Here’s what it’s like on the Beam, Top of the Rock’s ‘frightening but fun’ new ride
Try not to scream on the Beam.
On Friday, Top of the Rock unveiled a brand-new attraction on the 69th-floor outdoor observation deck in which guests seated on a steel girder get lifted into the open air and spun around to experience unparalleled views of the Big Apple.
Aptly called the Beam, it’s a nod to Rockefeller Center’s storied history and the iconic, black-and-white 1932 photo “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,” which famously features 11 steelworkers hanging off a construction beam on their break while building 30 Rock — then known as the RCA Building.
And despite the rain, many lined up to ride the Beam on Friday afternoon.
“When the Beam turned around, I was literally white-knuckling with my grip,” Trebba Putnam, a 67-year-old tourist from Rome, Georgia, told The Post after the dramatic moment she shared with her two granddaughters.
“It was it was pretty frightening, but so much fun … I am absolutely, definitely afraid of heights. But this was a bucket list event to do with my grandchildren.”
Like the erectors of nearly a century past, up to seven guests can plop atop one of the two parallel beam rides before being hoisted 12 feet in the air. It costs $25 in addition to Top of the Rock’s admission fee, which starts at $40.
True to the inspiring image, it begins facing the 69th- and 70th-floor observation decks. But, unlike the builders, the Beam spins 180 degrees for a magnificent view of Central Park, the Hudson River and the skyscrapers of Midtown and upper Manhattan.
After all, that scene was the backdrop for the historic image.
Although the modern attraction includes many more safety features than the 850-foot-high suspended blue-collar bunch were privy to in the ’30s — including locking seat belts, back frames and, most importantly, ground close below — tourists say that the years-old sentiment remains.
“To think that men used to do this all the time without harnesses is mind-blowing, the bravery they must have had,” Oklahoma City mom Kim Brooks, 45, told The Post after embarking with her family.
“I was a little terrified, but I’m so glad I’ve done it,” London resident Penny Baldock, who clutched the hand of her more relaxed wife Lynne for dear life the whole time they were on board, told The Post.
Still, she feels the new attraction is worth facing your fears. “I’d recommend it to anybody, even if you’re scared of heights,” she said.
Along with an unforgettable thrill, or perhaps fright, the Beam also addresses a long-standing urban legend: the misconception that “Lunch Atop a Skyscraper” — originally titled “Builders of the City Enjoy Luncheon” — was taken during the Empire State Building’s construction, which began in 1930.
“It’s certainly one of the most recognizable photos that we take great pride in and this raises awareness to debunk that misconception,” Rockefeller Center’s senior managing director EB Kelly told The Post.
“We wanted to re-create that feeling and history in a, somewhat, less terrifying way,” added Kelly, who has been on board herself, of course.
Steeling a view
Inclement weather be damned, this reporter braved the elements and strapped in as one of the first patrons on Friday. The uplifting ride, about 30 seconds long, was anything but a letdown — even as rain ensued and the accompanying wind heightened suspense.
The excitement kicks in while being lifted into the air, particularly when the beam reaches higher than the roughly 10-foot-tall glass partitions that enclose the 69th floor.
At that point, the wild winds of Manhattan brush against your face as you suddenly realize you’re dangling over 30 Rock.
It’s nearly an entire story above where you started.
Spinning around — the edge seats go the farthest out toward the building ledge and are not for the faint of heart — is a suspenseful few seconds as you pan around and gander at the glistening skyline.
It’s truly an “only in New York” moment.
