It’s a new day for tourism in Niagara Falls, NY with the opening of the new Rainbow Air Tourism Center set to bring a wide range of exciting year-round adventures for all ages to this bucket-list destination.
The $15 million facility is set to open in May 2025. At 30,000-sq. Ft., this massive new building will house several exciting opportunities for guests coming as groups, families, or individuals, and it’s less than five minutes from the entrance to the Niagara Falls State Park. Rainbow Air is looking to provide something for everyone, at varying price points and degrees of adventure. And once it opens, the Tourism Center will be open everyday of the year except for Christmas, creating plenty of opportunities to explore all that the new Rainbow Air has to offer. This is an exciting addition for Niagara Falls, as the destination continues to show it offers plenty to do outside the summer season.
Since 1995, Rainbow Air has been offering spectacular helicopter tours over the Falls, and several hundred thousand people have had that awesome experience. In 2025, the company is proud to have made a major upgrade to its entire operation. From the former humble ticket window and helipad has emerged a multi-faceted high quality tourist attraction. Everything about the company is new this year, from the location to the facility, from the air fleet to the variety of activities.
The most noticeable change is the addition of two brand new Airbus H130 helicopters, replacing the machines that had served so well with the best in modern comfort and style. These deluxe seven-passenger (plus the pilot) aircraft are rated at half the decibel ratings of the company’s former helicopters, so you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Falls in a quiet cabin-no headsets needed. What really makes the helicopter tour special is that they fly into shared airspace in Canada, so you get the full panoramic view of the Falls from the air, and you don’t need a passport! Have your cameras ready as you look out the oversized windows on one of the world’s natural wonders from 3,000 ft!
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A new Flight Deck VR experience
Back inside, there are more innovations to explore. The highlight will be the amazing new “Flight Deck” Virtual Reality experience where you will virtually parasail over the Falls! Enter the special gallery and climb in to one of 11 custom designed Virtual Reality simulators for an exclusive approach to the Falls. Once you strap into your harness, put on your VR goggles, and grab the handles of your parasail, you are in for a multisensory ride unlike any other on earth. After a quick tutorial on how to use your parasail, you’ll literally move with each twist and turn and rise and fall, giving you the sensation of flying like a bird over the Falls! There’s even a video game element to it, with targets and enhancers, so families and friends can challenge each other’s flying skills as they explore the fantastic views. Or simply float around it all and take in the scenery-you’re in total control. This high-tech indoor element will be a year-round attraction for adventurers looking to stay on the ground while getting an incredible and inexpensive approach to the thrill of flying over these world-famous cataracts. If the VR is still too much for you, spectators can watch flight monitors outside the pods to feel like they’re floating right alongside!
Also inside the building is the heritage area, where Rainbow Air will be presenting even more interactive displays available to anyone who comes into the building, free of charge! Climb into a Korean War-era military helicopter and explore interactive audio zones, or examine the inner workings of a helicopter engine. There are several more amazing activities being planned for this space, so keep watching!
The Rainbow Air Tourism Center is conveniently located on Acheson Drive, right off Buffalo Avenue and less than two miles from Niagara Falls State Park. The building features a spacious entry and ticketing area to simplify your arrival and set you on a path of exploration. Large restrooms off the entryway will provide additional guest comfort. And the gift shop will feature a wide range of Rainbow Air and Niagara Falls merchandise, souvenir photos from your flight, and convenience food and drink items in an adaptable space. Just outside the retail area is a large patio that allows people a safe place to watch the helicopters come in and out. Even the well-lit parking area is designed for convenience, with easy in-out spaces for motorcoaches.
For more information about Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours, please contact Patrick Keyes, Sales and Marketing Manager, at keyesp@rainbowairinc.com or by calling (716)329-4414.
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