Admin November 15, 2024
The world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster has retired.
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced on Thursday it is retiring Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. The coaster held the title for world’s tallest and fastest after it debuted in 2005, and over the past 20 years, it has been ridden more than 12 million times. The coaster stands 456 feet tall and runs 128 miles per hour.
Kingda Ka’s closure comes as Six Flags Great Adventure looks toward a new $1 billion investment, including the addition of The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which Six Flags claims to be North America’s first “super boomerang coaster.” Based on the DC Comics character, the coaster is expected to open in 2025. The investment also includes a new “multi-world-record-breaking launch roller coaster” that is said to open in 2026, according to a Six Flags news release.
In addition to Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure is retiring Green Lantern, The Twister and Parachutes. The Sky Walk will also be removed from the park to make room for the development.
Now that Kingda Ka will be no longer, here’s a look at some of the world’s other mighty rides.
Height: 415 feet
Top speed: 100 mph
Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California
Height: 367 feet
Top speed: 112 mph
Location: Ferrari Land in Salou, Catalonia, Spain
T Express (South Korea)
Height: 184 feet (among world’s tallest wooden coasters)
Location: Everland in Yongin, South Korea
Wildfire (Sweden)
Height: 184 feet (among world’s tallest wooden coasters)
Location: Kolmården Wildlife Park in Kolmården, Sweden
Drop length 255 feet (among coasters with largest drop)
Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California
Steel Dragon 2000 (Japan)
Length: 8,133 feet (regarded as world’s longest steel coaster)
Location: Nagashima Spa Land in Mie Prefecture, Japan
Inversions: 14 (regarded as steel roller coaster with most inversions)
Location: Alton Towers in Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Inversions: Three (regarded as tied for most inversions among wooden roller coasters)
Location: Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to remove a photo and add new information about the Goliath roller coaster’s record.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
