News Six Flags Great Adventure Project 2027 (?): Delayed “Record Breaking Coaster"

[rollercoastercoaster]

History definitely seems to repeat itself in the theme park world.

In 2011 BGW guests were disappointed by a Mach Tower ride which was heavily delayed and a major disappointment.

Now in 2025 SFGrAdv guests are being disappointed by a Mack Tower ride which is being heavily delayed and is turning out to be a major disappointment.

 

[mattkopp23]

I agree that this is odd with construction significantly ramping up as well as Great Adventure posting a teaser just last week. Right now for a 2026 Spring opening, it would have been around a 10-month construction timeline from start to finish (with the land already cleared), which seems like a reasonable timeline. They are either going to slow down on construction or this project and surrounding new area is very expansive.

I am definitely a fan of the park taking its time to deliver a better ride and overall experience in the new area. I do think they need to release some info to keep people interested in the park and maybe open a Phase I in 2026 with rides from Six Flags America. It would be extremely ridiculous if they gave us nothing for a delay but gave Cedar Point a whole extra new roller coaster for the Top Thrill 2 delay.

I am also very interested in the wording of their message. Was “launch” and “multi-record breaking” purposely removed from the memo? I can totally see this regime pretending like they never said that. A B&M Giga would make a lot of sense based on the major Cedar Fair entrance coasters. I wouldn’t be totally opposed, as long as it’s more focused on speed and turns opposed to the hills of Nitro. Very curious if the previous announcement of multi-record breaking launch coasters is still valid.

 

[MaxxForceFan]

Improving the kids area(s) is historically something GA has done after poor seasons like this one as they rebuild the next year. Once again, NEEDED improvements in the park after years of deterioration.

The following season focuses on big thrills— see 1987-1988-1989

87- accidents, riots, bad PR, poor attendance
88- Bugs Bunny Land and Condor
89- GASM (record breaker)

If I remember correctly, Shockwave at SFGAm was supposed to be built at Great Adventure for 1988 and GASM would have been built at SFGAm for 1989. They switched places after Great Adventure had a terrible year in 1987.

 

[fingerblaster22]

If I remember correctly, Shockwave at SFGAm was supposed to be built at Great Adventure for 1988 and GASM would have been built at SFGAm for 1989. They switched places after Great Adventure had a terrible year in 1987.

Correct

 

[Zachary]

Note: Completely unfounded conspiracy theory ahead.

I'm having real difficulty squaring the news from today with what has been happening on the ground. Even the largest coasters in the world don't need nearly two years of CONSTRUCTION time—yet we are already seeing footers (?!) being poured in July 2025 for what may be a 2027 coaster?! Makes zero sense to me.

Plus, we don't have an FAA waiver so they're likely not currently constructing something 200+ feet. A true Ka replacement, at least in my estimation, almost has to be the park's tallest coaster. It doesn't need to be a giga or a strata or anything, but I can't imagine the park marketing a successor to Ka that isn't taller than Nitro.

What if over the course of this season—a season where we have seen DRAMATIC budget cuts all across the chain—Six Flags Great Adventure's 2026 coaster was dramatically downsized—possibly down to even like family coaster scale—and that is what we're currently seeing work being done on now—not the Ka replacement.

If there is a smaller coaster project or other far-less-notable-than-Ka attraction now under construction (and on the verge of being announced within the next few weeks), it would 100% be in SFGAdv's best interest to yank the bandaid off now with a "the Ka replacement is delayed to some uncertain future time" to prep the news space for a "surprise," more "positive" announcement of a much less exciting coaster or other addition for 2026 which, ~ definitely is not ~ the Ka replacement.

In this scenario, there's a good chance SFGAdv isn't commiting to 2027 because they haven't even finalized the plans for a Ka replacement themselves yet. If something like this is true, I think there's a good chance the strata shuttle spinner fell through—and maybe the wording tweak in the new announcement provides even more tea leaves sorta pointing in this direction?

 

[fingerblaster22]

Its possible it was a Mack Tower last November, and the outcry has been so bad they changed their plans. If they signed a deal for a Mack tower, since its a straight design, just about any other park could fit it. IMO my personal opinion is enthusiasts make up maybe 1% of the daily attendance at a park, so they don't really care what we think. At the same time trying to pass of a Mack Tower in place of KA was just a bad idea from the get-go, I don't think even the majority of the general attendance would be fooled.

But yet here they are digging footers. Which even if they decided for a different coaster type, they are starting with plenty of time for a 2026 debut.

I don't believe the reasons given for pushing back the ride given how much time is left. I am wondering with all the show cancellations across the chain, park closures ect, if they literally just can't afford the investment. As a small business owner I can tell you since around 2022 onwards business has been terrible, so it wouldn't shock me if Six Flags planned on 2026 and attendance has been so bad across the country they had to push it back to afford it. Or... they never intended for a 2026 opening, but why bother starting construction right now.

 

[harry580]

now theres are people complaining about how cedar fair hated this park and want to park be sold

 

[RDL]

now theres are people complaining about how cedar fair hated this park and want to park be sold

Honestly, CF walked into a pretty tough situation with the park, and it was already in bad shape before they took over. I still think they have good intentions with the park and its future until I see otherwise.

Kings Dominion was in a similar situation, being in purgatory for awhile in the 2010s due to Hanover county not wanting to play ball with CF (tax incentive related) and you had a major competitor in BGW not too far away. Now things seem to be going in the right direction over there and I’m hoping that GAdv will follow the same trajectory.

 

[RDL]

Note: Completely unfounded conspiracy theory ahead.

I'm having real difficulty squaring the news from today with what has been happening on the ground. Even the largest coasters in the world don't need nearly two years of CONSTRUCTION time—yet we are already seeing footers (?!) being poured? Makes zero sense to me.

Plus, we don't have an FAA waiver so they're likely not currently constructing something 200+ feet. A true Ka replacement, at least in my estimation, almost has to be the park's tallest coaster. It doesn't need to be a giga or a strata or anything, but I can't imagine the park marketing a successor to Ka that isn't taller than Nitro.

What if over the course of this season—a season where we have seen DRAMATIC budget cuts all across the chain—Six Flags Great Adventure's 2026 coaster was dramatically downsized—possibly down to even like family coaster scale—and that is what we're currently seeing work being done on now—not the Ka replacement.

If there is a smaller coaster project or other far-less-notable-than-Ka attraction now under construction (and on the verge of being announced within the next few weeks), it would 100% be in SFGAdv's best interest to yank the bandaid off now with a "the Ka replacement is delayed to some uncertain future time" to prep the news space for a "surprise," more "positive" announcement of a much less exciting coaster or other addition for 2026 which, ~ definitely is not ~ the Ka replacement.

In this scenario, there's a good chance SFGAdv isn't commiting to 2027 because they haven't even finalized the plans for a Ka replacement themselves yet. If something like this is true, I think there's a good chance the strata shuttle spinner fell through—and maybe the wording tweak in the new announcement provides even more tea leaves sorta pointing in this direction?

This actually seems kind of reasonable.

I don’t think there’s anything SF said or did that implied the project they were working on in their teaser a week ago WAS in fact the Ka replacement. It literally could be something else.

edit: It’s currently around the GL plot of land and we’re already seeing footers poured. With no FAA permit filed, maybe we’re seeing the GL replacement? The footers that were set up don’t seem to be set in an orientation that would imply a shuttle coaster is being built either. Not even a dual loading station could be reasonable with the way they’re set up.

 

[DWNitro]

Note: Completely unfounded conspiracy theory ahead.

I'm having real difficulty squaring the news from today with what has been happening on the ground. Even the largest coasters in the world don't need nearly two years of CONSTRUCTION time—yet we are already seeing footers (?!) being poured in July 2025 for what may be a 2027 coaster?! Makes zero sense to me.

Plus, we don't have an FAA waiver so they're likely not currently constructing something 200+ feet. A true Ka replacement, at least in my estimation, almost has to be the park's tallest coaster. It doesn't need to be a giga or a strata or anything, but I can't imagine the park marketing a successor to Ka that isn't taller than Nitro.

What if over the course of this season—a season where we have seen DRAMATIC budget cuts all across the chain—Six Flags Great Adventure's 2026 coaster was dramatically downsized—possibly down to even like family coaster scale—and that is what we're currently seeing work being done on now—not the Ka replacement.

If there is a smaller coaster project or other far-less-notable-than-Ka attraction now under construction (and on the verge of being announced within the next few weeks), it would 100% be in SFGAdv's best interest to yank the bandaid off now with a "the Ka replacement is delayed to some uncertain future time" to prep the news space for a "surprise," more "positive" announcement of a much less exciting coaster or other addition for 2026 which, ~ definitely is not ~ the Ka replacement.

In this scenario, there's a good chance SFGAdv isn't commiting to 2027 because they haven't even finalized the plans for a Ka replacement themselves yet. If something like this is true, I think there's a good chance the strata shuttle spinner fell through—and maybe the wording tweak in the new announcement provides even more tea leaves sorta pointing in this direction?

Maybe you’re onto something and they really surprise us next month for National Rollercoaster Day, and let us know that we’re not only getting the Ka replacement but another one, which we’re seeing built right now. Wishful thinking, hopium, whatever you wanna call it. Please let it happen

 

[RDL]

The only thing even mentioned in the teaser regarding future construction was “the next big story starts with a single scoop”

Didn’t mention anything about the Ka replacement.

 

[mtpelepele]

Or there was never going to be a Mack tower spinner shuttle monstrosity, and people believed too much, again, in one concept from a survey.

 

[harry580]

so, what's the footers are for?

 

[Jonesta6]

Given how this regime has gutted federal agencies including the FAA, is it possible that they've applied for the waivers they may need and they are announcing delays now in relation to how far back in the queue they are for approvals?

At this point they're only digging footers, so it's quite possible they have all the above-ground work on hold until the waivers come in but can still get footers installed now so they don't have to wait on that piece later.

 

[harry580]

Given how this regime has gutted federal agencies including the FAA, is it possible that they've applied for the waivers they may need and they are announcing delays now in relation to how far back in the queue they are for approvals?

At this point they're only digging footers, so it's quite possible they have all the above-ground work on hold until the waivers come in but can still get footers installed now so they don't have to wait on that piece later.

oh please, don't tell me theres going to be a last minute decision, I sick and tired of those happening

 

[RDL]

Given how this regime has gutted federal agencies including the FAA, is it possible that they've applied for the waivers they may need and they are announcing delays now in relation to how far back in the queue they are for approvals?

At this point they're only digging footers, so it's quite possible they have all the above-ground work on hold until the waivers come in but can still get footers installed now so they don't have to wait on that piece later.

I think FAA filings need to be done before anything starts, period. The giga coming to Over Texas had an FAA filing back before we saw anything take place at the park

 

[Zachary]

Or there was never going to be a Mack tower spinner shuttle monstrosity, and people believed too much, again, in one concept from a survey.

There are rumors from people I tend to trust that suggest to me that it was a thing. I don't know if it was ever "finalized" (if it even has been "cancelled"), but it is definitely my impression personally that the designs existed in some pretty serious form.

 

[Jonesta6]

oh please, don't tell me theres going to be a last minute decision, I sick and tired of those happening

I was thinking quite the opposite - they're locked in, but delays are being caused by things out of their control.

I think FAA filings need to be done before anything starts, period. The giga coming to Over Texas had an FAA filing back before we saw anything take place at the park

It's just a thought - if there was a hefty backlog due to issues at the FAA, and the park's counsel signed off, could it be possible they do the footers now and argue that since they didn't start vertical construction and the footer construction was with equipment not requiring a height waiver, then there shouldn't be any issues with following the regulations as there was no risk to regulated airspace.

 

[harry580]

I was thinking quite the opposite - they're locked in, but delays are being caused by things out of their control.

like cedar fair?

 

[Jonesta6]

like cedar fair?

Maybe that too, but could be additional regulatory related hurdles (incoming regulation changes, delays in receiving further required approvals, them not getting their documentation together fast enough, who knows), increased costs (skilled labor shortages, tariffs dramatically increasing costs, other related items), or some combination of these and or other related possibilities.

However, they may already have signed and paid for enough of the full package at this point that they can't afford to not move forward.

Or... None of that is true and they're either prepping for a bigger announcement with multiple rides/new themed area/etc. (JX style), or there's something else that hasn't been alluded to yet.