Recognized as a geological marvel, Niagara Falls draws millions of visitors every year. But now, they’ll be able to get closer than ever thanks to a new ride experience allowing travelers to virtually fly over the thunderous falls.
Filmed using custom-built drones, the new “Niagara Takes Flight: A Soaring Adventure” experience offers visitors a birds-eye view of the falls from a more than 55-foot-wide dome screen, according to the Niagara Parks Commission. The new attraction suspends riders with gondola-style seating and uses sensory effects to enhance the experience, including wind, mist, and scent.
“Niagara Takes Flight captures the essence of our world-renowned natural and cultural heritage and we are proud to now share it with our guests for the first time,” Bob Gale, the chair of Niagara Parks, said in a statement, adding the project “supports the pursuit of our vision to be one of the most spectacular parks in the world, while driving tourism and supporting the local economy.”
To create the ride, Niagara Parks leaned on a Disney Imagineer and tapped Canadian director James Cameron to narrate some of the pre-show experience. Before boarding the ride, which lasts about six minutes, visitors are guided through several rooms, including one featuring original Indigenous artwork and another detailing the post-contact history of Niagara Falls.
The ride experience is accessible, however guests must transfer from their mobility device to the flying theater seat.
The ride is located on the top floor of the Table Rock Centre, which sits atop the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and features shopping and dining. Tickets for the attraction cost $29 Canadian dollars (about $21) for adults.
Stan Cho, Ontario’s minister of tourism, culture and gaming, said the new attraction “will create lifelong memories and become another great reason to bring your friends and family to Niagara.”
Cho added: “Niagara Falls is a Canadian icon–an awe-inspiring natural wonder unlike any other on the planet… [Now] visitors will be able to experience the Falls and marvel at the natural beauty of the Niagara Region like never before.”
More than 12 million people visit Niagara Falls every year, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. The falls can also be viewed from the United States in New York’s Niagara Falls State Park.
One of the best ways to explore the area, which was recently ranked as the best tourist destination in Canada by Travel + Leisure, is by booking a boat to hear the roar of the falls up close.
