Bakunawa (roller coaster)

Bakunawa
Six Flags Great Adventure
LocationSix Flags Great Adventure
Park sectionShoreline Pier at the Boardwalk
Coordinates40°08′20″N 74°26′16″W / 40.13889°N 74.43778°W / 40.13889; -74.43778
StatusUnder construction
ReplacedKingda Ka
General statistics
TypeSteel – Spinning – Launched
ManufacturerMack Rides
Lift/launch system
Linear synchronous motor
Height382 ft (116 m)
Length3,163 ft (964 m)
Speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Inversions1
Duration2:17
Height restriction
48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 5 cars; riders arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train
ThemeBakunawa
Websitewww.sixflags.com/greatadventure/new-in-2027
Bakunawa at RCDB

Bakunawa (officially named Bakunawa Serpent's Wrath;[1] codenamed Project Purple[2]) is an upcoming spinning launched roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Manufactured by Mack Rides, the coaster is planned to open in 2027. At a height of 382 feet (116 m), Bakunawa will be the third-tallest roller coaster in the world,[3] and is set to be the first floorless spinning coaster and first ground up floorless coaster since Hot Wheels Nitro's 2013 debut at Imagicaa in India. The roller coaster is themed around the Bakunawa, a dragon-like serpent in Philippine mythology.

History

On November 14, 2024—four months following the merger of Cedar Fair and the former Six Flags company—the newly-merged Six Flags company announced in a press release that Six Flags Great Adventure would receive a "record-breaking launch roller coaster" for the 2026 season.[4][5] However, on July 28, 2025, the park sent an email to season pass holders stating that the roller coaster's opening had been delayed to "beyond 2026" due to additional time being required.[6]

On February 18, 2026, the first piece of track arrived for the roller coaster, confirmed to be adjacent to the former Kingda Ka plot; Kingda Ka was demolished almost one year prior.[7] Vertical construction began in March 2026 and was later nicknamed as "Project Purple".[8] On May 15, 2026, the park announced its partnership with Project Purple, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness on pancreatic cancer.[9][10] By June 22, 2026, the roller coaster had reached a height of 315 feet (96 m). It was topped off on July 1, 2026, at a height of 382 feet (116 m).[11][12][13]

Multiple trademarks presumably intended for the roller coaster were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including "Phantom Spire" in January 2026 and "Gargantuan Vertical Vengeance" in June 2026.[14][15] The roller coaster was officially unveiled on July 28, 2026, with the name Bakunawa. It is set to open in 2027 as part of the park's ongoing expansion of the Shoreline Pier at the Boardwalk area.[16]

Characteristics

Bakunawa will feature an upside-down linear synchronous motor launch on its zero-g stall, the first of its kind.[17][18] It will be the tallest and fastest spinning roller coaster in the world, reaching heights of 382 feet (116 m) and speeds of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). The trains will be floorless, the first of its kind on a spinning roller coaster.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Bakunawa Serpent's Wrath". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
  2. ↑ Redmond, Kimberly (2026-07-02). "Six Flags unveils Shoreline Pier at Great Adventure (photos)". NJBIZ. Archived from the original on 2026-07-03. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  3. ↑ Niles, Robert (July 28, 2026). "Six Flags readies to set more coaster records with Bakunawa". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Six Flags Great Adventure announces end of Kingda Ka to make way for new 'record-breaking' coaster". WNBC. November 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Six Flags to Invest More Than $1 Billion Over the Next Two Years to Enhance Guest Experience". Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. November 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  6. ↑ Murdoch, Jim (July 28, 2025). "Six Flags delays new record-breaking coaster and ends Holiday in the Park". News 12 - New Jersey. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ Senanayake, Natalia (February 19, 2026). "Six Flags Begins Construction on New Record-Breaking Roller Coaster 1 Year After Kingda Ka Demolition". People. Archived from the original on February 21, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Six Flags Great Adventure's new roller coaster hits construction milestone". 6abc Philadelphia. March 20, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Press Release: Six Flags Great Adventure Partners with Project Purple to Turn Coaster Excitement Into a Greater Purpose". Project Purple. May 26, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Six Flags Great Adventure partners with Project Purple to turn coaster excitement into a greater purpose". Amusement Today. May 15, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  11. ↑ Callahan, Derek (June 22, 2026). "Project Purple reaches 315 feet at Six Flags Great Adventure". News 12 - New Jersey. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Project Purple is rising at Six Flags Great Adventure". Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Six Flags Great Adventure releases first Project Purple teaser; full announcement coming later this month". Amusement Today. July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  14. ↑ Comstock, Lori (June 24, 2026). "Is Six Flags' new coaster Phantom Spire? What the park is and isn't saying". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  15. ↑ Niles, Robert (June 6, 2026). "Six Flags registers the most ridiculous ride name ever". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  16. ↑ Stilwell, Andrew (July 28, 2026). "Bakunawa, World's Tallest & Fastest Spinning Coaster, Coming to Six Flags Great Adventure". Coaster101. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ Rodriguez, Katherine (May 28, 2026). "New Six Flags Great Adventure roller coaster will be one of the 'top 5′ tallest in the world". nj. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ Meyering, Dani (July 28, 2026). "Six Flags Great Adventure reveals Bakunawa coaster with world's first upside-down launch". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Six Flags Great Adventure unveils plans for world's tallest, fastest spinning coaster". FOX 29 Philadelphia. July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
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