Reviews of Four of the Hottest Roller Coasters on the Las Vegas Strip
The Big Shot
Price: $15.95 (which includes admission to the tower)
Above all the rides on the Vegas strip, this one is not for the faint of heart! In fact, The Big Shot is the highest ride in the world. The ride is located at the very top of the Stratosphere Hotel, and getting there can be an adventure of it’s own; on a crowded night the line to ride up to the tower can last over an hour, but it’s a small price to pay for hardcore thrill seekers. The Big Shot literally shoots it’s passengers straight up from the base of the platform, reaching speeds of 45 miles per hour, and more impressively, taking its riders up 1,081 feet over Las Vegas. The view of the strip and all it’s lights are absolutely beautiful, and there is negative G’s at the top, which gives you a unique feeling of weightlessness.
Scare Factor: 5/5
Height Factor: 5/5
Speed Factor: 3/5
Overall Impression: 3.5/5
The Manhattan Express
Price: $12.50
Ever notice that roller coaster on the roof of the New York, New York hotel? Unlike the buildings behind it, The Manhattan Express is real. This is a great coaster for adults as well as kids. It has enough speed, drops and flips for a fun ride, but in the end doesn’t exactly match up to the thrills you get at big theme parks. The best thing about this ride is that it lasts for over two minutes, and not seconds like some of the other coasters.
Scare Factor: 2.5/5
Height Factor: 3/5
Speed Factor: 3/5
Overall Impression: 3/5
The Canyon Blaster
Price: $6
The Canyon Blaster is another great coaster for younger riders. It’s a part of the Adventure Dome at Circus Circus, which is a mini theme park with many other rides in addition to this one. This roller coaster makes for a fun, bumpy ride; where as most of the coasters on the strip have drops and a flip, this coaster also has twists and whips you around sideways. I would compare this to one of the more tame rides at a major theme park.
Scare Factor: 3/5
Height Factor: 3/5
Speed Factor: 3/5
Overall Impression: 3.5/5
Speed
Price: $10
Speed at the Sahara is my absolute favorite ride on the strip, and the only one I would honestly say gives Six Flags Theme Park a run for it’s money. This ride takes it’s name seriously; it hits speeds of 70mph and whips through tunnels, drops and a single loop, then does the same path backwards. The ride even starts off fast, which is something everyone should be aware of; unfortunately I had my head forward before take off, which resulted in a headache for the rest of the night. This coaster was built low to the ground, and it’s highest point is the tower at the end, which reaches 224 feet. Height fanatics should stick to the big shot, this one is made purely for speed enthusiasts.
Scare Factor: 3/5
Height Facto: 2/5
Speed Factor: 5/5
Overall Impression: 4/5
