World’s Tallest Roller Coaster Closes After 20 Years for New Mystery Ride — and It's Not in Fla. or Calif.
The record-breaking ride, Kingda Ka, is officially being retired nearly two decades after it first opened in 2005
The world's tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, has officially closed to make way for a new game-changing attraction.
The record-breaking ride isn't located in one of the country's theme park hubs. It's at New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure, which announced in a press release on Thursday, Nov. 14 that the beloved ride has been retired after nearly 20 years of holding the title of “world’s tallest and fastest coaster.”
The closure comes as the park prepares for the construction of a “new signature attraction” that will take Kingda Ka's place.
While details on the new ride have yet to be announced, Six Flags has shared that it will be a “multi-record-breaking launch coaster” that will officially make its debut in 2026.
The park’s president, Brian Bacica, said that more information on the mystery ride will be shared next summer.
“We understand that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate our guests' passion,” Bacica said in a statement. “These changes are an important part of our growth and dedication to delivering exceptional new experiences.”
Related: Six Flags and Cedar Fair Merge to Form New Company and Tease New Rides on the Way
The park also shared that another new ride, The Flash: Vertical Velocity, will launch in 2025 as part of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation’s more than $1 billion investment into its theme parks. As a result of the upcoming changes, Six Flags Great Adventure’s Green Lantern coaster is also retiring alongside Kingda Ka.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Kinda Ka first opened in 2005 and immediately became a “bucket-list attraction” due to its record-breaking engineering, per the park’s official website. It took thrill-seekers up 45 stories (456 feet) and launched them at 128 mph, all in just 50 seconds.