[toc]The newest addition to the Atlantic City skyline is going to be a giant vertical roller coaster.
Here comes AC’s Polercoaster
Last week, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority agreed to fund more than a quarter of the cost of building a Polercoaster (TM) in AC, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The company that wants to build the amusement ride — along with an entertainment complex with other attractions — will get more than $38 million in tax breaks. The pricetag for the whole project $138 million.
The project will be completed by the middle of 2019, if all goes according to plan. The centerpiece will be the 350-foot-high Polercoaster.
The ride is slated to be built on the spot the Sands casino once inhabited.
More about the Polercoaster
The Polercoaster concept has been rumored or in development in several locations, but it hasn’t gone live anywhere yet.
What exactly is a Polercoaster? It is a vertical and cylindrical roller coaster that is very different from its more horizontal cousins. It starts at the bottom, with riders driven to the top of the ride. From there, gravity takes over, as the ride twists and turns back to the base.
The Polercoaster also features an observation tower serviced by two glass elevators, giving patrons that want the view but not the ride. The top allows for an observation deck, a restaurant and/or retail space.
The ride is the brain child of US Thrill Rides.
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Just the latest non-gaming attraction in AC
Atlantic City keeps looking to add attractions that have nothing to do with gambling. Other examples:
- Atlantic Club will reopen as a waterpark resort.
- Showboat is launching a summer-long expo featuring esports.
- An observation wheel is slated to go up on the Boardwalk this summer.
It all points to an increasing amount of time and attention spent on pivoting AC to non-gaming revenue and tourism.