Theme Park Discussion / Six Flags Closes Kingda Ka Without Warning

Kingda Ka is gone forever.

A record-breaking ride when debuted in 2005, Kingda Ka held the title as the tallest roller coaster in the world all 19 years of its life as an operating full-circuit roller coaster. For the first time in history, the world roller coaster height record will decrease, at least until the opening of Falcon over in the middle east. Enthusiast outlets such as El Toro Ryan and Coaster Studios state the park itself was not allowed to make any statements, by order of corporate-level authority, prior to the last rides given during Kingda Ka's final night of operation. Their summary videos can be found on YouTube.

In my opinion, the lack of communication surrounding Kingda Ka's fate is a major PR blunder by the newly-merged Six Flags/Cedar Fair brand. This is a sad week for the enthusiast community.

If you have an Intamin hydraulic launched coaster near you, I would go ride it before it's gone. The technology, while ground-breaking, is expensive to maintain and temperamental. Between the dismal debut of the Top Thrill 2 refurb, Xcelerator being down, and Kingda Ka suddenly vanishing, I would speculate that the days of the hydraulic launch coasters across the world are numbered.

el toro ryan has been saying for months that it "might" be going. it was an open secret, and at that point, you may as well just announce it. not announcing it is absolutely wacky, especially when all it would do is drive more guests to the park