The longest steel slide in America just opened in Virginia Beach
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A snapshot of the Whorl, which is located behind the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Photo: Courtesy of Owl Creek Landing
The longest steel slide in the U.S. is 171 feet tall — and it's in Virginia Beach.
Why it matters: It spirals, requires a "specially made sack" for sliders and is just two hours from Richmond.
Driving the news: "The Whorl" opened last month as the latest addition to Owl Creek Landing, one of Virginia Beach's newest outdoor attractions complete with a canopy walk, treehouses and trails.
How it works: The slide is surrounded by the Nautilus Lookout Tower, which is six stories high, ADA-accessible and has pathways the width of LeBron James' seven-foot wingspan.
- After climbing a third of a mile up, riders enter their special sack and start their spiral down the Whorl.
Fun fact: Since the slide is surrounded by the tower and trees, its heat exposure is limited, per an FAQ entitled "Will the slide be hot in the summer?"
If you go: Riders have to be at least 7 years old and 4.5 feet tall.
- General admission starts at $13 for kids and is $28 for those 14 and up.
- But there's a $5-off coupon for first-timers on their home page.
- It's open Sunday-Thursday, 10am-4pm and until 6pm from Friday-Saturday.
What we're watching: If anyone gets sack burn.