Observation Tower

The Observation Tower is a gentle ride featured in all three mainline RollerCoaster Tycoon games. It involves a rotating observation cabin slowly rising to the top of a tower, stopping at the top for a few seconds to allow guests to observe the park from above, and then slowly descending back to the station.
==Construction==
The tower is a cylindrical steel structure. The observation car is hauled up by cables running to the top of the tower. Categorized as an indoor ride, since guests are covered from rain while aboard the car, from entrance to exit. As such, guests will flock to it when it rains, making this ride a must-have during rainy days.
==Vehicles==
==Pre-built designs==
====RollerCoaster Tycoon====
=====Scenarios=====
*Cloud Nine (Pokey Park)
*Tower 1 (Urban Jungle)
*Viewing Tower (Megaworld Park)
*Aussichtsturm (Heide-Park)
*Condor (Heide-Park)
*Panorama-Turm (Heide-Park)
====RollerCoaster Tycoon 2====
=====Scenarios=====
*Observation Tower (Animatronic Film Set)
*Blob from Out of Space Ride (Rock 'n' Roll Revival)
====RollerCoaster Tycoon 3====
=====Scenarios=====
*Dizzy Heights (La-La Land)
==Other Information==
*Observation Towers have lower excitement ratings, unless they are built to very tall heights and have a lot of scenery around them. They make a good alternative to outdoor rides and guests will flock to them in the rain. A good strategy therefore could be to add a few of them, kept closed (or not) until rain starts pouring.
*Observation Towers are one of the safest money-makers available. By making the tower as short as possible, the ride duration and –by extension– line queues, will be shorter, with less chances of a break down, while also maximizing profits. It's, therefore, a win-win situation, especially with the massive excitement boost from scenery.
*Observation Towers with a ride fee adjusted anywhere from $0.90 to $0.20, depending on how popular and old the ride is, will most likely be constantly profitable. It is usually a good idea to delete and replace the ride every couple of years, which will make it brand new, and as such allow the ride fee to go back up. The cost of this operation is well covered by their generated income.
==In Real Life==
The observations towers in RCT1 and RCT2 are based off Gyro Towers that were built by both Intamin and Von Roll Holding. RCT3's Hershey's Kissing Tower is based off the Intamin Gyro 1200 model at HersheyPark. The standard observation tower is based off the Intamin Gyro Tower 1000, while the double deck observation tower is based off the Von Roll Holding Space Towers, they were manufactured by Willy Bühler Space Towers Company of Berne, Switzerland with cabins by Von Roll. Most notably seen at Cedar Point which had the Space Spiral (demolished in 2012), Astroworld's Astroneedle (dismantled in 2000) and Minnesota State Fair's Space Tower. RCT3's observation tower's do not seem to be based on any particular observation tower.
==Trivia==
* RCT1's strategy guide lists it debuting in Added Attractions, it actually was present in the main game.
* In RCT3, if the ride is started without any ending part (just the station), it will fly off and crash after a while.
==Gallery==
Category:Gentle Rides
Category:Rides
Category:Attractions
Category:Gentle Rides in RCT1
Category:Gentle Rides in RCT2
Category:Gentle Rides in RCT3
Category:RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Ride
Category:RollerCoaster Tycoon 3