Schlitterbahn water slide in KCK is the world’s tallest

The Verrckt water slide opening May 23 at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City, Kan., is officially the tallest in the world, a Guinness World Records representative affirmed Friday.

The slide is 168 feet, 7 inches high, besting the Kilimanjaro slide in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which is 163 feet and 9 inches.

Riders of the Verrckt — it means “insane” in German — will plummet at 60 to 70 mph in a four-person raft.

Unified Government Mayor Mark Holland and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback touted the slide at a ceremony Friday and vowed to ride it when it opens.

This story was originally published April 25, 2014 at 9:25 PM with the headline "Schlitterbahn water slide in KCK is the world’s tallest."