Power Tower

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This article is about the amusement ride. For the solar power installation, see solar power tower. For the mathematical operation, see tetration. For the mechanical power take-off, see Power Tower (pto)

View of Power Tower at Cedar Point

The Power Tower is a vertical thrill ride found at two Cedar Fair amusement parks. The Power Tower at Cedar Point is 300 feet tall, with two Space Shot towers and two Turbo Drop towers. Cedar Point's Power Tower riders travel only about 240 feet of the distance up or down.

At Valleyfair, Power Tower is 275 feet tall and features two Turbo Drop towers and one Space Shot tower. Riders travel approximately 250 feet of the journey up and down the tower at a maximum speed of 50 mph. On either journey, more than three seconds of weightlessness is experienced. ^[1]

Power Tower is the tallest ride in Minnesota. The ride was originally intended to be 300 feet (91 m) tall, but the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits Valleyfair's rides from being built taller than 275 feet because of the nearby Flying Cloud Airport.

Power Tower is powered by air in large cylinders in which an aircraft steel cable, connected to the internal piston, travels and is also connected to the external rider car. Hydraulic cylinders at the base of the tower help it to its final rest and provide an extra measure of safety in case of a ride fail. The ride is produced by S&S Power of Logan, Utah, and was built in the year 1998.^{[citation needed]}

A Turbo Drop tower raises the ride vehicle to the top of the tower, holds it there for a few seconds, then drops it down the tower. The vehicle "bounces" before coming to a stop on the loading platform. A Space Shot tower shoots the ride vehicle up the tower, at which point the vehicle comes back down the tower, bounces, and comes to a stop on the loading platform.

Formerly, the space where Power Tower stands was occupied by Tot Town, a children's play area.