Thrill seekers and water park junkies might think waterslides are old news, but a waterslide in Kansas City, Kansas, could change that. Scheduled to open in mid-2014, "Verruckt," at Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kansas, is slated to be the tallest waterslide in both the U.S. and the world.
The Specs
- As of early 2014, Schlitterbahn hasn't released the exact height of Verruckt, but its website says the slide will be 17 stories tall. Given the rough estimate of 10 feet per story, that would put Verruckt at approximately 170 feet tall -- nearly 40 feet taller than Brazil's "Insano" waterslide. The ride's total length is 601 feet. After climbing 264 steps to the top, visitors will share a four-person raft to go down.
The Experience
- "Verruckt" is German for "insane" or "crazy"-- an apt name for the slide, which will whip adrenaline addicts down its steep first drop at speeds of more than 65 miles per hour, beating Insano's top speed, but only after a terrifyingly slow buildup of speed at the top. After the nearly-vertical first drop, you'll fly up five more stories only to descend again, streaking into the pool at the ride's end as a wall of water flies up in front of your raft and likely gives you a good splash. Regulations are subject to change, but children will likely have to meet a height or weight requirement to ride.
- Schlitterbahn
- Schlitterbahn, located in Kansas City, Kansas, opens for the warm late spring and summer months in late May, and Verruckt, according to an article in The Kansas City Star, will likely open at that time in 2014. Visitors to the park can buy tickets online. The park is usually open from midmorning to early evening. If you aren't up for the hair-raising heights of Verruckt, you can enjoy another record-breaking ride at the park by diving into the longest tidal wave river in the world. Schlitterbahn also features beaches, minislides for kids and a host of other water attractions.
Runners Up
- If you can't make it to Kansas City to enjoy Verruckt, you can ride some of the other biggest waterslides in the U.S. Summit Plummet, in Disney World Orlando, comes close with a 12-story drop and speeds of nearly 60 miles per hour. Try Scorpion's Tail in the Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Noah's Ark Family Park. It's 10 stories tall and drops the floor from beneath riders' feet at the top of the ride, sending them speeding down a 400-foot-long tube.
