Both the Canadian and American sides of Niagara Falls are expanding the ways in which visitors can experience the Falls, with some new attractions having opened this summer and more attractions and upgrades planned over the next two years.
According to an article by the Ontario Provincial Government, Niagara is recognized for its unique entertainment and family friendly experiences, on top of its natural landscapes, wineries and casinos that attract visitors every year.
“Niagara’s $3 billion tourism industry is a key driver of the regional economy and supports 40,000 jobs and a wide range of businesses,” said Stan Cho, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming in the article.
Niagara also remains a popular destination for Ontario travellers. According to Destination Ontario’s Consumer Survey, conducted by Context Research Group in March 2025, 52 per cent of Ontario travellers named the Niagara Region their favourite destination for short getaways and vacations.
The Falls have always been what Niagara is known for, so government officials and tourism organizations are investing in new and upgraded attractions to give visitors different ways of experiencing them.
Here are three attractions visitors can experience now or look forward to over the next two years.
New Above the Roar attraction – Niagara Falls, NY
On June 19, 2026, Above the Roar opened at Niagara Falls State Park in New York as a new “multi-sensory virtual reality attraction” that gives guests the experience of seeing Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil Falls from a bird’s-eye view.
“This immersive experience combines motion, sound, and cutting-edge visuals to place you in the middle of the most powerful waterfall in North America,” the Niagara Falls State Park website states.
To complete the realistic visuals, the attraction uses motion-enhanced seating, making tourists move with the Falls, travel through the Niagara River and American Rapids, and simulate diving beneath the surface. Since drone flights are not permitted over Niagara Falls, the views seen on this ride offer visitors a perspective few have ever seen.
“Every moment is designed to bring you closer to the scale, power, and beauty of Niagara in a way that feels immediate and unforgettable,” says the website.
For more details about Above the Roar, visit the Niagara Falls State Park website. Tickets can also be purchased there.
SkyBar Niagara Falls installation – Niagara Falls, NY
SkyBar Niagara Falls is expected to open on Memorial Day weekend in 2027, with installation processes for the 133-foot-tall aerobar beginning in early May.
It will be operational all year long. The ride will lift guests 133 feet into the air before slowly rotating 360 degrees, giving riders views of the Niagara Falls skyline and the top of the American Falls. For $25 to $30, it will offer eight-to-15-minute rides.
“It’s an amusement ride but not a thrill ride,” said Daniel Tighe, Live! Incorporated’s vice president of business development, in an article by 7 News WKBW, a local television station based in Buffalo, New York.
Tighe added that the attraction will complement the company’s existing Live On Air Fallsview Balloon ride and give more people the opportunity to see the Falls from above, and a unique landscape behind a restaurant and bar.
“We would serve [food] from the restaurant, and you would bring your cocktail up,” Tighe said. “You’ll never see Niagara Falls from a better point of view.”
For more information about SkyBar Niagara Falls and its installation updates, visit its official website.
Journey Behind the Falls upgrade – Niagara Falls, ON
The already existing Journey Behind the Falls will be upgraded through a $25 million redevelopment planned by Niagara Parks.
The current attraction is a year-round walk-through that takes visitors behind the Horseshoe Falls through a series of tunnels and viewing areas constructed around the bottom of the waterfalls for people to see the view below and behind the falls.
In 2027, Niagara Parks plans to reopen a tunnel over 100 years old that was previously closed during the Second World War. The tunnel will create an additional viewing platform, while the lower observation areas will be redeveloped and renovated in 2028. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2028, though the attraction will remain open throughout the renovation process.
“The reason that we are adding a second platform to the Journey Behind the Falls attraction is [because] the current platform […] has lived its life,” said Marcelo Gruosso, chief operating officer of Niagara Parks in a video included in an article posted by Niagara Parks.
The new platform will include heating, roofing and other features to improve overall accessibility and allow visitors to experience the Falls closer to than what they already have in the current version of the walk-through.
For more information about Journey Behind the Falls and its redevelopment, visit the Niagara Parks website.
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These new and developing attractions offer visitors different ways to experience Niagara Falls and reflect the overall goal of the Destination Niagara Strategy — to attract more visitors to the region and encourage them to stay longer by capitalizing on the main tourist attraction.
For more information about projects under the Destination Niagara Strategy, visit the Niagara Parks’ official website.