The 200-foot coaster is running again after SeaWorld shut it on Oct. 13, a day after a deadly accident on a similar ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. Goliath is still closed.
Mako is back at SeaWorld Orlando.
The 200-foot coaster reopened Tuesday, Oct. 20, and “resumed normal operations,” a SeaWorld spokesperson told FOX 35. It had been closed for about a week.
SeaWorld shut Mako on Oct. 13 “out of an abundance of caution,” after a deadly accident on a similar coaster in Georgia. Here’s what we know about the reopening.
Why did SeaWorld close Mako?
Because of what happened at Six Flags Over Georgia. On Oct. 12, a 42-year-old Atlanta man died after falling from the park’s Goliath coaster, according to authorities, FOX 35 reported.
Mako and Goliath were both built by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, often called B&M. They have similar lap-bar restraints, WFTV reported.
Six Flags closed Goliath and the whole park right after the accident, FOX 35 said. SeaWorld closed Mako the next day, as PNP reported at the time.
Did SeaWorld make changes to Mako?
SeaWorld hasn’t said. The park did not say whether any changes were or will be made to the coaster, FOX 35 reported.
The exact date the ride started running again was unclear at first, Attractions Magazine noted. Ride-tracking data hinted it was back on Oct. 20, and SeaWorld confirmed the reopening that day.
SeaWorld’s earlier statement said guest and team member safety is a top priority. Its ride technicians do “regular ride inspections” and work with manufacturers and other safety experts, the park said.
How are Mako and Goliath alike?
They’re close cousins. Both are B&M hypercoasters that stand 200 feet tall, with open-air trains and lap bars, according to Attractions Magazine.
Both have four-across seating and no inversions. And both are built around big drops and airtime hills.
There are differences, too:
Goliath opened in 2006. Mako opened in 2016.
Goliath’s trains hold 36 riders across nine cars. Mako’s hold 28 riders across seven cars.
Goliath has a 540-degree helix. Mako follows a different course with sweeping turns.
Both hit about 70 mph.
Did other coasters close after the Six Flags accident?
Yes, several. Mako was one of a handful of coasters that temporarily closed, Attractions Magazine said.
Hersheypark reopened its B&M coaster, Candymonium, on Oct. 16. The park said it checked with the manufacturer, which hadn’t found an engineering reason to close similar coasters because of the Goliath accident.
Other B&M coasters in Florida stayed open, FOX 35 reported. That includes rides at SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Universal Islands of Adventure.
Six Flags also closed coasters at its own parks, as PNP reported. As of Monday, Oct. 19, nine B&M hypercoasters in the U.S. and Canada were still closed, the Orange County Register reported.
Is Six Flags Over Georgia open?
Yes. The park reopened Friday, Oct. 16, for the first time since the accident, FOX 35 reported.
Goliath is still closed. State investigators are reviewing the ride to figure out what went wrong, according to FOX 35.
B&M said earlier it was “actively investigating the incident.” It said it wouldn’t comment further until it had a better understanding of what happened.
What does SeaWorld say about Mako’s safety?
SeaWorld says Mako is running normally, and its team does regular inspections. The cause of the Goliath accident is still under investigation, Attractions Magazine noted.
“Precautionary closures do not necessarily indicate that something is wrong with those attractions,” Dani Meyering wrote for Attractions Magazine. She said closures show operators “are taking time to evaluate potential concerns.”
If you’re heading to SeaWorld Orlando, check the park app for ride times before you go. And if a coaster doesn’t feel right for you this trip, that’s always your call.
What did Six Flags say?
Richard Pretlow, president of Six Flags Over Georgia, said in a statement that guest and staff safety remains a top priority, FOX 35 reported.
“We remain committed to providing safe, fun and memorable experiences for everyone who visits our park,” the statement said.
SeaWorld said earlier it was working closely with partners, including Six Flags and B&M, to stay informed about the investigation, WFTV reported. We’ll update if SeaWorld or state investigators share more.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
FOX 35 Orlando (Oct. 21, 2026), the reopening, SeaWorld’s comments, the Six Flags reopening and the Goliath investigation
WFTV, James Tutten (Oct. 21, 2026), the reopening and the shared restraint design
Attractions Magazine, Dani Meyering (Oct. 20, 2026), how Mako and Goliath compare, Candymonium and SeaWorld’s statement
Pirates & Princesses (Oct. 14, 2026), Mako’s closure
Pirates & Princesses (Oct. 19, 2026), the Six Flags coasters still closed, via the Orange County Register
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