The 2023 Six Flags/Cedar Truthful merger remains to be being felt all through the theme park group, as this enormous occurring adjustments the enjoying discipline in america. With these kinds of actions often come a justifiable share of rumors about how such a brand new entity will function because of the brand new company household that has emerged. As early as this previous summer season, the rumor that Six Flags Nice Journey could also be closing its Kingda Ka coaster has had my dwelling state of New Jersey involved.
Whereas these whispers are rising, with a supposed time limit now within the air, I’m not completely satisfied that that is what’s occurring, at the very least for the second. So let’s check out these rumors and why individuals may need to preserve their emotions contained in the automobile in the intervening time.
Six Flags Nice Journey Is Rumored To Be Closing Kingda Ka…This Weekend
As I discussed earlier than, there have been rumors swirling for a while that Kingda Ka, as soon as the world’s tallest and quickest metal curler coaster, is being slated to shut down for good. Friends who go to the Jackson, New Jersey thrill park have been overtly questioning whether or not or not these studies are true, particularly with a number of native radio stations reporting these rumors themselves.
Whereas nobody can actually pinpoint the place this rumor began, it’s taken an enormous activate social media. As you’ll see within the claims included within the publish beneath, it appears to be like like Sunday, November tenth is perhaps the final dance for The Golden Kingdom’s crown jewel:
Kingda Ka was the primary coaster I consciously keep in mind being introduced, it was the primary coaster the place I adopted its development, and I vividly keep in mind my first trip on it in 2007. I rode the teal prepare with my dad. I had the pleasure of working it in 2015 and it has been a… pic.twitter.com/IIrXUehOQoNovember 8, 2024
Have in mind, there hasn’t been any form of official announcement that even suggests Kingda Ka is coming down. In attempting to trace down the reality, I attempted reaching out to a consultant by means of Six Flags’ official reside chat host. After being directed to a human agent, I used to be given the next assertion:
Concerning Kingda Ka, we’ve got no data on future developments or closures at the moment.
Six Flags Visitor Relations
Whereas I’m reaching out for additional statements to both verify or deny this sentiment, I’m not shopping for that Kingda Ka is closing. Or at the very least, I don’t assume it’ll be closing simply but.
Why I’m Not Solely Satisfied Kingda Ka Is Not Closing… But
I don’t assume that Six Flags Nice Journey is closing down Kingda Ka at this second, and I’m doubly satisfied that this November tenth drop useless date is bogus. There’s no form of official sourcing I might discover that will fairly give this rumor any form of credence, and that’s the foremost purpose I wouldn’t pay these studies any thoughts.
As we noticed with this summer season’s Take a look at Monitor 2.0 closure at Epcot, a trip closure of one thing as large as Kingda Ka is often introduced with a press assertion that states this intention. That provides followers loads of time to make their last pilgrimage to mentioned attraction, publish their farewells on social media, and buy potential commemorative merch that honors the top of an period.
To not point out, Kingda Ka’s closure would technically rely as two points of interest being misplaced. That is because of Zumanjoro: Drop of Doom, the drop tower trip that is connected to that big prime hat that makes up the centerpiece of this metal beast. As luck would have it, this argument occurs to have somewhat little bit of gasoline within the tank, because of some official company enterprise.
Six Flags’ Newest Quarterly Report Helps These Key Causes To Preserve Kingda Ka Open
Trip closures are an occasion, particularly within the theme park group of the trendy web. How else would we get these last trip by means of movies, and lists of Disneyland/Disney World rides we nonetheless want existed? The reality is that form of buzz generates cash in all kinds of how, as I’d beforehand highlighted.
If Kingda Ka is going to go away, it’s not going to be with a whimper. That’s some extent I’m much more satisfied is correct, because of some language from the recently-released Six Flags/Cedar Truthful’s Q3 2024 outcomes. Check out this part of Six Flags President and CEO Richard A. Zimmerman’s commentary:
Since finishing the Merger, we’ve got been discovering methods to function extra effectively and lowering pointless prices whereas nonetheless delivering a excessive degree of visitor service. … Whereas we intend to take a position again into our parks to boost the visitor expertise and drive attendance development, we’re centered on funding these efforts with further price financial savings throughout the portfolio, permitting us to retain 100% of the realized synergies.
Richard A. Zimmerman, Six Flags President and CEO
Now my 100% armchair interpretation of this phase I’ve highlighted is that since Six Flags and Cedar Truthful have merged, they know they want to have a look at what’s working and what isn’t. Anyone can let you know that, but it surely’s an essential factor to remember, particularly when friends are already paying their respects to Kingda Ka after the mere whisper of its demise.
Wherever this rumor might have began, it could have served the aim of exhibiting how a lot individuals truly love the trip. Does all of this rationalization imply we’ll see a full reprieve for Kingda Ka? Completely not. The joys trip is hitting its twentieth anniversary at the start of the following season, and I’m certain a thrill trip this intense takes rather a lot of upkeep.
However I don’t assume a trip as well-known and as lengthy operating as this one goes to go quietly throughout a weekend in November. That’s like a crowd not cheering a Jurassic World VelociCoaster rollback; which, coincidentally sufficient, additionally occurs occasionally on Kingda Ka.
Additional Six Flags Rumors Point out An Even Bigger Substitute Would Be Wanted
I might completely be fallacious, and that risk results in one other large query we should always actually be asking ourselves. Which risk is the least costly: repairing and revamping Kingda Ka, or simply pulling the plug? These potential prices would additionally embrace constructing and advertising one thing new in Six Flags Nice Journey, in addition to the metaphorical price of getting this file breaking thrill trip down when The Flash: Vertical Velocity is meant to open in spring 2025.
Now take that concern and multiply it by three; 4 instances if you happen to rely Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, which is actually connected to Kingda Ka. That’s because of an enlargement to this rumor I’ve simply realized about, by means of this video out of The Coaster Spot:
Watch On
The rumors that Tornado and Inexperienced Lantern are additionally closing on November tenth are simply as questionable as Kingda Ka’s potential departure, particularly with no official statements to verify them. Nevertheless, taking this sample into consideration, it’s beginning to sound like Six Flags Nice Journey might be contemplating one thing new spanning the Golden Kingdom and Boardwalk sections.
If that’s the case, this venture simply bought greater than that story about Mathew McConaughey shedding his telephone at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Since one thing wants to interchange these rides, and all the gadgets in query are on the chopping block, there would should be loads of planning, preparation, and bulletins to let the park going public know. Since we haven’t seen that but, I’m solely additional satisfied that Kingda Ka will nonetheless be right here for a short time longer; on the very least, another season.
We’ll simply have to attend and see if the brass at Six Flags/Cedar Truthful make some form of announcement within the weeks to come back. However for now, if you happen to’re actually nervous about lacking out on driving any of the rides talked about above, make your strategy to Six Flags Nice Journey by Sunday, November tenth simply in case.