Architecture

Tricentennial Tower double helix gondola ride planned for New Orleans

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Tricentennial Tower is a new tourist and family attraction proposed for New Orleans
Tricentennial Tower is a new tourist and family attraction proposed for New Orleans
Tricentennial Tower is a 320 ft (98 m) high with an observation tower and a restaurant at the top
Tricentennial Tower has a double helix gondola ride wrapped around its exterior
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Designs have been unveiled for a 320 ft (98 m) observation tower and vertical gondola ride in New Orleans. The Tricentennial Tower concept is part of plans to redevelop the World Trade Center New Orleans building.

The Tricentennial Tower concept is designed by US Thrill Rides, the same firm responsible for the Skyscraper vertical roller coaster that is due to open in Orlando next year. It is a tourist and family attraction with a double helix gondola ride wrapped around its exterior providing 360-degree views of the city.

The tower would have a "sky-high" restaurant and an observation deck, as well as a planned New Orleans 360 Interactive Experience, which would provide visitors with a panoramic virtual reality tour of New Orleans through the ages.

Tricentennial Tower has a double helix gondola ride wrapped around its exterior

Although the Tricentennial Tower is hardly in the same vein as some of the white-knuckle rides for which US Thrill Rides is best known, the company says it is designed to be an iconic attraction like Seattle’s Space Needle or the UK's London Eye. Rather than experiencing the adrenaline rush of a roller coaster, visitors would be afforded views of the French Quarter, Commercial Business District, Mississippi River and greater New Orleans area.

US Thrill Rides has developed the Tricentennial Tower concept in partnership with Two Canal Street Investors, which is currently a finalist in the process to redevelop WTC New Orleans. Plans to build the attraction would go ahead if Two Canal Street Investors goes on to win the redevelopment contract. Should that happen, US Thrill Rides says the tower will be completed by 2018, the year of the city's 300th birthday celebrations.

The video below provides a look at the design of the Tricentennial Tower.

Source: US Thrill Rides

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3 comments
Buellrider
Needs to be way higher so that it can look out over all other building in the city. Also, wouldn't it be nice to make that into a home. Make it 1000 feet high and live in the clouds. Similar to structure that Tom Cruise lived on in the 2013 movie, Oblivion.
The Skud
Would make a spectacular home, BUT - would be a tricky job getting down again if the power failed! Perhaps manual override on the gondola automatic fail-safe brakes (like elevators') to freewheel down?
Stephen N Russell
Need acess tubes or platform to gondolas due to power failure or incoming major storm if any Must address this for safety alone Be neat. But need gondola acess plus for EMTs alone IF warranted. Major suit case alone