While we were still living in Ohio, my kids and I spent the day at Kings Island. We braved the lines and rode every ride they offered. Roller coasters being our favorite, we jumped back in line over and over and made our way through the park.

The simplicity of the design of Drop Tower is deceptive. This ride is terrifying. Plain and simple.

Always game for thrill rides, we stood in the long line and waited our turn. We were corralled through the line and directed to our three seats with me in the middle. They strapped us in and I, of course, double-checked the restraints and tightened the belts. We waited while the ride workers went through the security checks and signaled to each other to ‘go’.

The ride was smooth as we ascended higher and higher. After awhile, I felt like we surely were close to the top. It didn’t stop. I tried to look up but couldn’t really see anything. I twisted around the restraints but that didn’t help. It kept going for close to a minute, and as I saw the landscape shrink, I knew I was in trouble with absolutely no escape.

The ride clanked to a stop and hovered 315 feet above the earth for a brief moment of sheer, mind numbing terror. Before the brain could even register, the saucer dropped in a free fall for 26 fucking stories.

I don’t even think I screamed. In fact, I’m pretty sure I didn’t.

The brakes engaged and we slowed to a stop at the bottom of the column. The three of us sat there and waited to be released from our death chairs. I was absolutely horrified and, walking towards the ride’s exit, my daughter and I started talking immediately about how scary it was. Completely after the fact, and to no end, my knees began to shake and I started crying.

My son hadn’t said a word so I turned to him and said “What did you think of it?” He answered “It was pretty bad.”

Yes. That is succinct and adequate.

It was pretty bad.

That was one ride we did not repeat.