Thrill Rides At The Stratosphere

Sitting on top of the tallest building in Vegas (and one of the tallest in the U.S.),you'll find 3 of the most terrifying thrill rides anywhere in the world. Don't get me wrong, these rides aren't the most technically advanced in the world but when you figure in the fact that they sit on top of a very high tower they are scary as hell!

The first time that I visited the top of the Stratosphere the 2 offerings were the Big Shot and the Rollercoaster.The roller coaster which spiralled around the strat has long since retired, and the 3 rides now on offer are:


The Big Shot
The X-Scream
Insanity


The Big Shot
Imagine being strapped onto the side of the space shuttle just before launch and you'll have fair idea of what the Big Shot has to offer. Basically everyone is fixed onto a seat and fired up into the air at a serious rate of acceleration. Once you reach the top,it's down you go again, before being catapulted to the sky once more.This is probably the most physically intense of the 3 rides as the g forces put on your body are pretty high.Remember those flight sims when your field of vision goes dark around the edges? Pretty scary in real life!


The X-Scream
If this ride was on ground level it really would be for kids and older people, but the fact that a crane pivots you out so that you are hanging over the strip with nothing below makes this one of the scariest rides I've ever been on.As the rides speed up the seats move out until you are actually facing the strip below as you are spun around.Definitely not one for people with a fear of heights - seriously.


Insanity
Insanity is basically a roller coaster on a giant seesaw, and as your carriage shoots over the centre pivot the track moves down before breaking to a halt as you hang over the street below.This ride is pretty much ok for anyone - as long as you close your eyes!