Developers
received the go-ahead this week to build the world’s tallest roller coaster on
Orlando’s International Drive.
The
unanimous Orange County commission vote in favor of a hotly contested zoning
change that the Skyplex complex required came on Dec. 1 in front of a packed
meeting hall.
In
making the decision, commissioners cited the international notoriety that the
500-foot-plus Skyscraper roller coaster would bring to Orlando as well as the
economic boost that Skyplex will have on the northern portion of International
Drive.
In
addition to Skyscraper, Skyplex will feature Skyfall, which developers David
and Joshua Wallack say will be the highest drop ride on the planet. The project
is also slated to have a 350-room hotel and an elevated shopping, restaurant
and entertainment complex called SkyPlaza.
Universal
Orlando led a vocal campaign against approval of the $500 million project,
saying that the roller coaster’s 500-foot-plus
height would be inappropriate for the surrounding I-Drive corridor. In the lead
up to the vote, Universal financed a mailing campaign that encouraged residents
to speak out against the project, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Joshua Wallack and other critics countered that Universal’s real motivation
was to ward off a potential competitor. The height limit for rides at Islands
of Adventure and Universal Studios Orlando is 200 feet.
The Wallacks plan to begin constructing Skyplex over the winter, with
completion expected in two years.