Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey was once the mightiest, most terrifying thrill ride on earth. Just the name alone still strikes fear (and delight) into the hearts of a generation of rollercoaster aficionados, New Jersey teenagers and just about anyone who saw the powerhouse advertising blitz when the coaster launched in 2005. The attraction soars 456 feet into the sky and reaches a top speed of 128 miles per hour, breaking coaster records worldwide when it opened.
For nearly twenty years, Kingda Ka has been the most iconic ride at Six Flags Great Adventure. On a clear day, riders can see New York City and Philadelphia before plummeting to their doom. The park estimates that 12 million people have taken the plunge since the ride opened. A trip on Kingda Ka is a New Jersey rite of passage.
However, over the last few months, rumors began swirling that Jackson Township’s tallest resident was headed for the scrap heap. Online debate raged. For weeks queries to top brass at Six Flags went unanswered, fueling the fire. Fans flocked to social media to vent their frustration and demand answers.
Finally, the bad news was confirmed. Kingda Ka has officially taken its last lap. The beloved ride and fellow attractions, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, Parachutes, Twister and Green Lantern, will be shut down and demolished.
Six Flags Great Adventure Park President Brian Bacica only revealed a teaser of what’s to come, “In 2026, we’ll unveil an all-new, multi-record-breaking launch coaster, a must-ride attraction sure to capture fans’ imaginations.”
The green steel behemoth that set the standard for 21st-century thrill rides was first announced in the fall of 2004. Kingda Ka would be the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the world. Construction began and Six Flags welcomed eager riders on May 21, 2005. Immediately, the coaster surpassed Cedar Point’s Top Thrill Dragster in both categories. For five years it was the world’s fastest until the record was shattered by Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, UAE. To this day, Kingda Ka is still the tallest coaster ever built.
While details on what exactly will replace Kingda Ka are yet to be revealed, it’s rumored to be an even bigger and better launch coaster. Heartbroken coaster enthusiasts can take some consolation in the 2025 launch of The Flash: Vertical Velocity, North America’s first super boomerang launch coaster. While the ride won’t break speed records at 59 miles per hour, riders will get a chance to enjoy microgravity while upside down 100 feet above the earth. Hopefully that will hold riders until 2026.
