FARMINGTON -- In 41 days, the Rocket will blast off from Lagoon.
Think "Towering Inferno," with all those people screaming inside a skyscraper's free-falling elevator. Except here you will be strapped into a contraption that leaves your arms and legs dangling in the open air.The Rocket's "blast-off" will take you to the top of a 217-foot tower in three seconds, subjecting you to a gravitational force of 4.5. In the "re-entry" tower, you will drop the equivalent of 18 floors in three seconds, your body subjected to the same gravitational force.
Lagoon's newest attraction will be ready to go into orbit on the weekend of April 4, weather permitting, said Dick Andrew, director of marketing.
"You get a great view from upthere, but don't look down," advised Grant Pittman, Lagoon's lead plumber and one of the few who's had a chance to go to the top of the Rocket so far.
The Rocket will consist of three towers fastened together for stability. The third tower will later be fitted for either "blast off" or "re-entry,' depending on which ride proves most popular, said Andrew. A new lighted sign with the word Lagoon will be placed atop the towers.
The Rocket is expected to be able to handle 900 riders per hour, and the price of admission will be included with an All-Day Passport. This year, Passports will be $27.95 plus tax, with substantial discounts for children, senior citizens and group visits.
The Rocket was acquired for more than $3 million from S&S Sport Tower, a Logan company that has built some 60 such towers around the world.
Over the past few years, Lagoon has added several major attractions, including the $7 million Rattlesnake Rapids and the Wild Mouse, said Andrew.
This spring, visitors will also find a new food area in the Pioneer Village as well as an additional Subway Shop and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor.
For information about Lagoon, call 451-8000.