Six Flags Great Adventure SkyScreamer photo credit Jersey Family Fun

SkyScreamer: A Different Type of Thrill Ride

Last Thursday we were invited to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey to preview their newest attraction SkyScreamer. This extreme swing ride will be made it’s debut to the public on May 23rd in the newly-themed Adventure Alley section of the park. Park Communications Director, Kristin Siebeneicher kicked off the day with a pop of confetti and welcomed 30 Elvis impersonators, who are members of a local amusement enthusiasts club to be the first riders aboard SkyScreamer. I know you are scratching your head now and asking, “Why 30 Elvis impersonators?” The answer to this is because Adventure Alley is going to have a retro feel to it reminding us of the Six Flags theming of the past, and what is more retro then a group of Elvises getting “All Shook Up”.
 
 

Thank You to Six Flags Great Adventure for providing us with the fun video of the Elvis’s taking flight!

 
While waiting in the line for SkyScreamer, I couldn’t stop watching the ride in action, taking it all in. From the moment riders sit in their swing, and the lap bar and seatbelt are checked, your excitement builds in anticipation of the ride. As soon as you hear the ride host finish his spiel your feet begin to lift from the ground. The music starts and the wind starts blowing through your hair as the ride begins to spin and start it’s journey up the 242 ft tower. The thrill has begun! Before you know it you are at the top of the tower taking in all the beauty Six Flags has to offer maybe even picking out what attraction you want to head to next. While at the top of SkyScreamer the swings extend outward an amazing 98 ft and you truly feel like you are flying in your own bubble above the theme park. It is breathtaking. The ride begins to lower and just when you think you are almost to the bottom the thrills continue because the SkyScreamer sends you right back up to the top for one last moment of swinging. When the ride returned to the stopping position all you heard were people clapping and cheering.
 

Elvis loved SkyScreamer Photo Credit Jersey Family Fun

My favorite thing about SkyScreamer is that I can enjoy it with my whole family. I can sit with my 8 year old and experience the ride through his eyes. I can watch the excitement in his eyes while reassuring him it’s ok cause Mommy is on the ride with him. I can go on the ride with my tweens and teens and listen to them shriek in delight and give it two thumbs up at the end. This is a great way for a family to get a thrill together, I can’t wait to take my whole family to Six Flags Great Adventure to enjoy SkyScreamer.

The Girls Enjoying their ride photo credit Jersey Family Fun

SkyScreamer By The Numbers

• 242 ft tall or the equivalent of a 24 story building.
•  The swings spin outward to a 98 ft circle while in the air
• Rotates at 40MPH
• Can accomodate 32 riders per cycle sitting in pairs in open air swings
• The duration of the ride from start to finish is about 2:00
• Guests who are 44-47 inches may ride with an adult, Guests 48 inches and taller may ride without an adult

Photo Courtesy Six Flags Great Adventure

About Adventure Alley

Six Flags Great Adventure president, John Fitzgerald said ”In 2011, we asked our guests, through focus groups and online surveys, what they wanted to see in 2012.  The results may surprise you, overwhelmingly families and teens told us they wanted more attractions that they can ride together.  This is how the concept for Adventure Alley was born.  The area features rides and attractions that deliver thrills for all ages.  The rides and attractions are rooted in a simpler time before the mega-coasters and giga-coasters.”

“…overwhelmingly families and teens told us they wanted more attractions that they can ride together.”

Adventure Alley is going to bring back a bit of the nostalgia of Six Flags when it opened in the 1970′s. The rainbow logo that we all remember growing up will appear on new rides and in hidden locations. I can’t wait to visit the park with my kids and go on a rainbow scavenger hunt. There will be 5 rides in Adventure Alley that offer extreme and family friendly thrills. The spectrum of rides in this area will cater to the young and the young at heart.

Air Jumbo Photo Credit Six Flags Great Adventure

Rides in Six Flags Great Adventure Adventure Alley

• SkyScreamer- The swing ride stands where the former Flying Wave was located. It bring thrills to riders while swinging 24 stories into the sky. You can get a full 360 degree view of the park on this attraction.
• Fender Benders- A traditional Bumper Cars ride, guests must be at least 54″ tall to be the driver but smaller children may ride along as a passenger if they are under the 54″ requirement. Slated to open in June.
• Air Jumbo- Also known as the flying elephants ride, guests must be at least  48″ tall to ride. Now open.
• Deja Vu- A music themed scrambler ride, guests must be at least 48″ to ride alone, guests 36″ or taller may ride with an adult. Now open.
• The Big Wheel- This is the parks classic Ferris Wheel. The Big Wheel has been a park staple since opening in 1974. Guests must be a minimum of 42″ to ride alone. There is no height restriction when riding with an adult

To see more photos from SkyScreamer Media Preview Day check out our Facebook album

Six Flags Great Adventure is now open for its 39th full-time operating season.

In full disclosure, this post is sponsored in part by Six Flags Great Adventure, who provided Jersey Family Fun with tickets to attend the media day so that we could review Great Adventure for our readers. If you would like to invited Jersey Family Fun to your location, please contact us at reviews@jerseyfamilyfun.com.