Six Flags Great Adventure: War on Rides

The year is 1999. Six Flags Great Adventure has announced the largest investment in park history, and one of the largest ever seen by a regional park. As part of a $42 million project dubbed the "War on Lines," the park introduced 25 new rides in an ambitious attempt to nearly double the attraction count and alleviate long wait times. On paper, the plan seemed like a game-changer, promising to redefine the guest experience and boost capacity across the park.

While the "War on Lines" was one of the most spectacular years in Great Adventure’s history, its results were mixed. Staffing shortages emerged due to the increased number of ride operators required, while several prototype attractions suffered from persistent mechanical issues, leading to higher-than-expected downtime. Ultimately, only a handful of the original "War on Lines" attractions remain in operation today.

Fast forward to 2025, and the park finds itself in the middle of an entirely different kind of campaign—one that could be called the "War on Rides."

The War on Rides: 2025

1999 will be remembered as one of the golden years in Great Adventure's history. 2025, however, may go down as the dark ages. The park is removing eight attractions—without any formal announcements, farewell campaigns, or notice to longtime fans. This is not just a minor shake-up. The closures include two roller coasters—one of which is the world’s tallest—as well as several major flat rides. The list of removals includes:

• Kingda Ka
• Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom
• Green Lantern
• Skyway
• Cyborg Cyber Spin
• Dare Devil Dive
• Parachute Tower
• Twister

The writing was on the wall for some of these attractions. Parachute Tower had been standing but not operating for quite some time. Cyborg Cyber Spin had faced mechanical issues since day one, resulting in frequent downtime. Green Lantern was a relocated coaster from another park that had lost popularity, and Skyway had likely reached the end of its service life. Twister was the last HUSS Top Spin operating in North America. Kingda Ka—a marvel of engineering—was also one of the most expensive rides to maintain in the park. Dare Devil Dive, an upcharge attraction, never seemed to draw the crowds needed to justify its existence.

Every removal makes sense from a business perspective, but eliminating them all at once without immediate replacements is an unusual and risky move. Major theme parks often retire attractions, but when they do, high-profile rides are typically given a proper farewell. The fact that Great Adventure chose to remove these rides quietly suggests an attempt to avoid a PR disaster. The real question is—why all at once?

With Cedar Fair now calling the shots after the Six Flags merger, operational and financial scrutiny is at an all-time high. Great Adventure, historically one of Six Flags' flagship parks, is expected to operate at peak efficiency. However, when Cedar Fair’s leadership reviewed the park’s expenses, they may have been shocked at how costly some of these attractions were.

Cedar Fair follows a distinct formula regarding capital investment, maintenance, and operational strategy. Their parks are typically held to a higher standard than their Six Flags counterparts, with a stronger emphasis on theming, guest experience, and ride reliability. If Great Adventure has been underperforming in terms of profitability—especially compared to similarly sized Cedar Fair parks—executives likely saw immediate cost-cutting as the simplest solution.

That said, I am cautiously optimistic that these removals are not simply an effort to slash expenses but rather signal a bigger transformation for the park. Cedar Fair may be using Great Adventure as a testing ground to bring a more polished, Cedar Fair-style experience to the legacy Six Flags properties. With lower operating costs following these removals, the park could free up capital for major renovations, area rethemes, and future attractions.

Kingda Ka's Removal & Repalcement

Now for the elephant in the room—Kingda Ka’s removal. This is by far the biggest loss on the list. When rumors first surfaced, many fans dismissed them as speculation. Surely a ride as iconic as the world’s tallest coaster wouldn’t be removed without warning? Yet, as demolition permits were uncovered, the reality set in—Kingda Ka was on borrowed time.

While its operating costs were undoubtedly enormous, what could possibly replace such a legendary ride? The 2026 attraction will need to be massive to fill this void. With both Kingda Ka and Green Lantern removed, an enormous plot of land has opened up, offering unlimited potential. Some enthusiasts speculate that Great Adventure could follow Cedar Point’s lead and install a Top Thrill 2-style launch coaster, but given the scale of this land, I believe the park should go even bigger.

Let’s be honest—Kingda Ka was a gimmick. It delivered a massive adrenaline rush, but at the end of the day, it was a 28-second one-trick-pony. The new attraction needs to be more than just a headline-grabbing stat monster. It needs to be a well-rounded, world-class coaster that cements Great Adventure’s status as an elite amusement park for the next generation.

2025 Season

2024 was supposed to be a major season for Great Adventure, marking its 50th anniversary with significant refurbishments to Big Wheel and Saw Mill Log Flume, a legacy brick program, and the debut of Flash: Vertical Velocity—a Super Boomerang coaster. However, delays plagued multiple projects, and 2024 turned out to be a lackluster year. Now, 2025 aims to recover lost ground.

The long-awaited Flash: Vertical Velocity will finally open, bringing a fresh new thrill to the park’s coaster lineup. Meanwhile, El Toro will undergo a major re-tracking project to improve its ride experience after years of roughness. Additionally, anticipation is building for the 2026 attraction, which—along with Flash—will restore the park’s coaster count to pre-removal levels.

For 2025 to be a success, Great Adventure must prioritize guest experience. The park is not expected to reduce admission prices despite the mass ride removals, meaning visitors could feel shortchanged. By improving customer service, minimizing downtime, and focusing on long-term park improvements, Great Adventure has a chance to win back goodwill. However, if operations remain inconsistent and outdated Six Flags-era practices persist, guest frustration may continue to rise.

Themed Areas

Cedar Fair has a habit of reimagining entire park areas when installing major attractions. With the Boardwalk and Golden Kingdom suffering the greatest impact from these removals, it is highly likely that at least one of these areas will receive a full-scale makeover.

The Boardwalk area, now missing several key rides, feels like the primary candidate for a complete transformation. If so, what happens to Superman: Ultimate Flight?

Would it be re-themed, or would it remain a DC property within a newly themed area? Without a Superman ride, Six Flags Great Adventure would lack an attraction dedicated to DC’s most iconic superhero. But if the Boardwalk receives a drastic retheme, Superman could suddenly look completely out of place.

Meanwhile, Golden Kingdom—introduced in 2005 as part of Kingda Ka’s debut—now feels directionless. With Ka gone, its purpose has been fundamentally altered. Could this land host the 2026 attraction? Or will Cedar Fair blend it into another area entirely?

We have already seen Cedar Fair reimagine beloved areas—most recently with Kings Dominion’s Jungle X-Pedition. In that case, the entire Intimidator 305 area was revamped to fit the new Rapterra wing coaster. Could a similar transformation be coming to Great Adventure?

At this point, I see two possible directions:

• A Golden Kingdom expansion, with the 2026 attraction redefining its identity.
• A major DC Comics area revamp, incorporating the Boardwalk and nearby rides.

Regardless, Cedar Fair’s commitment to theming suggests that big changes are coming.

Conclusion

Six Flags Great Adventure is at a crossroads. If Cedar Fair uses this opportunity to revamp and reinvest, we could be witnessing the beginning of a golden age for the park. However, if these removals are simply cost-cutting measures without a long-term vision, the park risks alienating its most loyal guests.

2025 will be a transition year, but 2026 will be the real test. If the Kingda Ka replacement and broader park changes live up to expectations, this could be one of the most transformative periods in Great Adventure’s history. Otherwise, fans may start questioning their loyalty to a park that once promised a "War on Lines," but now seems to be waging a War on Rides.