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Once the world's tallest, fastest roller coaster, Six Flags retires Kingda Ka in New Jersey

Greta Cross and Joe Mason, USA TODAY NETWORK
Updated ·2-min read

The world's tallest and fastest roller coaster has retired.

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced on Thursday it is retiring Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. The coaster held the title for world's tallest and fastest after it debuted in 2005, and over the past 20 years, it has been ridden more than 12 million times. The coaster stands 456 feet tall and runs 128 miles per hour.

Kingda Ka's closure comes as Six Flags Great Adventure looks toward a new $1 billion investment, including the addition of The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which Six Flags claims to be North America's first "super boomerang coaster." Based on the DC Comics character, the coaster is expected to open in 2025. The investment also includes a new "multi-world-record-breaking launch roller coaster" that is said to open in 2026, according to a Six Flags news release.

Riders pass the summit of the "Kingda Ka" roller coaster on May 19, 2005, at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.
Riders pass the summit of the "Kingda Ka" roller coaster on May 19, 2005, at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.

In addition to Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure is retiring Green Lantern, The Twister and Parachutes. The Sky Walk will also be removed from the park to make room for the development.

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Now that Kingda Ka will be no longer, here's a look at some of the world's other mighty rides.

Visitors ride Superman: Escape From Krypton at Six Flags Magic Mountain on the day of the park's re-opening on April 1, 2021, in Valencia, California.
Visitors ride Superman: Escape From Krypton at Six Flags Magic Mountain on the day of the park's re-opening on April 1, 2021, in Valencia, California.

Superman: Escape From Krypton (U.S.)

Height: 415 feet

Top speed: 100 mph

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California

Red Force (Spain)

Height: 367 feet

Top speed: 112 mph

Location: Ferrari Land in Salou, Catalonia, Spain

People ride in the "Red Force" roller coaster during the inauguration of Ferrari Land in Salou, Catalonia, Spain on April 6, 2017.
People ride in the "Red Force" roller coaster during the inauguration of Ferrari Land in Salou, Catalonia, Spain on April 6, 2017.

T Express (South Korea)

Height: 184 feet (among world's tallest wooden coasters)

Location: Everland in Yongin, South Korea

Boys who are experiencing the lives of Buddhist monks by staying in a temple for three weeks as novice monks, enjoy a ride at Everland amusement park in Yongin, South Korea on May 17, 2023.
Boys who are experiencing the lives of Buddhist monks by staying in a temple for three weeks as novice monks, enjoy a ride at Everland amusement park in Yongin, South Korea on May 17, 2023.

Wildfire (Sweden)

Height: 184 feet (among world's tallest wooden coasters)

Location: Kolmården Wildlife Park in Kolmården, Sweden

Visitors leave the Kolmården Wildlife Park in Kolmården, Sweden on June 17, 2012.
Visitors leave the Kolmården Wildlife Park in Kolmården, Sweden on June 17, 2012.

Goliath (U.S.)

Drop length 255 feet (among coasters with largest drop)

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California

Steel Dragon 2000 (Japan)

Length: 8,133 feet (regarded as world's longest steel coaster)

Location: Nagashima Spa Land in Mie Prefecture, Japan

People enjoy riding down from the highest point of the world's longest steel roller coaster "Steel Dragon 2000" at Nagashima Spa Land in Nagashima, central Japan on Aug. 7, 2000.
People enjoy riding down from the highest point of the world's longest steel roller coaster "Steel Dragon 2000" at Nagashima Spa Land in Nagashima, central Japan on Aug. 7, 2000.

The Smiler (United Kingdom)

Inversions: 14 (regarded as steel roller coaster with most inversions)

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Location: Alton Towers in Staffordshire, United Kingdom

Thrill seekers wear face masks as they ride "The Smiler" rollercoaster at Alton Towers on the first day opening after after lockdown restriction were eased on April 12, 2021 in Alton, United Kingdom.
Thrill seekers wear face masks as they ride "The Smiler" rollercoaster at Alton Towers on the first day opening after after lockdown restriction were eased on April 12, 2021 in Alton, United Kingdom.

Outlaw Run (U.S.)

Inversions: Three (regarded as tied for most inversions among wooden roller coasters)

Location: Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri

Silver Dollar City roller coaster Outlaw Run is visible from the site of the new Silver Dollar City Resort, expected to open at the end of 2026, on Oct. 17, 2024.
Silver Dollar City roller coaster Outlaw Run is visible from the site of the new Silver Dollar City Resort, expected to open at the end of 2026, on Oct. 17, 2024.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove a photo and add new information about the Goliath roller coaster's record.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Six Flag retires Kingda Ka in New Jersey: See other top coasters