Goliath (Six Flags Magic Mountain)

Goliath is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, California. Manufactured by Giovanola of Switzerland, the hypercoaster is located in the Goliath Plaza section of the park and opened to the public on February 11, 2000. Its sub-tropical theme is characterized by ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization. The ride is nearly identical to Titan at Six Flags Over Texas, but it lacks a 540-degree upward helix prior to the mid-course brake run and features a slightly shorter track layout.

Goliath
Goliath's first drop
Six Flags Magic Mountain
LocationSix Flags Magic Mountain
Park sectionGoliath Plaza
Coordinates34°25′37″N 118°35′49″W
StatusOperating
Opening dateFebruary 11, 2000 (2000-02-11)
Cost$30 million
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerGiovanola
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelMega Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height235 ft (72 m)
Drop255 ft (78 m)
Length4,500 ft (1,400 m)
Speed85 mph (137 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration3:00
Max vertical angle61°
Capacity1600 riders per hour
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains3 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 30 riders per train.
WebsiteOfficial website
Flash Pass available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Goliath at RCDB
Pictures of Goliath at RCDB

For a brief period, Goliath was widely recognized for having the longest drop at 255 feet (78 m) and the fastest speed of 85 mph (137 km/h) among all closed-circuit roller coasters in the world. Millennium Force at Cedar Point eclipsed both records several months later when it debuted on May 13, 2000, with a drop of 300 feet (91 m) and a maximum speed of 93 mph (150 km/h).

History

On January 29, 1999, Giovanola roller coaster track arrived at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It was then confirmed that the new attraction would be a hypercoaster.[1]

On November 11, 1999, Six Flags Magic Mountain announced that the new coaster would be named Goliath.[2] The ride officially opened on February 11, 2000.

In November 2013, seat belts were added to Goliath and Full Throttle.[3]

Ride experience

Leaving the station, the train makes a nearly 180 degree right turn. The train then ascends the chain lift hill, reaching a height of 235 ft (72 m). Ascent slows toward the top of the chain lift hill, a safety feature that reduces stress on the chain; it is also an attempt to reduce positive g-forces and increases rider anticipation. The train begins accelerating down the initial 255 ft (78 m) drop, into an underground tunnel, reaching a speed of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h). Upon exiting the tunnel, the train heads upwards into a banked right turn that towers above Twisted Colossus. After completing the turn, the train heads down another drop, flattening out to pass by the onride camera. An airtime hill and banked left turn (rather than a helix on "Titan") follows into the mid-course brake run. The train is decelerated quickly and makes a hard left turn out of the brake section. Another 180 degree banked turn directs the train into a 585 degree, descending helix. Then, the track turns upwards and banks left. After an ascending right turn, the train reaches the final brake run.

Photos
A view from the coaster entering its first drop.
Goliath from the Whistlestop Park section.

Operation
  • 120-foot (37 m) long tunnel at the bottom of the first drop.
  • Ride capacity: 1,600 passengers per hour.
  • Three five-car 30-passenger trains, with two abreast seating.
  • A small error was made while the ride's parts were being manufactured by Giovanola. The very last track piece before the final brake run was about 6 inches (150 mm) too short. The mistake was found while the final piece was being bolted to the ride, and a supplementary track piece had to be made to fill the 6-inch (150 mm) gap.
  • Appeared as “The Scream Monster” in Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.
  • Appeared as “Aquaman: The Ride” in Entourage (Season 3 Episode 3 "Dominated").
  • Appeared in the Zoey 101 episode "Roller Coaster".
  • Appeared in James Corden's Carpool Karaoke video with Selena Gomez

Awards
Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132019
Ranking 18[4]14[5]14[6]18[7]18[8]20[9]24[10]–[11]30[12]33[13]29[14]40 (tie)[15]41[16]41[17]49 (tie)[18]

Incidents

On June 2, 2001, a 28-year-old woman died from a heart attack while riding Goliath. The park closed the ride for several hours and reopened it the same day after it passed inspection.[19]

References
  1. "Giovanola Track Spotted At Six Flags Magic Mountain". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  2. "Six Flags Magic Mountain Announces Another Giant". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  3. "Seat Belts Added To Both Goliath And Full Throttle".
  4. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  5. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  6. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  7. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  8. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 18–19B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  9. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  10. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  11. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  12. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  13. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  14. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  15. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  16. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  17. "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  18. "2019 Top Steel". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  19. "Woman Dies After Roller Coaster Ride". Los Angeles Times. June 3, 2001. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
Preceded by
Fujiyama		 World's fastest complete circuit roller coaster
February 2000 – May 2000		 Succeeded by
Millennium Force
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