Big Shot

Big Shot is the highest thrill ride in the United States - a launch tower bolted to the mast of The STRAT's SkyPod that fires 16 riders from the 921-foot platform up to about 1,081 feet at 45 mph, hitting roughly 4 Gs on the way up and floating them weightless on the drops. The lit Strip spreading out beneath your dangling feet is the whole sales pitch, and it delivers. It's also the tower's last thrill ride standing: Insanity left permanently in 2023, and X-Scream remains closed for maintenance, leaving Big Shot and the separate SkyJump descent as what actually runs up top.

Now the fine print. The ride itself is a launch and a few bounces, under a minute, and the cheapest way onto it is the $36 bundle of one thrill ride plus tower admission; the unlimited-rides bundle ($49 Monday to Thursday, $59 Friday to Sunday) only pays off if you plan to re-launch repeatedly. The ride runs 2 PM to 10 PM and is dark on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Everything up top is weather-gated too: wind, rain or lightning stops the ride without notice, and the tower top runs cold and gusty even on warm evenings. Riders need 48 inches of height, under-15s need a parent, and the STRAT anchors the far north Strip, so dusk is the best-view window and also the longest elevator line.