A rider died after being thrown from Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. Six Flags has now shut nine similar coasters in the U.S. and Canada “out of an abundance of caution,” with no date for any of them to reopen.
Six Flags has temporarily closed nine roller coasters at six parks in the U.S. and Canada, hours after a rider died on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia.
The company called the closures a precaution. “Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks,” a Six Flags spokesperson said, according to WSB-TV and CBS News.
Goliath is closed, too, and Six Flags hasn’t said when any of the 10 coasters will run again.
Which Six Flags roller coasters are closed?
Here’s the list a Six Flags representative gave Atlanta’s WSB-TV, with each ride’s builder and specs, according to the Roller Coaster DataBase:
Raging Bull, Six Flags Great America in Illinois: built by Bolliger & Mabillard, opened 1999, 202 feet tall, 73 mph
Goliath, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California: built by Giovanola, opened 2000, 235 feet, 85 mph
Nitro, Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey: Bolliger & Mabillard, 2001, 230 feet, 80 mph
Leviathan, Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario: Bolliger & Mabillard, 2012, 306 feet, 92 mph
Behemoth, Canada’s Wonderland: Bolliger & Mabillard, 2008, 230 feet, 77 mph
Fury 325, Carowinds on the North Carolina-South Carolina line: Bolliger & Mabillard, 2015, 325 feet, 95 mph
Thunder Striker, formerly Intimidator, Carowinds: Bolliger & Mabillard, 2010, 232 feet, 75 mph
Orion, Kings Island in Ohio: Bolliger & Mabillard, 2020, 287 feet, 91 mph
Diamondback, Kings Island: Bolliger & Mabillard, 2009, 230 feet, 80 mph
Separately, La Ronde in Montreal closed its own Goliath, Attractions Magazine reported. Six Flags no longer owns that park.
Why did Six Flags close these coasters?
Six Flags hasn’t explained how it picked them, beyond calling them “similar attractions.”
The list gives some clues, though. Eight of the nine were built by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss company that also built Georgia’s Goliath.
None of the nine goes upside down. They’re all tall, fast coasters built for big drops and floating “airtime” hills.
The odd one out is Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It shares a name with the Georgia ride but was built by a different company, Giovanola.
Cedar Point in Ohio, the chain’s best-known coaster park, has nothing on the list.
What happened on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia?
Police were called to Goliath at about 3:58 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, FOX 5 Atlanta reported, citing Cobb County police.
A 42-year-old Atlanta man was “ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction,” according to police, as reported by ABC News. He was found unresponsive and died. Cobb County police released his name Tuesday morning.
Four other people were hurt and taken to a hospital, WSB-TV reported. Police haven’t released their conditions.
Cobb County police’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating, along with Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which inspects amusement rides in the state. Bolliger & Mabillard is also actively investigating, CNN reported.
Police say the cause remains under investigation.
Is Six Flags Over Georgia open this week?
Not until Friday. The park is open on weekends this time of year and opened Monday for the holiday.
It “is scheduled to be open Friday,” Six Flags spokesperson Sara Gorgon told CNN on Tuesday. Goliath and the other closed coasters remain temporarily closed.
The park’s Fright Fest Halloween event is scheduled for select nights through Nov. 1, according to Six Flags.
What do we know about Goliath?
Georgia’s Goliath opened in 2006. It’s a Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster that stands 200 feet tall, drops 175 feet and hits 70 mph, according to Six Flags and the Roller Coaster DataBase.
Monday’s death is at least the seventh at Six Flags Over Georgia since 1989, according to a law firm’s count cited by the AP. That count includes a rider who likely had a heart attack on Goliath in 2006.
How has 2026 gone for Six Flags?
It’s been a rough stretch.
June 11: A brush fire broke out under the X2 coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain. No one was hurt, NewsNation reported.
Sept. 22: More than 100 riders, represented by the same group of attorneys, alleged brain injuries from X2, CNN reported. Three lawsuits have been filed.
Sept. 29: Magic Mountain said it would permanently retire X2. “After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2,” the park’s president said.
The company is also shrinking. In March, Six Flags announced it was selling seven parks to EPR Properties for $331 million, and those parks can keep the Six Flags name only through 2026, the company said.
Six Flags’ stock fell as much as 14% Tuesday morning, hitting its lowest level since 2009, CNN reported.
Who owns Six Flags now?
Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the company formed when Six Flags and Cedar Fair merged in July 2024. That’s why former Cedar Fair parks like Kings Island, Carowinds and Canada’s Wonderland are on the closure list.
When will the closed coasters reopen?
There’s no timeline. Six Flags hasn’t said what the review involves or how long it will take.
If you have tickets to one of these parks this weekend, check the park’s website or app before you go. Six Flags hasn’t announced any full park closures. These coasters just won’t be running for now.
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:
The Associated Press via ClickOrlando, Oct. 12-13, 2026: Six Flags Over Georgia Goliath death and closures
WSB-TV, Oct. 13, 2026: list of closed coasters from Six Flags; injuries
CNN, Oct. 13, 2026: live updates, Six Flags spokesperson Sara Gorgon, stock decline and investigation
ABC News, CBS News and FOX 5 Atlanta, Oct. 13, 2026: police account and timeline
Attractions Magazine, Oct. 13, 2026: closed coasters compared; La Ronde
Six Flags: Goliath and Fright Fest pages at Six Flags Over Georgia
Roller Coaster DataBase: coaster specifications
ABC News and Attractions Magazine, Sept. 29, 2026: X2 retirement; CNN via CTV News, Sept. 23, 2026: X2 injury claims; NewsNation, June 12, 2026: X2 fire
FOX 35 Orlando, March 5, 2026: Six Flags park sale to EPR Properties
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