Six Flags Great Adventure Tops Off Zumanjaro!

© Six Flags Great Adventure

When the final track pieces, seen above waiting on the ground, were lifted into place today, Six Flags Great Adventure broke the world record for having the tallest drop ride at 41 stories.  Named Zumanjaro, the extreme thrill ride has taken up residence on the side of Kingda Ka.

© Six Flags Great Adventure

Finally the sun was shining and the winds calmed so that the park could finish the track instillation.  Here we see a seriously giant crane carefully lifting the final track segment into place.  There are three separate tracks running up the tower to the maximum height of 415 feet, each will have a gondola seating eight passengers.

© Six Flags Great Adventure

Can you image working up that high in the air?  I love all sorts of rides but extreme heights still make me a bit nervous - I think that's why I'm so looking forward to Zumanjaro!  The level of fear from up top, waiting to plunge downward, will certainly be palpable.

© Six Flags Great Adventure

And once the track piece was lifted into place the ride was completed!

“Today is special because we not only broke the world record by topping off the world’s tallest drop ride, but also because we battled through some incredibly adverse weather conditions. We had the coldest and snowiest winter that any of us can remember,” said John Fitzgerald, park president at Six Flags Great Adventure. “We appreciate the hard work by Shamrock Construction and the rest of the construction team in overcoming those conditions and getting the job done,” he added. “You would not believe how windy it can get up there in a snow storm.”

Now the park has to complete instillation of the gondolas and the lift system, so there's still plenty of work to do.  If all goes well Zumanjaro has a planned opening on Memorial Day Weekend.