Six Flags Great Adventure is one of the most popular amusement parks in the world. The amusement park is most known for having the tallest rollercoaster in the world and one of the fastest rollercoasters in the world since 2005, Kingda Ka.
According to USA Today, since its beginning, over twelve million people have ridden the roller coaster, and tourists from all over have traveled just to have the experience. Sadly, on November 10, 2024, Kingda Ka permanently shut down, due to An increase in mechanical failures. The entire project was already $25 million dollars, adding more expenses to the recurring mechanical failures. As a result, the ride shut down, breaking the hearts of many rollercoaster lovers.
A couple of months before the shutdown of Kingda Ka, according to a few BSGE students who went to Six Flags in the summer and fall of 2024, Kingda Ka was always shut down. It was rarely open for one full day due to slight malfunctions which completely diminished the chances for people who have been waiting to ride the rollercoaster to finally get their chance. These slight malfunctions piled up, costing a lot of money, which led to the ride shutting down.
Many students in BSGE have either ridden or have been waiting to ride Kingda Ka. Several interviewed students have said that they have ridden Kingda Ka and it was an immaculate experience. An anonymous junior from BSGE said that “it was one of my favorite roller coasters and I have ridden the ride over four times,” and many other students had the same opinion. This rollercoaster was favored by the majority of BSGE students who have ridden it.
Now that Kingda Ka has been permanently shut down, many students feel disappointed and sad. According to a group of BSGE tenth graders, they had no clue that it was closing and because of the slight malfunctions that shut down the ride many times throughout 2024, they did not get a chance to ride the roller coaster one last time. “It is so cool being able to tell people that I have ridden one of the fastest and tallest rollercoasters in the world,” said Mia Seow in the tenth grade. Since it has closed several students do feel special and proud that they have ridden such an amazing and famous roller coaster before it has shut down.
Although many students have already gotten their chance to ride Kingda Ka, there are a few people who have always dreamed of going on the ride but have never gotten to go. Maya Bricic from the tenth grade had said “I have been waiting to go on the ride for such a long time now because I love rollercoasters and I cannot believe it has closed and my chances are gone, I am really sad.” Kingda Ka shutting down has disappointed rollercoaster lovers who have never gotten the chance to go.
Overall, the closure of Kingda Ka has had a major impact on BSGE students and many people around the world in different ways. Whether it is because a person did not get a chance to have the experience in time or has always ridden the ride at Six Flags Great Adventure and values the experience, these people are still negatively impacted by this event.
