrbka6962]

Lol

[@maddie5412]

People usually pass out at 5 gs so...

[@user-yi5uh8ud6l]

@@maddie5412 At Thorpe park in England, a drop tower called detonator pulls around 5.5 g's but as far as I know no-one has passed out on it, I didn't either

[@Typhabock]

It’s nice when theme parks actually can fix a problem without destroying a ride or killing someone. Thanks for the amazing video!

[@lillyg02]

Ty I’m surprised if never DID Kill anyone 🤣but no joke

[@HangtimeThrills]

Damn, imagine this at Cedar Point with its 100 riders per hour lmao

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Haha yeah yikes

[@annalisahartmann5661]

Approximate wait time: 4 days.

[@nubiansnowchic]

Annalisa Hartmann 😂

[@jellygirljude]

“How intense do you want this coaster?” Gold Reef City: Yes

[@Hillers62]

LOL...

[@claudiodiaz9752]

Good joke. Never heard before. Will take note.

[@samhackett5715]

Dead memes

[@GannJerrod]

What’s the badass g-force machine, that makes all the riders scream? SHAFT! (can you ride it?)

[@NikkiiiiiLovesU]

Just take your stupid like and go.

[@snazz1363]

the first time that 69 upvotes is relevant

[@konata4567]

Damn, you got me

[@audreyjacobs2433]

.....nope never I'm good thanks

[@shona5512]

"Can you plunge into the deep hole and come out still conscious? See for yourself.. on the *_Shaft of Terror_* "

[@bevbeverage4312]

the ride being themed on being an abandoned mine legit makes it scarier, cos I mean someone had some old abandoned metal frame and was just like- yup we gonna plonk a rollercoaster on top of it now. You also cant tell whether it is actually rusty or not which is also scary lol

[@tomreevo]

Jesus christ, that makes Nemesis's Gs look like a kiddie coaster.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yuppp

[@owenstockwell4807]

All I want to know is who designed it, and where they are now...

[@hypno_tics5560]

Nemesis scared me enough, this is worse-

[@spaceactivistarchive4180]

Don't recall where it was but I've heard of a coasters back in the '20 that could hit between 7 and 9 Gs depending on the rider load and weather conditions. It lasted less than 10 years because as time went on more people came to watch it than actually ride it.

[@cnoneyabiz7913]

Owen Stockwell juehrjhdhudhhfuufuu

[@rattyeely]

I love how you covered the whole history of the area, the theme park, and the people who made it along with the ride. It's great to have that context.

[@JamesonThomas24]

I love this channel because it’s like, I didn’t realize I cared about xyz attraction, then I see the video pop up and I’m like, this is a MUST WATCH. Really great videos here

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@theninthheart4736]

...this coaster is literally world famous for having the most Gs, it gets talked about constantly...🤨

[@TheMennoXD]

That's called clickbait

[@pollutingpenguin2146]

Damn - imagine riding that thing with only a lap bar lol

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Looks unsafe! haha

[@timothyhill7]

Well... I did. And survived.

[@maxtanner2840]

@@timothyhill7 Wait really? What was it like?

[@merrymermaid]

Timothy Hill how did you not fall out lol? was there an age restriction so kids (who wouldn’t be able to hold themselves in) couldn’t ride?

[@spider0804]

@@merrymermaid Plenty of rides like various RMC coasters that have lots of inversions with only lap bars. There is no holding yourself in, the bar just locks your legs at a 90 degree angle and makes it impossible to wiggle out of the seat. Even then if they were buzz bars, where are you going to go? The car falls and you fall with it, it pulls out of the dive and you are pressed to the seat.

[@bobthebear1246]

"Mine Drop Roller Coaster 1 looks too intense for me." Also: *Shaft Of Terror* 😆

[@Jaker788]

The bane of a roller coaster tycoons existence. Spending money on a ride that's too intense for anybody to ride...

[@smasher.338]

@@Jaker788 whats wrong? Is the shaft too big for you? Dont think you can take it?

[@ARRRsonist]

ELEVATOR COASTER ELEVATOR COASTER

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yesss

[@hypnopyr9084]

What floor is it gonna stay on?

[@Twohomst]

The Smiler 13!

[@Im_A_Watermelon]

I’ve been on this thing and I can tell you it’s absolutely insane. On a bad day it can be really painful. On other it’s pure force. Love it and so glad I was able to get on it.

[@welcometomylives]

I mean, I guess an apartheid museum would attract visitors but I seriously find it hilarious that they applied to the government with 'in order to bring tourists to our casino, we will also include a museum on the history of apartheid'.

[@hedgehog3180]

The thing I find the most questionable is that these guys made their fortune off apartheid but apparently making one museum makes it all okay again. Like what is that museum gonna be like? Because I can't imagine that the guys who again made their fortune off apartheid are gonna create a very objective museum and I imagine it's probably gonna end up being more of a huge exercise in whitewashing their own history. It's gonna be one of those "oh racism was bad but now it's all over" museums.

[@kenetickups6146]

Zoe Kin Sounds like you'd fit right in with the rest of the racists

[@kopojakenathane4949]

I am literally from south africa and I had no clue of some of the history regarding the park . Well made!

[@so-calseany1176]

Puts new meaning to the phrase, “MY BRAINS ARE GOING INTO MY FEET!!!!”

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

exactly!

[@viddork]

Um ... what's the OLD meaning of that phrase?

[@yourehere5342]

Shoulda kept the original name of the ride. “Shaft of Terror” was my name in the adult film industry

[@ImSoReadyToRetire]

LOL

[@TheVloggerDude2018]

Disney: has a tower of terror. Africa: yeah, we can copy off of that! Also my grandpa in law has been on that ride. He said it was awesome and there isn’t any other coaster like it

[@halfaworldaway]

Australia as well. RIP Tower of Terror (II).

[@ArrowLooper]

No where near a copy

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa420]

Arrow Looper copied the name, copied the font as well it looks like

[@catalyztx]

Oh my God I cant imagine the anxiety of doing oblivion with just a lap bar let alone this 😅

[@matthewrobertson95]

Troubled History suggestion: M&D's Scotland.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I will wait for now and see what happens.

[@AndyMiller_windskisong]

What’s that

[@chloegerrard4345]

I'd love to see that

[@ewanmorrish1591]

@@AndyMiller_windskisong A theme park in Scotland that has just gone into administration.

[@Tactical_Hotdog]

@@AndyMiller_windskisong have you ever heard of google?

[@hennie3663]

Used to stop at a 90 degree angle,suspended in the air facing the ground and then releasing without warning plummeting to the ground and giving the impression of hitting the ground as the track enters a dark shaft,but half way down, the track slightly tilts as if the cart is derailing

[@timothyhill7]

I have been on BOTH versions. Although Shaft of Terror was blackout-inducing craziness (my one friend in high school had to be brought back to consciousness afterwards), the newer Tower of Terror is just a tad more suspenseful. I like the idea that the seating feels more open (even with the OTSR) and that you do not dangle over the edge, so the drop actually gives you a forceful bit of ejector airtime when going over the edge. Love live Gold Reef City. And if you have not ever been, go go go. World-class thrills under the African sun.

[@joshw0013]

I haven’t been on it but I’ve been on others like Anaconda and Golden loop but I do agree, I’m also scared to go on tower of terror but next time I go I’ll try it

[@MadameChristie]

Love the sign at the front: "It's too late to cry for your mama" XD

[@kyokkyuu]

It sucks that they had to lower the G's, but considering the track wasn't designed for that much force, they must have been brutal on the ride.

[@leostac]

Everyone be like oh it’s a short ride it won’t be scary goes to drop eeeeeaaaaaa!!!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

you don't see many not holding on!

[@otaking3582]

2:57 That video compression looks glorious! It's like it was transferred to a Sega CD game!

[@matthewtruter3140]

I was there the other day.. Saw like 4 people pass out on the tower of terror. But i can honestly say its the most intense ride at gold reef. Its really something else out of this world

[@TheSideswipe4983]

The attention to detail in your videos is second to none and that theme tune gets me hype every sunday..absolutely brilliant..stay safe..

[@spacetwiga9058]

As someone who has ridden this multiple times (front row only, because that hits different) I screamed when this appeared in my notifs.

[@awesomotommy]

Well, time to watch this and rewatch a few older favourites of expedition theme park!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

thanks!

[@vontd9]

I remember riding on this pre-refurb. The hanging and dodgy lap bars made it truly terrifying.

[@Milesjoshua25]

Jeeeeeez!! I love how in-depth you get these man. Much love as per usual 👊🏾

[@rymchebbi8320]

It's the second ride I've ever tried and on my first day finally trying a thrill ride. We do not have strong rides in my country. I was so excited that I took the first row and made my friend sit next to me. She was scared but she accepted with the condition that I am the one who should sit on the edge. Of course I said yes. In fact unlike many other rides, it's only two rows and the first row always is almost always available. People usually choose to sit on the second one. I kept my eyes open and tried to concentrate. It was intense. You feel lots of pressure and the air gets extremely thick. And time feels somehow slower. In since it's a horizontal fall with your face facing the ground, you feel as if you're going to crash down to earth. The challenges are actually the few seconds you wait at the very edge without moving and waiting, the sudden fall down with you head facing the ground, and of course the transition from 0 to 100km/h in like 2sec. I know people who couldn't stand it and never tried it again. Some felt their stomachs moving, some felt dizzy or scared. At for that I'm thankful I do not have motion sickness. I've tried it 3 or 4 times while in South Africa. Also the majority cannot open their eyes. I was wearing attached eyeglasses so maybe that's what helped me. The funny thing is that I didn't know it has the highest g force, so I when I tried the thrill rides in France, I was like, why don't the rides here feel as intense as I remember? What happened to me? lol !

[@ScrewyLoops]

Awesome video as usual! 👌 I've always been fascinated by both this coaster and park, was great to see you do a video on these 🙂👍

[@YumiAsuka]

Thanks for the tasty tea in the first part. Thank you for not glossing over the history of outrageous oppression in South Africa.

[@dannyward8450]

I’ve been on this several times ( recently so after the refurb ). It’s bloody rough! I came off with a grazed leg once. It’s not a particularly pleasant ride, but good to experience. But Anaconda, at Gold Reef City, is one of the best and most intense inverted coasters I’ve ever been on.

[@reg1m0nz83]

i love the theming of this ride. it really does look like youre getting on a 100 year old rusty death trap

[@bronwinrichards701]

I live in Joburg and go to Gold Reef City pretty often, I can say that the Tower of Terror is not as popular as the other rides xD its fun but people usually only go on it once and then that's it

[@bradyryan5105]

Anaconda looks way more thrilling

[@spoonify8137]

Tower of Terror, the only ride that will age you by 30 years!

[@hypnopyr9084]

Love this channel! Videos like these get me interested in different places over the world! Keep up the good work!

[@AirtimeThrills]

6.3 Gs with just a lapbar when it opened. What a time to be alive. And that tunnel makes it hard to tell the track levels off so it looks like its falling forever

[@mochispartan1532]

Wow, that must of been so intense!

[@RiaanDunckley]

South African here. I went on that ride in the first year it opend the ques were very long and slow moving, the original mine cart design went up a steep chain lift. The block brakes at the top keeping you from going over was by far the longest 3 seconds in your life but can’t really remember the forces being that high. and after that ride when we bought ice cream from the vendor across from the ride, he said some of the test dummies fell out of the cart from most of the test runs so they addes extra seatbelt across your lap. The new version with the cable lift is feels ordes of magnitude safer from the previous version. When at the top you hear the locking mechanism release then there is also a delay and I imagine it’s a solenoid that gives you a bump forward over the edge. Lots of fun.

[@Coasterlocity]

Yikes, sounds like the original action park in New Jersey. Supposedly the test dummies on their looping water slide came out with missing heads.

[@jasonjenkins367]

Ur generally one of my most fav creators ur buds are always so well researched 🙃

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@cascadianrangers728]

Thanks for your videos! I went to countless amusement parks as a child, and watching your videos provides a rare moment of childhood nostalgia

[@SleepyKittenz]

Thank you for including history as well 👍🏾

[@technicolortabby4239]

Love your videos as always. What an interesting story about those brothers. Thanks for sharing!

[@Adar512]

Gold reef is quit underrated tbh. I really like their coaster collection.

[@princesskristan]

I didn't know that it used to have lap bars! I've heard of Tower of Terror on one of those Extreme Rollercoasters shows on the Travel Channel and it looks so scary. Great video!

[@sophiec1528]

I'm so happy you made a vid about this one!!

[@joaospegiorin7840]

Wow, that was a great video! Really good to know more about Gold Reef City and the story behind the coaster and the park

[@chereeqiisdiary]

it upsets me so much when people who aren't from south africa are very uneducated about how it looks here. i literally had a friend who didn't know i was from africa and when he heard from me, he asked this : "what!? do y'all even have water?" I'm so happy that there are people like you who actually are educated about south africa :)

[@Saltysol]

Thanks for such an interesting video! Really feeding my obsession with coaster history even though I'm super scared of riding them :,) Keep it good, my man!!

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Great video. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I’d absolutely love to ride this!

[@CoastingwithCulture]

It would be interesting to get your take on this park. I certainly felt like it was a great park overall, and that Anaconda was the best coaster. Tower of Terror was definitely a unique experience. - Gary

[@KiingSaba]

You definitely should ... I suggest riding the tower of terror first, then the golden loop, then the jozi empress and then the anaconda... The adrenalin will be crazy! After that, you can ride the rest of the rides 😹

[@lilpthebasedpoque]

this was a fun expidetition!! i'd love to see more to lesser known parks like this

[@robwilcockson2511]

Amazing video, they just keep getting better and better. Getting me through the lockdown!

[@ct8152]

Brilliant video as always

[@yahyabobat5809]

Just went there yesterday 💙 Was very exciting!!!!!!! Proudly South African 🔱

[@aiferapple1246]

Love your reviews. Very professional and lots of great stock footage :)

[@NickMagoteaux]

Damn dude, your videos are so solid. Thank you for making content!

[@kap2027]

Excellent video, love your channel, please keep up the brilliant work, Thank you

[@kitecatthegerman]

Imagine a guy coming up to you and saying "hey do you wanna ride my Shaft of Terror "

[@Happymali10]

I remember being in South Africa a few years back, and on one sightseeing-tour we stopped near the park. One guy asked the guide what that tower was. He said "it's an old mineshaft. They're trying to fill it with money, so right now it looks like a rusty rollercoaster, but it's not running."

[@beetleboi-ym7xr]

“They impied that their product would help those who had difficulties” Auto generated subtitles: “They implied that their product would help those who had dip cooties”

[@RandomVideoFan]

thank you :D was hopeing someone make a video about this coaster and explain that mystery a little bit more

[@Spiderific]

This was really interesting. I had no idea this coaster existed. Great video 👍

[@TheworldofChase]

I loved this episode so much!

[@richarddavis4954]

Great video again, I actually never heard of the Shaft of Terror before now, I knew about the Museum Thank you

[@CFMichael]

Love this! This coaster has been lingering around my top 10 bucket list coasters for a very long time. Need to get to South Africa one day!

[@kk-ww3yg]

just went there today but unfortunately the tower of terror and one other ride were closed for maintenance, the anaconda tho is my favourite by far so i wasn’t too upset

[@andrestrydom292]

Happened upon this video by chance while looking for something else... Feel I have to share my experience I have ridden this thing. Both the original setup with lap bars in what looked like old mine carts... And the new refurbished and changed version with proper car and lift. This thing is intense! and the original was gut wrenching when it released and you disappeared into the bowls of the earth. I had been on the Tower of Terror with a group of friends in 2002. Then, in early 2003, I went there with family. We had gone once and were standing in line to go again. We watched as the car went up, and then locked in the hanging position. The car then released and we then heard what sounded like a gunshot. There was a sigh of relief when the car came out the other end of the tunnel. The ride was then closed and further investigation showed that one of the mine shafts legs had actually pulled up off its concrete base. The "gunshot" we heard, was one of the bolts that had sheared off and rocketed up, hitting the "gear-head" area of the shaft, where the car had just dropped from. The concrete base/foundation/pad had actually cracked, and I can only assume the shaft itself had actually twisted some with the force of the car being released. Ride was closed for a long time after that...

[@djsugarc1075]

another fantastic video... ur the king

[@AdmiralSym]

Great way to start the morning! Love your vids

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Glad you like them!

[@QueenOfPessimism]

I can’t imagine getting into this with JUST lap bars! Truly a shaft of terror.

[@tumjones5848]

Amazing work!! As always keep it up!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks again!

[@caitlyn6303]

This park looks so unique I would love to visit it!

[@disownedpear]

Wow, I knew about the G's but other info on this coaster was tough to find. Great video!

[@xhelix_reapzx9723]

Another great video Sam!

[@joelcoulon]

Can you do spinball whizzer at alton Towers? Yes it's a terrible coasterbut I remember it being called "Sonic Pinball" or somethinglike that, so I feel like it had an intresting history. Just an idea.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I will in the future yes

[@joelcoulon]

@@ExpeditionThemePark I'll look forward to it

[@Spooky-fp5wd]

I love this coaster

[@johnoliva6433]

It was great!

[@nunogouveia1887]

I have been on this ride almost 35 times in one day. It is a must visit theme park

[@curtissimpkins]

another great video my friend i love it..

[@Dan-hq2js]

Looks smoother in that transition between leaving the top into turn of the drop, a lot less strain on track and cars no doubt.

[@chelseamarie6491]

@4:52 were they testing the train on the track or something? ive never seen something so bizarre on a rollercoaster, can someone please explain what exactly is going on lol

[@bensonwr]

SO often I watch these videos and say I wish I could have rode that. For once I can say I did!. It was amazing . The kick from the twist was the most memorable.

[@corbinkills]

Great video, loved the channel.

[@marsden10002]

Another great video. Interesting to see what else is out there in terms of rides! I'm just waiting for every ride at Thorpe, Alton, Blackpool,Drayton and Flamingo land!

[@jesselatham7610]

Not about the main ride in the video but growing up in NC I always heard stories of White Lightning when I was a kid going to Carowinds, neat fact thrown in that it ended up in South Africa!

[@FlyGrayStreak]

I rode White Lightning in the 80s, cool to know it ended up in South Africa

[@rudolph8008]

@@FlyGrayStreak if you ever come to SA, it's still running and still amazing

[@jacquesvanheerden6151]

Ive ridden this ride before and it is awesome

[@nathanwilliamson4219]

Awesome vid! Keep up videos like this

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks!

[@rcbif101]

That's thing looks awesome. I imagine not too many parks would put something that industrious and abandoned looking in their park.

[@maxmustermann2060]

Really interesting video!

[@mindfreaksquee]

Not me laughing unapologetically at the name ‘Shaft of Terror’.

[@matthewpell6498]

How haven’t you got 1 million subscribers 🤦🏻‍♂️ content is unreal keep it up matey 👍🏻

[@alastairjones0]

A few minutes in I had to check I was watching a video about rollercoasters lol

[@mosthatedd827]

Alastair Jones ithought it was jus about gold mines at one point lol

[@DaddyDad]

Very interesting indeed!

[@nunogouveia1887]

My home town yaaay man this is the best ride ever ♡