A mere half-dozen readers have written Swamplot to ask about this strange multi-story steel-framed structure that’s been going up next to the Lowe’s on I-10 between Blalock and Bunker Hill — or its twin on the site of the former Casa Elena restaurant across the freeway from The Woodlands at 26824 Interstate 45 North. And we’re guessing a few more of you are curious as well, but just haven’t had the time to send in your photos and speculation. Capitalizing on the freeway mystery, the company behind the structure has set up a website at GuessWhatThisIs.com. (With indoor-skydiving facilities in 9 other U.S. cities already, iFLY has been through the drill before.)

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When complete, for a mere $60 you’ll be able to hang in mid-air in the vertical wind tunnel at the center of each iFLY indoor skydiving facility, practicing or merely acting out the skills of an actual skydiver, but with a significantly lower splat risk.

Those of you trying to figure out how the contraption at 9540 Katy Fwy. works (before the structure gets covered up with framing) can refer to the diagram at right, which explains how wind turbines (four 350HP units at the I-10 location) mounted on the top level will be able to keep you and an instructor aloft on a column of air moving at a top speed of approximately 160 mph.

• Coming soon to Houston [Guess What This Is]
• Oak Ridge North officials break ground on new iFLY indoor skydiving attraction [The Villager]
• Mystery Houston Construction Project will Blow You Away [News92FM]
• How Does the Technology Work? [iFLY Indoor Skydiving]

Photos: Swamplot inbox (second photo); Phil Schawe (all others). Diagram: iFLY Indoor Skydiving