After weeks of a soft open, Falcon's Fury — the tallest freestanding drop tower in North America — officially opened Tuesday at Busch Gardens, in Tampa.

"We know guests from around the world have been waiting to experience this one-of-a-kind thrill ride, and we are excited to officially invite those guests to ride Falcon's Fury," said Jim Dean, the president of the park.

Falcon's Fury stands at 335 feet and takes riders soaring 60 mph straight down. At the ride's highest point, Busch Gardens has added an element of surprise: like its bird of prey namesake, riders pivot 90 degrees in midair to a facedown dive position. An instant later, riders plunge toward the ground.

Falcon's Fury was originally set to open in the spring, but the opening was pushed back until late summer because of a delay in the fabrication of key component parts.

For more information on Falcon's Fury, go to falconsfury.com.