SkyJump Las Vegas, Controlled skydiving platform at Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas, United States.
SkyJump Las Vegas is a commercial decelerator at The Strat on the Las Vegas Strip, with an official height of 829 ft (253 m). Riders in a custom jump suit are connected to a patented high-speed descender and leap from a small platform projecting from the tower's curved glass facade, descending in a controlled fall similar to bungee jumping. Guide wires keep them on course, and the machine slows them for a controlled landing.
The ride opened in 2010 as the first installation of its kind in North America, following similar versions in Macau and New Zealand. Tower management introduced it to offer a new experience that differed from the other thrill rides already operating on the rooftop observation deck.
The tower's name, Stratosphere, refers to the highest layer of Earth's atmosphere, and the ride's opening was marked by Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman proclaiming April 20, 2010 as SkyJump Day in the city. The jump is a joint development of Waitomo Adventures and AJ Hackett, the operator known for bungee jumps.
Riders receive a short safety lesson and are suited up in a custom Strat jump suit before being connected to the descender machine. Guide wires keep them from straying off course, and the machine slows them about 10 metres above the ground for a controlled landing.
SkyJump was devised by Waitomo Adventures and bungee operator AJ Hackett, using fan-descender technology developed for parachute training and stunts. The Las Vegas ride opened in 2010 and took the record for highest commercial decelerator descent from the Macau Tower jump, which had held it since August 2005.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,115 contributors worldwide.