Lex Luthor “drops in” on Superman from record-breaking height at Six Flags Magic Mountain

By | July 9, 2012

VALENCIA, Calif. — “Look, up in the sky!” continues to be a rallying cry for Six Flags Magic Mountain, thanks to its latest sky-scraping, technologically daring thrill contraption: the Superman villain-themed Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom. The record-setting vertical drop ride officially opened to the public July 7.

Affixed to both sides of the iconic, 1996-built tower supporting the dual-tracked launch coaster Superman: Escape from Krypton, Lex Luthor is a giddy engineering feat — hoisting two floorless, eight-passenger gondolas skyward a record 400 feet and releasing them after a panoramic pause. The gondolas reach 85 mph during the five-second descent, with noticeable braking kicking in smoothly a mere 40 feet or so from the ground.

“We are excited to add another world-record ride to our existing collection of record-breaking attractions,” said Bonnie Rabjohn, Six Flags Magic Mountain park president. “Six Flags is known as the industry leader in introducing innovative thrills…and Six Flags Magic Mountain, with more one-of-a-kind rides and attractions than any other theme park on the planet, is proud to expand our status as the Thrill Capital of the World.”

Named after the DC Comics villain and Superman’s greatest enemy, Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom funnels guests through a stylish queue building representing LexCorp — a company Luthor uses as a front to finance his criminal activities. Displayed here is the elaborate suit Luthor uses to fight Superman. Once secured aboard the gondolas, passengers are pulled to the top of the tower and dropped, all while the 100-mph Superman: Escape from Krypton shuttle cars blast backwards up and down the tower.

Actor Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor on the long-running hit CW television series Smallville, and Dustin Penner, ice hockey forward for the NHL 2012 Stanley Cup champions the Los Angeles Kings, attended the ride’s media preview July 6.

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom and Superman: Escape from Krypton are products of Intamin Amusement Rides International of Liechtenstein.