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If your kids have been begging to head to Great Adventure and ride Kingda Ka, the word’s tallest rollercoaster, it appears you waited to long.
The Six Flags park in New Jersey has just announced Kingda Ka will be among several attractions that will be removed this off-season to make way for a “multi-record-breaking launch coaster” that will open in 2026, according to reports.
“We understand that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate our guests’ passion. These changes are an important part of our growth and dedication to delivering exceptional new experiences,” Brian Bacica, president of Six Flags Great Adventure president, stated in a widely circulated news release issued Thursday.
Further details are being kept close to the vest, though the park has announced more information will be released this upcoming summer.
As far as record-breaking rollercoasters go, Kingda Ka featured a top tower that measured 456 feet.
The word’s tallest and fastest (at the time) coaster opened in May 2005, lasting nearly two decades. For comparison purposes, the Great American Scream Machine opened to fanfare at the park in 1989 and operated until 2010. So the two-decade run is about where a typical, modern roller coaster should be.
The word’s fastest rollercoaster is currently the Formula Rossa in the U.A.E., with top speeds reaching 149 mph.
Kingda Ka had reached top speeds of 128 mph.
The world’s oldest roller coaster still in operation is Leap-the-Dips at Lakemont Park in Pennsyvlania, according to American Coaster Enthusiasts. It was built in 1902. Coney Island’s Cyclone was built in 1927.
According to Six Flags, construction of the coaster was no easy feat. A 50-story crane was needed to hoist two workers to the top of the ride, as another crane lifted a 9,000-pound steel beam to set the apex of the steel track in place.
Take one last ride:
Top: Riders on Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure. (Credit: Six Flags Great Adventure)
