‘Insane’ Water Slide Sets the Bar at a Steep 17-Story Drop

Touted to be the tallest, fastest, steepest waterslide in the world, Verrückt (German for insane) is set to open in the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City on May 23, 2014. Taller than Niagara falls, adrenaline junkies have to climb up 264 steps to conquer this 17 story beast. Experience the rush of the thrill in a 4 person raft barreling down a 168 foot and 7 inches drop and then blasting on over to another hill with a more forgiving 50 foot drop. Seat belts will be provided in each raft and a netting over the quasi-tube slide will catch any rafts going airborne. Schlitterbahn’s Layne Pitcher commented, “It’s not 90 degrees, although when you stand on top of it or are looking down the structure, it does have the optical illusion, which is part of the fun of the attraction or the fear. People are going to get that lighter-than-weight feeling as they ascend down the ride.” Guinness World Records will be at the opening ceremony to certify whether Verrückt will oust the 14 story current record holder ‘Insano‘ in Brazil.

For another record-setting height, read up on the world’s tallest climbing wall, Diga di Luzzone.