Following a tragic incident on Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia in which one individual died and several others were injured on the Goliath roller coaster, the theme park operator announced the immediate suspension of operations for nine similar hypercoaster attractions across six different parks throughout North America.
In a statement released Monday, Six Flags emphasized that the well-being of its guests and staff remains a top priority. The affected rides include Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey; Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois; Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland; Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California; Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina; and Orion and Diamondback at Six Flags Kings Island in Ohio.
According to the company, several of these suspended coasters reach speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour and rise more than 300 feet into the air. A hypercoaster, as defined by Six Flags, typically refers to a steel structure over 200 feet tall that focuses on speed and airtime rather than inversions, often utilizing large camelback hills to maximize feelings of weightlessness.
The vast majority of the closed attractions were engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss firm that has supplied rides for numerous amusement parks globally since 1988. Bolliger & Mabillard confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday that it is actively investigating the Georgia accident. The company declined to provide further comment until it gains a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, expressing deep sadness and directing thoughts toward the victim’s family and those affected.
The sole exception among the closed coasters is the Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which was manufactured by Giovanola, a now-defunct Swiss-based company.
Raging Bull, which opened at Great America in 1999, is the oldest ride in the lineup, predating the Goliath ride by seven years. Marketed as the world’s first hyper-twister, it features a 202-foot drop and reaches speeds of 73 miles per hour.
Orion at Kings Island is the newest of the group, having debuted in the summer of 2020. It stretches 5,321 feet with a 300-foot drop and a maximum speed of 91 miles per hour. Meanwhile, Fury 325 at Carowinds stands out as the longest, fastest, and tallest of the suspended rides, boasting a 325-foot peak height, a 6,600-foot length, and a top speed of 95 miles per hour.
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