Det Gyldne Tårn

Hurtling through the air, would you trust a tower named Det Gyldne Tårn, the Golden Tower? It sounds like a fairy tale, right? But this is Tivoli Gardens, where fairy tales come to life, sometimes with a jolt of adrenaline. Det Gyldne Tårn is not for the faint of heart. It’s a 63-meter-tall drop tower. That makes it one of the tallest rides in Tivoli and one of the tallest structures in all of Denmark. Built in 1999 by S&S Worldwide, the company originally wanted to call it “Turbo Drop”. That name might give you a better sense of what to expect. Det Gyldne Tårn is known as one of Tivoli’s wildest rides. Twelve people at a time are strapped into the gondola. Then, they are hoisted to the top. For a moment, you’re suspended, gazing out over Copenhagen. You see the city lights, the colorful rooftops of Tivoli, the distant glimmer of the Øresund. Then, the moment breaks. You plummet 55 meters, experiencing a brief moment of weightlessness, or -1g as the engineers call it. It’s a controlled freefall. But let me tell you, it feels utterly uncontrolled when you’re experiencing it. Det Gyldne Tårn has had its share of drama beyond the usual screams of delight and terror. In 2006, a 27-year-old man tried to climb the tower to attempt suicide. Thankfully, he was stopped. A more unusual incident occurred in 2019. A guest was hit by a metal drill bit that fell from the top of the tower. A technician had been cleaning a sensor. The area below hadn’t been cordoned off. Tivoli received a fine of 140,000 kroner. They paid it in 2023 and changed their safety procedures. So, as you stand here, looking up at Det Gyldne Tårn, remember its stories. Remember the thrill, the height, and yes, even the drill bit. It’s all part of the rich tapestry of Tivoli Gardens, where even near-tragedies become quirky footnotes in the ongoing saga of fun and excitement. Ready to take the plunge?