Amusement park fans who didn’t get the chance to ride the award-winning ArieForce One rollercoaster at Fun Spot America will get to try it out now that Six Flags has acquired the 154-foot ride.
The ride shut down when Georgia's Fun Spot America closed in early August. ArieForce One will make its debut at one of Six Flags’ parks during the 2028-2029 operating season, Six Flags said in a news release.
While Six Flags did not say which park will host the ride, the company has 20 amusement parks, 14 water parks and nine resort properties across 13 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico.
ArieForce One opened at Fun Spot America in Fayetteville, Georgia in March 2023. The 15-story, steel coaster quickly became a hit among riders before closing on Aug. 2. In
2023, the ride won Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Award for Best New Attraction and it has also ranked among the top roller coasters in the world, including in USA TODAY 10BEST’s Reader Choice Awards.
Mark Pauls, chief operating officer of Six Flags, said in a news release that there has been lots of speculation as to where the ride will open next.
"The passion surrounding ArieForce One is unlike anything we've seen in recent years, and when the time comes to reveal its new home, we believe that announcement will be just as exciting as the acquisition itself,” Pauls said.
When USA TODAY contacted Six Flags on Tuesday, Sept. 8 to find out more about where the ride will reopen, the company said it is actively considering multiple parks across its portfolio. Six Flags will likely make a decision and announce it by the end of the year, the company told USA TODAY.
“AirForce One is a world-class coaster, and we want to ensure it lands in the park where it can deliver the best possible guest experience,” the company said.
ArieForce One roller coaster reaches speed of 64 miles per hour
The 2-minute ride towers at 154 feet or 15 stories tall, reaches a top speed of 64 miles per hour and turns riders upside down four times.
Other ride features include:
- Track length: Approximately 3,400 feet
- First drop: 146 feet
- World's largest zero-gravity stall
- Raven Truss Dive
- Outward-banked airtime hill
- Multiple high-intensity airtime (negative-G) moments
'It's beginning a new chapter'
The ArieForce One is named after Fun Spot America founder John Arie Sr. Six Flags said it will not change the ride’s name in order to honor its legacy.
When the park and ride closed in August, fans were in disbelief.
“I still can’t believe this coaster is closing,” wrote TikToker @takenbyjf on June 26. “It has the best finale of a coaster I’ve ever been on and is my favorite (built by Rocky Mountain Construction).”
Fun Spot America Chief Executive Officer John Arie Jr., CEO said in the news release that the company is happy to see the ride live on.
“Its story isn't ending, it's beginning a new chapter, and we are excited that future generations will get to experience ArieForce One,” Arie said.
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A popular roller coaster closed. It's now getting a new home
