The first installation of a Sky Swatter was as SWAT at Six Flags AstroWorld in Houston, Texas, which operated from 2003 until the park permanently closed at the end of the 2005 season.

S&S Worldwide (then S&S Power) introduced the Sky Swatter at its Logan factory on October 3, 2002,[2][3] as the company's first true flat ride.

[10] In 2010, Larsen MacColl acquired a majority share of the company from Stan Checketts,[11] and S&S Worldwide discontinued the Sky Swatter.

[14] The concept for the Sky Swatter was developed by S&S CEO Stan Checketts starting in 1993; the restraints took an entire year to design, while the structure and ride only took five months.

[5][6] Slammer was plagued with reliability issues starting from its opening in 2005;[16] the ride would get stuck with the arm locked at the top of the tower.

[19][20] In 2010, Slammer closed before the end of the season[21] and experienced faults preventing the full lift of the arm at the start of 2011.

It April 2017, after a brief period of operation, Thorpe Park announced Slammer would remain closed for the rest the season.

[26][27] On May 4, after 12 years service at the resort,[13] Thorpe Park stated Slammer had closed permanently and would be removed to make way for future attractions.

[31] SWAT was one of two new rides added to Six Flags AstroWorld for the 2003 season; a press release from February touted the unique installation.