Kingda Ka
roller coaster in Jackson, New Jersey
Kingda Ka was a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States. Manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, Kingda Ka opened as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world on May 21, 2005, surpassing Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. Although both featured similar designs, Kingda Ka's layout added an airtime hill on the return portion of the track. It was also the second strata coaster ever built, exceeding 400 feet (120 m) in height.
The ride used a hydraulic launch mechanism to accelerate the train up to 128 mph (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. While Formula Rossa at Ferrari World broke its speed record in 2010, Kingda Ka remained the tallest in the world throughout its operational lifespan. The record-breaking coaster featured a 456-foot-tall (139 m) top hat tower with a 418-foot (127 m) drop, which separately ranked as the longest drop in the world.
In November 2024, following months of rumors and speculation regarding the future of the attraction, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that Kingda Ka had permanently closed. The ride was demolished and removed from the park.
History
Kingda Ka was officially unveiled on September 29, 2004, and was scheduled to open at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2005.
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