The Strat Tower (Stratosphere) & Thrill Rides X-Scream, Big Shot at Las Vegas

Key Takeaways

• On the outdoor deck, there is a ride called X-Scream, the fourth highest thrill ride in the world
• It consists of a single car that rolls back and forth on a straight piece of track, slightly overhanging the tower, and pivots vertically in a see-saw motion
• Another ride, Big Shot, travels up and down the tower’s needle and was the highest thrill ride in the world until the Sky Drop opened on the Canton Tower
• Insanity, the third highest thrill ride in the world, used to dangle riders over the edge of the tower and then spin in a circular pattern, but it has been removed from the list of thrill rides at the resort
• The indoor observation deck includes food and beverage outlets

Video Chapter Guide

Here is a quick reference for the key sections covered in the video:

• 0:0 STRAT Tower @Las Vegas
• 0:18 elevators among fastest
• 0:33 X-Scream
• 1:37 Big Shot
• 2:19 food and beverage
• 2:23 Observation tower
• 3:02 Sphere Use these timestamps to jump directly to the section most relevant to your situation.

The STRAT Tower: Basics and Getting Up There

The STRAT Tower is the tallest in the United States and the second tallest in the Western Hemisphere. It used to be called the Stratosphere, but it has since been rebranded as the STRAT. The tower elevators are among the fastest in the world — they take less than one minute to reach the 108th floor, which features an indoor observation deck. Stairs lead up to an outdoor deck on the 109th floor.

Thrill Rides on the Outdoor Deck

On the outdoor deck there is a ride called X-Scream, the fourth highest thrill ride in the world. It consists of a single car that rolls back and forth on a straight piece of track, slightly overhanging the tower, and pivots vertically in a seesaw motion.

Another ride, Big Shot, travels up and down the tower’s needle and was the highest thrill ride in the world until the Sky Drop opened on the Canton Tower [?Kantan Tower in transcript]. Insanity, the third highest thrill ride in the world, used to dangle riders over the edge of the tower and then spin in a circular pattern, but it has been removed from the list of thrill rides at the resort.

The indoor observation deck includes food and beverage outlets. Both decks provide wraparound views of the Las Vegas Valley — though at the time of filming, the view was blocked for a private event.

The Sphere, Visible from the Outdoor Deck

From the outdoor observation deck you can see the Sphere building. It is the world’s largest LED sphere display screen, measuring 366 feet high and 516 feet wide. It is a music and entertainment arena that cost $2.3 billion, making it the most expensive entertainment venue ever built in Las Vegas.