"Kiddie coaster?" I asked with a look of disbelief on my face. Kiddie coasters don't normally beg you to grab onto something as you go spiraling around the track.

With that familiar Intamin whine, this coaster negotiates its short circuit in the broad daylight now. Once an in-the-dark coaster, this ride was re-built outside and there are plans to extend the track to make it even longer. With a suprising amount of force for a "kiddie coaster", this is just one of the many attractions at the park that you should have a go at.

Now, I'll rewind.

Michelle pitched a major thrill to me and said if I wasn't too chicken......

I've never backed down from a ride challenge, and I asked her what was up.

It turns out that the infamous Skycoaster, those evil steel creations that are popping up like gophers on a golf course all across the nation, come in custom sizes. MGM Grand, not wanting to shoot for a mere 150 feet for their model, ordered an extra 100 feet tacked on for good measure.

The Skyscreamer is the result--250 feet of no-holds-barred adrenaline rush that had been threatening me in the head ever since she first penciled me in for a flight.

Watch me take a dive! {skycoa01.avi [900KB]}

As a Skycoaster veteran (see Ripcord), I wasn't exactly apprehensive about my solo drop, but the mere thought of dangling 250 feet above the Las Vegas soil with nothing but a steel cable attached to my back caused more than a few heart flurries as the day grew nearer.

Finally, it was time. The imposing arch was certainly larger than any I'd ever seen before; in fact, it was damn huge. The flight attendants suited me up and led me out to the launch pod where I calmly talked to them about the tour while wondering if my pennyloafers would fall off. They advised me that I could fly barefoot, which is a nice thing to know, if you're prone to flying often.

With heart pounding a steady beat, I was winched up to the very tippy-top of the twin launch towers and then heard that familiar cry of "3....2.....1....FLY!"

Las Vegas looks really small from that height. I reached back and pulled the ripcord.

Time stood still for a moment as I began to free fall. There's not a coaster in the world that can duplicate that horrifying feeling. Then, the arc made itself known and at a speed of 65 m.p.h., I spread my arms and pretended I was Peter Pan.

The Skyscreamer and the Lightning Bolt are just two of the many attractions at MGM Grand Adventures and the park is planning an ambitious expansion project that includes adding a convention center and this summer will see the addition of Chaos, the already-infamous Chance Inc. flat ride that is anything but flat. When visiting the largest theme park in Nevada, be sure to sign yourself up for a flight on the Skyscreamer and you'll know the true meaning of fear.