Closure of world’s tallest roller coaster comes with announcement of Six Flags Entertainment’s enormous series of investments.

By Noah Festenstein, Sky High Screams

Even with the debunked rumors of Six Flags Entertainment possibly closing some of its parks, the theme park mogul just dropped a bombshell by announcing roughly $1 billion worth of investments over the next two years.

From new record-breaking roller coasters, rides, water attraction additions and amenity packages — it’s the largest investment since both Six Flags and Cedar Fair merged for $8 billion earlier this year.

So, let’s take a look at some losers and winners of what is the massive investment package across some of its 42 parks.

But, we should start with the real elephant in the room.

A King is dead – LOSS FOR EVERYONE

What began as a heartbreaking rumor has become reality at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ.

Kingda Ka, the world’s tallest and once fastest roller coaster, is retired after serving 12 million riders in its 19-year run. Theoretically, that is over 600,000 0-128 MPH in 3.5 second launches in its service time. Six Flags contracted coaster manufacturer Intamin to build the $25 million behemoth in 2006.

That likely included millions of dollars of upkeep and mechanical frustration for Great Adventure. But they made it work.

Great Adventure silently closed this world-class, 456-foot, 128 MPH attraction amid growing speculation over its closure throughout October.

Moreover, it is a stark ending to what was an era of the hydraulic launch. This launch, formerly featured on Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster, has only proved to be a mechanical nightmare for each park. Xcelerator at Knott’s Berry Farm is the only hydraulic launch remaining in North America.

For months, the roller coaster enthusiast community, notably fueled by major roller coaster social media pages, rumored of Kingda Ka’s closing. And, instead of what should be a routine ride closure announcement, Great Adventure park officials said nothing of it until four days after the park’s last operating day of the season.

Riders of Kingda Ka in the final weeks flocked to Great Adventure. Some guests reported a maximum of three hour lines during its final day. Indeed, it was a heartbreaking, uncertain and controversial ending to a legendary ride.

Brian Bacica, President of Six Flags Great Adventure, released a statement four days after the park’s final operating day:

“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. We look forward to sharing more details next summer.”

Also, which was already known and not as controversial, Great Adventure is retiring Green Lantern, the parks old Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) stand-up coaster.

But what comes next is the pressing question.

And Six Flags officials this week made it known fast for what to expect in 2026.

Great Adventure gains ‘record breaking’ multi- launch coaster – WINNER

JACKSON, NJ — If you’re going to replace a record-breaking launch coaster with something else, it better be another record-breaking launch coaster.

Who knows, Kingda Ka might receive the TLC treatment Top Thrill Dragster received in its complicated transformation (hydraulic launch to magnetic LSM, reverse spike).

Park officials said the removal of The Twister and Parachutes will make way for a record-breaking, or rather multi-record-breaking, launch coaster in 2026.

If this is something that could rival lets say Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg or Velocicoaster at Universal Studios… the new Great Adventure coaster could quickly regain the trust of already frustrated coaster enthusiasts.

In 2025, the park is also set to debut its super boomerang launch coaster, The Flash, which was originally slated to open in 2024.

Hopefully, Intatamin can come in and build something more reliable, cost effective and, perhaps in fantasy world, a taller version of Kingda Ka.

The key is to not replicate the failure of Top Thrill 2 in 2024, Drasgter’s refurbishment from Zamperla. So if Intamin re-imagined and paid tribute to Dragster with a record-breaking multi-launch in 2026 — this could be a huge turnaround for what was a disappointing ride closure.

Magic Mountain to build ‘first-of-its-kind’ coaster in North America — LOSER

VALENCIA, CA — It’s going to be a new coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, again.

With all the love in the world, don’t you already have enough, Magic Mountain?

As one of the best parks in the country for roller coasters, they are at it again. Right now, it is all up to speculation what this is going to be. The last addition was Wonderwoman Flight of Courage in 2022, a cookie cutter Rocky Mountain Construction single rail coaster.

As indicated by Six Flags, this is a ride that doesn’t exist in North America, but rather somewhere else.

It’s hard to imagine where this ride could go in a park of 20 roller coasters — the most in any park in the world, in fact.

This new addition might require the removal of a notable attraction. The first attractions that come to mind to receive the axe is Superman Escape from Kyrpton, Ninja, Riddlers Revenge, Viper, X2.

If only this first-of-its-kind coaster could’ve gone to a park like Valley Fair or Michigan’s Adventure — two extraordinarily underappreciated parks. Parks in need of a bigger attraction are the real losers here.

Great America receives new kids section for 50th anniversary — WINNER

GURNEE, IL — This move could cement this Midwest theme park as perhaps the most kid friendly in the Six Flags chain.

And it’s a pretty sure guess as to where this new kids area is going to go.

With the 50th anniversary around the corner in 2026, Great America junkies predicated something big. Normally, that would be in the form of roller coasters. But sometimes, large investments come in small footprints.

Great America is already getting spoiled with Wrath of Rakshasa, expected to be world’s steepest and most inversions on a dive coaster in 2025.

This new kids section is likely to compliment the new 180-foot dive coaster, at a spot thought to be axed due to the new coaster.

What was already rumored to be removed for the new coaster, the old Go Kart track (upcharge attraction) is expected to be removed in the near future. It would make the most sense to put the kids section there.

The spot is next to Little Dipper, a kid-favorite Illinois classic wooden coaster, which was sent to the park for $33,000 from the defunct Kiddieland in 2010. Not only that, Camp Cartoon with Sprocket Rockets, is a short walk away.

Additionally, this provides Great America an opportunity to build a stand-out kids or family attraction.

In its announcement, Six Flags officials said Great America investments for its 50th anniversary will fund commemorative events and park enhancements.

Absolute win for a park that deserves an upgraded kids section and TLC for its 50th year.

Hopefully, they bring back the old carousel music.

Over Texas receives ‘record-breaking’ dive coaster in 2026 – LOSER

ARLINGTON, TX — This news comes amid the announcement of Intamin’s last remaining bobsled roller coaster, Lavibora, closing this year.

What is likely to replace that coaster, and the closing El Diablo ride, is a record-breaking dive coaster, according to Six Flags’ announcement.

Yes, you heard it right, another record-breaking dive coaster.

It’s a fantastic addition to any park. But unlike for Great America, it wasn’t as expected for Over Texas. And, there is Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger three hours away in San Antonio.

Frankly, this is a loser is not because of location, type of ride or choice of park.

It’s about the “record-breaking dive coaster” year after year. It’s taking the fun out of record-breaking. Simply, it’s become only that of a marketing ploy.

First with Dr Diabolical, then Iron Menance at Dorney Park and Wrath of Rakshasa — it’s becoming a little overwhelming with B&M dive coasters.

Hopefully, this one will please the masses for the fine Dallas-area folk.

Carowinds, Canada’s Wonderland gets ‘record -breaking’ water ride, attraction WINNERS

CHARLOTTE, NC & VAUGHN, ON — Two of Cedar Fair’s larger theme parks are to feature new water rides, attractions next year.

For Carowinds, they are receiving a record-breaking water “attraction” next year. It’s hard to say that’s a loss in the hot Carolina sun.

Up north near Toronto, Canada’s Wonderland will offer its faithful a one-two punch from the nine-inversion launch coaster AlpenFury in 2025 to a record-breaking water “attraction” in 2026, according to Six Flags plans.

If its a modern water attraction, it better be a winner. Six Flags Over Georgia is receiving Georgia Surfer, the nations first Intamin ultra-surf water shuttle coaster. That delayed attraction could be a sneak peak in 2025 of what’s to come in 2026.

Kings Island adds new family thrill attraction in 2026 – LOSER

MASON, OH — If a family thrill attraction is the next biggest thing for Kings Island, then this park is in roller coaster limbo.

The last major ride was, indeed, a family attraction in Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers in 2024, and the 300-foot B&M monster back in 2020, then Great Coaster International’s Mystic Timber’s in 2017.

Kings Island hasn’t had this major a coaster gap since since between when the Beast (1979) and Adventure Express (1991) were built over 40 years ago.

Regulars to this massive Cincinnati-area theme park want to see Kings Island occupy the old Vortex plot of land, or perhaps a tribute coaster built by Rocky Mountain Construction on the old Son of Beast plot of land near Banshee.

Or maybe, one of the newer RMC Moose coaster models for families.

But overall, there is more to be desired at Kings Island between 2025 and 2026.

Six Flags Mexico receives family boomerang coaster — WINNER

Mexico City — Talk about a move that is very refreshing for Mexico’s largest theme park.

For a theme park that serves a city of over nine million people — it better have a good family coaster.

For Six Flags Mexico to be receiving a family coaster, a family boomerang likely manufactured by Vekoma, is a sigh of relief. It goes to show Six Flags is showing some love to its south-most amusement park.

The Mexico theme park was the center of a viral video this past summer, where dozens of riders were stranded 250 feet in the air during a thunder storm.

As long as its an upgrade and a show of love for this park, it’s a win.

Knott’s Berry Farm to upgrade ‘Soak City” water park — WINNER

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The only mention of any Six Flags-owned water park upgrades in this investment package happens to be on the west coast.

This Los Angeles metro park, with now the nations only hydraulic launch coaster, will eye upgrades to its water park.

Six Flags officials said Knott’s Soak City will undergo a refresh and aesthetic enhancements.

As a more condensed them park, it is good that the company is focusing on water parks, especially in generally hotter areas.

$80 million investment into food, beverage improvements — WINNER

ARLINGTON, TX — In addition all corporate announcements, Six Flags Entertainment revealed an investment of $80 million for food and beverage improvements.

Most certainly, this is an investment designed to improve food and beverage quality, options and, yet to be revealed, maybe some more in-house restaurants.

A most recent example that opened in 2024 was Windy City Tavern at Six Flags Great America. The restaurant, which offers sit down options with barcode ordering, features beer on tap, tavern food and TV’s inside an air conditioned area.

It is a good example of what other parks in the chain could expect.

Food and beverage is always a much needed investment.

Besides the seven new coasters, heartbreaking losses and some improvements to look forward to — the Six Flags and Cedar Fair merger has proved to be fast evolving and will become more noticeable in the 2025 season.

The All Parks Passport, which can be added for $99 to any season pass for any Cedair Fair or Six Flags park, will launch at the beginning of next year.

As far as recent park closure rumors, we might see the chain sell off some of its smaller, less performing parks within the next five years.

But that is a conversation for another day.

Agree or disagree with these winners, losers? Comment below!