NEWSLETTER
Niagara Falls, NY (October 31, 2025) - The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) has named "Niagara Virtual,” the exciting and gamified Virtual Reality (VR) adventure at Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours’ new home in Niagara Falls, as a finalist for the group’s Brass Ring award for the “Best New Product” in the Family Ride/Attraction category in the world!
The finalist designation was announced by Frontgrid, the Wales-based company that developed and oversaw fabrication of “Niagara Virtual” through its ParadropVR subsidiary. Frontgrid has been recognized for its creative and technical excellence by numerous professional associations worldwide since 2017.
The company’s immersive VR simulation at Rainbow Air’s new Tourism Center uses advanced self-steer technology to put guests in charge of their adventure as they virtually fly above and around the Falls. “Niagara Virtual” combines motion based engineering and immersive 360 film and VR content to give a sophisticated flying sensation. Unlike most new VR attractions, this one is a different experience every time!
“Niagara Virtual” has 11 simulator units for guests to get the unique VR experience of parasailing over the Falls! A brief virtual helicopter ride leads up to the person “jumping out” at 3,500 ft. Guests then take the reins and soar through a remarkably real virtual environment around the Falls. The video game built into the ride offers targets to fly through, giving people the chance to compete for bragging rights with others in their party. It’s a stunning visual journey into places that cannot be reached any other way.
Recognition of the unique VR experience at Rainbow Air as one of the world’s best new amusement activities sheds additional light on the commitment to top quality experiences that people from near and far can expect all year long at the reinvented Rainbow Air.
“Having an amazing weatherproof activity like ‘Niagara Virtual’ is a fantastic complement to the absolutely breathtaking helicopter tours over the Falls that we have been doing for more than 30 years,” said Patrick Keyes, Rainbow Air’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “As we move into our new year-round operation, getting this finalist nod from the world leaders in the amusement industry shows that Rainbow Air is a top-shelf attraction every day. We hope more people will come to find this out for themselves.”
The winner of this award, as well as Brass Ring honors in various other categories, will be announced at IAAPA’s annual conference in Orlando this November.
“Niagara Virtual” is a key component of the new 30,000 sq ft Rainbow Air Tourism Center on Acheson Drive in Niagara Falls. The building, located just off Buffalo Avenue and less than a mile from the city’s downtown tourist district, is part of a $25 million total investment in the building, its new fleet of helicopters, and the innovative “Niagara Virtual” VR adventure.
For more information or to request photos/video, contact Patrick Keyes at keyesp@rainbowairinc.com or (716) 329-4414.
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