GURNEE, Ill. – Thrill-seekers in the Midwest, buckle up because Six Flags Great America is stepping up its game with the new Sky Striker, touted as the tallest pendulum ride in the region and it's opening its doors to the public this weekend. Towering at 17 stories high and clocking speeds of 75 miles per hour, this ride isn't just about height and speed; it promises an "intense feeling of weightlessness" that defies gravity and dares you to redefine your adrenaline threshold, the park enthuses. "Sky Striker is set to redefine the thrill experience at Six Flags Great America," Park President John Krajnak stated, aiming to enhance the park's already impressive lineup of roller coasters.

The construction of the behemoth swing began last year where it now stands proudly near the historical American Eagle roller coaster in the park's "County Fair" section and takes the place of the former "Dare Devil Dive," reports NBC 5 Chicago. Before opening to the general public, NBC 5's own Lisa Chavarria took a "first spin" on the Sky Striker and shared her surprisingly pleasant encounter with the pendulum's force commenting, "The spinning is not nearly as bad as I thought it would be," adding a note about her hair's defiance of the ride's mighty gusts, "But my hair. ...wow. I Definitely should have tied my hair in a pony tail."

As far as season timing goes, Six Flags Great America opened its doors on April 20 and is set to extend its hours into the evenings during the summer, ranging between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on select days. With the addition of Sky Striker, the park now boasts 15 roller coasters, making it the second-most roller-coaster-rich park in the Midwest right after Cedar Point, as per the details shared by ABC 7 Chicago.

For those considering a visit, Sky Striker isn't just a solitary thrill machine, it's the crown atop the theme park's commitment to premier gravity-defying experiences that match and perhaps even outdo its existing selections. "As a major thrill attraction, it is the perfect complement to the record-breaking lineup of roller coasters that our guests look forward to season after season," Krajnak told ABC 7 Chicago, offering a glimpse into the park's vision for delivering continuous innovation and unadulterated fun to its patrons.