Sky Tower (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
| Sky Tower | |
|---|---|
 The tower in 2019 | |
| Six Flags Magic Mountain | |
| Area | Samurai Summit |
| Status | Closed |
| Cost | $800,000 |
| Opening date | 1971 |
| Closing date | 2014 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Observation Tower |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Height | 385 ft (117 m) |
| Capacity | 2000 riders per hour |
| Vehicles | 2 |
| Riders per vehicle | 50 |
The Six Flags Magic Mountain Sky Tower is a 385-foot-tall (117 m) observation tower located in Valencia, California at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The tower closed in 2014. [1][2]
History
[edit]Construction for the Sky Tower started in October 1970, one year prior to Magic Mountains' opening. Aggressive Erectors & Bridgemen Inc. installed the ride, along with other opening day attractions.[3] The ride opened in 1971, the same year the park opened. The tower was built by Intamin AG, as a Hexagonal Tower. The tower is made of 460-tons of steel, has two-observation decks and a red-paint scheme. The tower was also designed to withstand strong 100 MPH winds.[4]
The tower opened with a yellow paint scheme,[5] but the tower later a multi-colored rainbow-paint scheme and a white paint scheme, but was then later repainted to its current red-paint scheme.
From 1977-1978, the tower received a sponsorship from Western Airlines. Metal plates with the airline's "W" logo were welded to the sides of the tower.[6] These plates were later used for promotion of Tatsu, with the ride's logo posted on them.
In 2008, the Sky Tower received the "Magic of the Mountain" museum at the top floor of the tower. An attraction that contained memorabilia throughout the parks history including old television commercials, old park maps, old photographs, models, and equipment saved from past/defunct rides. Some items included a car from Colossus (Six Flags) and a test seat for Scream (roller coaster) in its original purple, blue, and yellow colors.
During the Holiday in the Park season, the Sky Tower is decorated as a Christmas Tree.
In 2023, the "Sky Tower Challenge" was hosted by the Santa Clarita Sheriff and sponsored by LoanDepot. Groups of first responders raced up the tower's stairs to win.[7]
Closure
[edit]Sometime in 2000, the tower closed for an unknown reason. However, it reopened with the opening of Tatsu in 2006.
In 2014, the Sky Tower was forced to be closed by the state of California, due to the safety requirements regarding the ride's elevator. In order to have reopened it, the ride would need a multi-million dollar upgrade to the elevator to bring it up to the safety code as an amusement park ride. However, the park has not apportioned funds to the multi-million dollar project. As a result, the ride has stood vacant for the past 9 years. There are plans to reopen the attraction.
In August 2020, when the park was shuttered during the COVID-19 lockdown, a duo of local teenagers broke into the park, and climbed up the tower to the observation deck, spraying the inside of the observation deck with fire extinguishers, dangling from the edge, pouring gallons of paint on the midways, and tossing objects to the ground 30 stories below. The duo were arrested on August 28 on suspicion of felony vandalism costing more than $3,000.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Sky Tower, Santa Clarita | 292095". Emporis. Archived from the original on December 27, 2021. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Worden, Leon (2019) [2012]. "MM0100 | Magic Mountain | Initial Construction: Sky Tower, 1970-71". Scvhistory.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
- ^ Worden, Leon (2012). "Magic Mountain | Initial Construction: Sky Tower, 1970-71". scvhistory.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Six Flags Magic Mountain Sky Tower Factoid". The Coaster Guy. January 7, 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-27.
- ^ "Magic Mountain - A yellow Skytower? Did you get a chance to visit the tower before closing at Magic Mountain? Comment below! We have several pictures when the Park had the museum up there, we'll post them soon. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ Worden, Leon (2012). "Valencia | Magic Mountain Sky Tower Sponsored by Western Airlines, 1977-78". www.scvhistory.com. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ Towles, Linsey (2023-01-26). "First Responders Participate In 'Sky Tower Challenge' At Six Flags Magic Mountain". Hometown Station | KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "2 teens arrested after alleged break-in, vandalism at Magic Mountain". 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Two Teens Arrested for Felony Vandalism at Magic Mountain After Posting Video on Social Media". 31 August 2020.