Well, well, well … what do we have here? New Jersey is coming back into the spotlight. My home on the Jersey Shore–Jackson, to be exact–is under scrutiny once again. This time, though, there’s no racism scandal, financial fraud or Jersey Shore cast member getting exposed; instead, there’s a roller coaster shutdown.
Six Flags Great Adventure
As a native of beautiful Jackson New Jersey, Six Flags was a staple in my childhood. But the phenomenon of the park stems way back into Jersey Shore history. The theme park opened on July 1, 1974, under the name of Great Adventure (locally it is still called this or Six Flags…. never the full name, that’s sacrilegious).
The park was created by Warner LeRoy, son of “The Wizard of Oz” producers Doris Warner and Mervyn LeRoy. Before its creation, Ocean County was barren within the community; there was so much land within the area being unused. Being a perfect distance between New York and New Jersey, investors like LeRoy saw the appeal of the park for all three sets of residents.
The Tallest ‘Coaster in the Country!
After years of park development and company changes, Six Flags Great Adventure became a conglomerate that makes millions per year. In 2004, Great Adventure wanted to take it up a notch and announced it would create a new and faster ride within the United States. This ride would set the record for the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth. Thus creating Kingda Ka, 456 feet with an acceleration speed of 128 miles per hour.
Years later they also created another ride as an extension of Kingda Ka: “Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom”. This Coaster also set a world record for the world’s tallest drop tower with a drop height of 415 feet.
Kingda Gone?
As time moved on the ride became harder to upkeep. With many rollbacks (the ride not launching properly forcing it to come back), being closed for maintenance frequently and costing an estimated 1 to 2 million dollars for upkeep, Six Flags was left with a tough decision.
This ride holds pride within the New Jersey and Coaster community, symbolizing a period within society that is no more. But, the price Six Flags was paying for this nostalgia was too hard to upkeep. Coaster social media influencers like ElToroRyan, Coaster Studios and Marcus LeShock began sharing rumors that Kingda Ka would be closing after this year’s Fright Fest.
After weeks of speculation, on one final Sunday fans rode the coaster for hours on end. It was announced that Kingda Ka would be officially closing its doors to make way for a new ride in the park.
Where We Are Now
The closing of Kingda Ka has called into question the many challenges influencers face when “reporting” on rumors and news within the entertainment space. While speculation is always around, not all rumors are true. This event caused the coaster community to understand who they receive their information from.
For now, Kingda Ka sits in the cold Jersey Shore winter, waiting for its removal. RIP Kingda Ka, oh how you have blessed my NJ heart (even though I’ve never ridden the ride and Nitro is still better).
What do you think about the Kingda Ka conundrum? Let us know by tweeting on X @VALLEYmag.
