Terrifying see-through Skyslide perched nearly 1,000ft above the city opens in Los Angeles
The 45-foot-long glass slide juts out from the 70th floor of the tallest building west of Mississippi
IF you're remotely scared of heights, this probably isn't the tourist attraction for you.
The breathtaking, see-through 'Skyslide', which juts out from the tallest building west of Mississippi, US, officially opened to the public today.
The ride is perched nearly 1,000 feet (304m) above the street, starting on the 70th floor of the U.S. Bank Tower.
For just $8 (nearly £6) on top of the $25 (£18) fee to visit the observation deck, brave thrill-seekers can take the terrifying 45 feet plunge down to the 69th floor, which takes just four seconds.
According to the building's owner, Singapore-based OUE Ltd., the glass on the fully enclosed slide is just one-and-a-quarter inches (3.2 cm) thick, but it can reportedly withstand hurricane-force winds and even a powerful earthquake.
Members of the press were invited to experience the slide on Wednesday prior to its official opening and described it as "terrifying and exhilarating".
Ballsy riders are provided with a thin gray mat to sit on before zooming down the glass tube, enjoying a soft landing on the terrace below.
Related Stories
While Skyslide offers visitors a new and unique experience, according to the U.S. Bank Tower has been struggling to find tenants for years.
When the U.S. Bank Tower first opened in 1989 it was 80 per cent full, however this number had diminished to just 50 per cent when OUE took it on three years ago for $367.5million (£268.5m).
Organisations, particularly in Los Angeles, have reportedly been shunning skyscrapers in favour of restored warehouses and historic buildings for their office spaces.
Owners on the Bank Tower hope this exciting new tourist attraction might help towards recouping some of those lost earnings.
'It's utterly terrifying': Journalist Amanda Lee Myers' experience of the Skyslide
"I've jumped out of a plane from 13,000 feet. I’ve ridden 400-foot-tall roller coasters that top speeds of 160km/h, and I once found myself using my fingernails to clutch the side of a rock face way too steep to climb without gear.
Heights have never fazed me. Until the Skyslide, a terrifying glass tube on the outside of the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. It’s open to the public Saturday, and journalists were given an early chance to try it out.
Perched 304m above the ground on the side of the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi, the 360-degree glass slide is utterly terrifying. It’s is nearly a straight shot down, except for a small turn at the beginning that causes riders to bump against the side of the glass, much to their horror.
I tried not to pay attention to the screams from other people riding the slide as I waited in what seemed like an interminable line. I tried not to think about the fact that just 2.5cm separated me from a 304m drop.
My heart thumped as I approached the top of the slide. I could see the streets below me and the infinite city straight ahead. As I hooked each foot into a little mat that helps riders pick up speed and avoid skidding on the glass, I felt my hands trembling. And when I scooched slowly toward the point of no return, I thought strongly about turning around.
I forged on, unable to contain a terrified squeal as I flew down. “Oh my God, Richard!” I yelled to my friend, an AP photographer at the bottom of the slide.
Four seconds later I shot out of the bottom and am proud to say I stuck the landing. Others have tumbled nearly head over heels.
Was it one of the scariest things I’ve ever done? Absolutely. Would I do it again? I just did."