Walk Time: Splash into the week's theme park news
The big news this week was Six Flags Magic Mountain's decision to retire its X2 roller coaster, which had been closed since July. The bad press about brain injury lawsuits and settlements was too much for the park, which made any attempt to smooth the notoriously rough ride not worth the effort. Assuming that any roller coaster manufacturer would take on that task.
Here is our story: Six Flags officially closes X2. Jake and I also talked about Six Flags' decision - and where Magic Mountain needs to go next - in this week's Theme Park Insider Podcast: Can Six Flags restore Magic in its Mountain?
Decisions about when to close, renovate or keep going with aging attractions inspired me to write, How can theme parks best honor and preserve their history?
In better news for the park, Six Flags Magic Mountain this week announced that it has fully energized its 4,315-vehicle solar canopy above its parking lot.
In other roller coaster news this week, Busch Gardens adds free locker time to Iron Gwazi and First test starts on Disney's new Spider-Man roller coaster.
Six Flags Great Adventure has started assembling the cars for its new Bakunawa roller coaster, which opens next year.
Elsewhere, Mattel this week released concept renderings for its first Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark, which the company said will open at the end of 2027 in Bellevue, Nebraska, just south of Omaha.
Images courtesy Mattel
The 100,000 square-foot, year-round waterpark will include a Barbie activity pool and FlowRider surf simulator, a Hot Wheels multi-slide tower; a lazy river decorated with Mattel Games IP including UNO, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, and Magic 8 Ball, as well as a Fisher-Price-themed water play structure. Additional Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterparks are planned for Orlando, Bradley, Illinois and Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, with a fifth location to be announced.
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