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Photos: Magic Mountain's Colossus Joins More SoCal Roller Coasters That Bit The Dust
Colossus, the wooden roller coaster that has stood at Six Flags Magic Mountain since 1978 as a rite of passage for young Angelenos looking to ride their first roller coaster, will shut down permanently on Aug. 16, joining a slew of roller coasters Six Flags and other SoCal amusement parks have shut down over the years.
However, Colossus fans might have something to look forward to. There’s speculation that Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction, which is known for its work on wooden coasters, could turn Colossus into an 8,000-foot-plus looping wood-steel hybrid coaster. This could break the previous record for world’s longest coaster, according to the Los Angeles Times. Rocky Mountain has previously added loops to the Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2013 and Six Flags Mexico’s Medusa in 2014, so there’s some precedence there.
For now, Six Flags has announced a Colossus-riding marathon on Aug. 14 and 15, and will hold closing ceremonies for the ride on the 16th, which is National Roller Coaster Day.
Watch this amazing ABC preview of Colossus from 1978 below:
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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