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Big Shot Thrill Ride

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Wannabejetset
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4 out of 5
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5
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Big Shot Thrill Ride

  • December 4, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by catronma from Nixa, Missouri
I love the unusual thrill rides and this was one of the best. To begin you are rather high up on the top of the stratosphere. You are than strapped into your seat on the needle, with 4 people on 4 sides, and it works like a sling shot going up and down when you hit the top you can see all of Vegas, and you are HIGH, a great rush!

From journal Las Vegas 04

Big Shot Thrill Ride

  • July 1, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by shepherd333 from Shavertown, Pennsylvania
For those who love thrill rides and aren't afraid of heights, I definitely recommend riding the "Big Shot" on the very top of the "Statosphere" hotel/casino. Sort of like a "reverse bungee," this sling-shot ride propels you upwards of 100 feet (not to mention that you're already 900 feet up to begin with), and lets you freefall back down. The ride will bounce up and down a few times before coming to a complete stop. The coolest thing about this ride is that it's up so high, and gives you and awesome view of the entire city! I think most of the adrenaline comes from the anticipation of when the ride will start. You're just sitting there, and there's no warning of when this thing is going to shoot you up into the atmosphere! I've been on this ride during the day and at night...I recommend riding it at night when the city is all lit up. It's a surreal experience!

From journal Vegas, baby!

Big Shot Thrill Ride

  • March 4, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Traveler707 from SONOMA, California
Definitely go at NIGHT. You get to the top of the tower and see all the lights of Vegas below you. The view is very pretty, and it's nice for the people who don't want the thrill of the ride.

You have probably been on rides like this one before that shoot you up and let you free fall down. The twist of this is that it's happening on top of a building.

The initial shoot-off is with amazing force. You really feel like you have just blasted off to the moon. When you get to the top, there are a few seconds when you feel you are floating over the city of Vegas, and then you go screaming down again.

What a rush!

From journal Best of Las Vegas

Stratosphere Tower & Thrill Rides

  • April 2, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Sarah the Expat from London, United Kingdom
Stratosphere Tower & Thrill Rides

A good one for the adrenaline junkies out there! The Stratosphere Tower is the tallest building in Vegas at over 900 feet, and has four different thrill rides. At the time I went (2002) there were only two, the High Roller (Roller Coaster) and the Big Shot. They've added two new ones that sound even better, go to the website to check it out.

The High Roller is relatively tame--it sort of has to be, given that it runs basically in a circle around the top of the tower. There are some breath-catching ups and downs, but the only real thrill is looking over the edge and realizing how high up you are.

On the Big Shot, basically you are in a row of four on one side of a large spire, strapped into a harness, legs dangling. Then you are suddenly launched up skyward, dropped part way back down, launched upwards again, and down a ways (repeat, repeat), until you feel like a piece of popcorn. Brilliant, I say! When you're up there looking out, it feels as though you're being thrown into space! Just don't go on twice in a row--I got ill, perhaps the altitude had something to do with it. Still, I'd go again!

From journal Las Vegas on a Budget!

Editor Pick

The Bigshot and Viewing deck

  • June 23, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Wannabejetset from St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
The Bigshot and Viewing deck

The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino would not be worth the visit if it wasn't for the viewing deck and thilling ride called the Bigshot. Both are located above the 100th something floor and overlooks all of Vegas. You can only go at night if you want to appreciate this (you can go during the day but I will be disappointed in you), as the Vegas strip looks like a swimming pool of lights from that high up. It is truly a site to see. The viewing deck gives you 360 degree views of Vegas, but the ride makes it worth the trip. There are two rides at the top of the stratosphere, the Bigshot and something else. Do not waste your time on the something else (really, its called the High Roller Rollercoaster, but don't waste your money). The Bigshot, for $8 per 20 second ride (the 45 minute wait is inlcuded free of charge) is at the top of the stratosphere and launches you straight up an additional 160 feet straight up at an unbelievable 70 MPH (amusement park people know what I am talking about when I say unbeleivable)! 4 G's of force on the way up and 0 G's on the way down!You hit the top, and proceed to have a bungy jump effect as the ride comes back down, all the while overlooking the Vegas lights from a 150 or so stories above the ground!! Whew! To make the most out of this sick adventure, you MUST go at night and should be seriously trashed (although not quite at the vomit stage yet).

From journal Vegas, baby!

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