Worlds former tallest and fastest roller coaster comes down in implosion

Kingda Ka, once one of the world's tallest and fastest roller coasters, was demolished with explosives at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey last Friday morning, leaving it in ruins. The demolition took place ahead of schedule at the theme park located in Jackson Township.

Earlier, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office posted an announcement on Facebook, alerting residents that they might hear "a series of rapid explosions" coming from the theme park in Jackson Township between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Friday. The announcement emphasized that residents did not need to panic but advised those sensitive to sound, as well as pet owners, to take precautions.

Six Flags announced at the end of last year that it had decided to retire the Kingda Ka roller coaster, which opened in 2005, to make way for new attractions. Kingda Ka was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it was built, capable of accelerating passengers to a top speed of 205 kilometers per hour. While its height record remained until its retirement, its speed record had been broken by the Formula Rossa roller coaster at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, which opened in 2010 and can reach a top speed of 239 kilometers per hour.

According to Six Flags, Kingda Ka has carried more than 12 million passengers since it opened in 2005. In addition, the Twister and Parachute Tower rides, as well as The Sky Way aerial tramway, will also be removed from the park.

Meanwhile, the park plans to launch the long-awaited The Flash: Vertical Velocity roller coaster this year, which will be the world's first super boomerang coaster. The company also stated that it will open a "record-breaking launch coaster" in 2026, further enhancing the park's appeal.