When Six Flags Great Adventure announced the sudden closure of the world’s tallest coaster, Kingda Ka, last fall, it tried to soften the blow by promising a “multi-world-record-breaking launch roller coaster” would debut in 2026.
That’s not the case anymore, as the Jackson, New Jersey park announced in a weekend email to passholders that the new coaster’s opening has been pushed back.
Notably, the email did not give a precise new timeline for the project, stating: “As we continue to evaluate our construction projects, we’ve realized that the world-class size and scope of our coaster project means that it will take a bit longer to complete than originally anticipated. To ensure the ride meets our high standards of innovation, thrills and safety that you expect and deserve, and that we’re able to debut it in the spring so our guests can enjoy it all season, we have revised the timeline beyond 2026.”
In the same email, Great Adventure announced that the Holiday in the Park event would not return later this year.
It’s uncommon for major theme park news such as a coaster delay to be announced in an email sent over a weekend. However, it’s a time-honored tactic for communications and public relations professionals to release bad news at times that will minimize media attention and public scrutiny as much as possible, which is typically called a “news dump.”
What isn’t so uncommon, at least for Six Flags, has been coaster delays. Since the company’s merger with Cedar Fair was completed in July 2024, it has delayed three coasters, including Great Adventure’s last addition, The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which was pushed back from a 2024 opening to a March 2025 debut.
The most recent delay was for Six Flags New England’s Quantum Accelerator, which was pushed back to 2026 after a media preview for the ride had already been scheduled.