T-Rex Tower – Jeanneret/Wetzel
The dinosaur drop tower with a storied history
Operator: Christine Jeanneret and Jack Wetzel (Switzerland) · since 2019
The T-Rex Tower Jeanneret Wetzel is a travelling drop tower with a striking dinosaur design. Christine Jeanneret and Jack Wetzel present the ride at Swiss fairs, including the Basler Herbstmesse. Unlike a large observation tower, this compact ride focuses on the interplay of upward movement, brief drops and views of the fairground.
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What to expect
- Family-friendly
Highlights & records
Dinosaur-themed design; compact travelling drop tower with a changing history of names and operators.
From the Silver Tower to the T-Rex Tower: this compact free-fall tower combines family thrills with an unusual journey through several showman businesses.
Ride on the T-Rex Tower Jeanneret Wetzel
First, passengers take their seats in a ring-shaped seating arrangement around the tower. The gondola then moves up and down along the central column. The repeated changes in height are what make the ride so appealing: the view changes with moments when your body feels lighter for an instant. The dinosaur theme gives the ride its own distinctive character.
The organisers of the Basler Herbstmesse also describe the tower as an attraction for young visitors and the young at heart. At Barfüsserplatz, its imaginative paintwork makes it stand out among the other rides. Its compact design sets it clearly apart from the much taller drop towers visible from afar at large fairs.
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General
- Manufacturer
- SBF-Visa (Italy)
- Model
- Magic Drop Tower
- Year built
- 2008
- Premiere
- 2008
- Original name
- Silberturm
- Also known as
- Silberturm; Supertower; Abenteuerturm
Ride
- Height
- 17 m
Vehicles & capacity
- Riders per gondola
- 16
Set-up & transport
- Footprint
- 13 × 7 m
- Power rating
- 22 kW
History of the T-Rex Tower Jeanneret Wetzel
In addition, the current ride has had several names and owners. The ride database Ride-Index lists the tower as a structure by SBF-Visa from 2007/2008. It initially travelled under Manfred Zehle junior as Silberturm. Later, Matthias Mölter operated it under the name Supertower. In 2017, it appeared as Abenteuerturm at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind.
After that, 2018, Alexander Zinnecker took over the tower and presented it as T-Rex Tower. This gave the ride the name by which it is recognised today. Finally, at the end of 2019, it moved to Switzerland to Jeanneret and Wetzel. This history is important when you look for older photos or reports: Silberturm, Supertower, Abenteuerturm and T-Rex Tower refer to the same physical ride in this sequence of operators.
Timeline
Started out as Silberturm with Zehle junior; later Supertower with Mölter; 2017 as Abenteuerturm at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind; from 2018 as T-Rex Tower with Zinnecker, since the end of 2019 in Switzerland with Jeanneret/Wetzel.
- Operator
- Christine Jeanneret and Jack Wetzel (Switzerland)
- With operator since
- 2019
- Type of operation
- Travelling
- Status
- Active / in operation
Previous operators
Manfred Zehle junior (2008–2011); Matthias Mölter (2011–2017); Alexander Zinnecker (2018–2019)
Technology, operators and design
Technically, the tower is made by the Italian manufacturer SBF-Visa. The ride belongs to the compact Magic Drop free-fall tower family. Ride-Index lists a capacity of 16 passengers and a comparatively small footprint. The official Basel Autumn Fair gives a height of 17 metres for the current presentation. This makes the ride suitable for inner-city fairgrounds, where very large towers are more difficult to accommodate.
Today, Christine Jeanneret and Jack Wetzel operate the tower in Switzerland. Its history of names and operators makes it particularly interesting for ride enthusiasts who follow attractions over many years. You can find more rides and their stories in our attraction directory.
Who is the drop tower suitable for?
This makes the T-Rex Tower appealing to visitors who want to experience the typical ups and downs of a drop tower for the first time without choosing one of the tallest towers straight away. At the same time, its unusual design makes the ride an eye-catching attraction for families. Before boarding, check the current height and safety requirements displayed at the ride. This will help you decide whether the ride is suitable for you and your companions.
Upcoming funfair dates
