Six Flags America is envisioning 2012 as the end of the world and wants visitors to take that last ride aboard a new roller coaster.
The Apocalypse, a thrilling coaster that will drop riders 90 feet, is set to open at the Maryland theme park on May 25.
The 100-foot-tall stand-up coaster will travel at 55 mph through a loop and a corkscrew along a 2,900-foot-long track. The 1990 Bolliger & Mabillard coaster, formerly known as Iron Wolf, will be relocated from Six Flags Great America near Chicago.
Season pass holders will be invited to be among the first to ride the coaster in a two-day preview on May 19 and 20.
Season passes go on sale today.
The Apocalypse is the eighth coaster at Six Flags America. It’s also one of several new attractions planned for Six Flags theme parks nationwide, including two new roller coasters, two relocated coasters, three tower rides, three water slide complexes and at least one show.
Among the other highlights:
Six Flags Great America (outside Chicago) – Billed as the only wing coaster in the United States, X-Flight by Bolliger & Mabillard will feature barrel rolls and high-speed drops with seats that straddle the 3,000-foot-long track.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Northern California) – The Superman: Ultimate Flight launch coaster will rocket riders at 60 miles per hour through a towering 150-foot-high inversion and a pair of vertical twists.
Six Flags Magic Mountain (Southern California) – The Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom drop tower will be attached to both sides of the park’s 415-foot-tall Superman: Escape from Krypton coaster tower. The new thrill ride will rank as the world’s tallest (400 feet) and fastest (85 mph) drop tower.
Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey) and Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) – Both parks will install Sky Screamer swing towers for 2012, with Fiesta Texas adding a 200-foot-tall ride and Great Adventure a 150-foot-tall one. Six Flags built
of varying heights at Six Flags St. Louis (236 feet) and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (150 feet) in 2011.
Six Flags New England (Massachusetts) – The 192-foot-tall Goliath inverted boomerang coaster will travel forward and backward at 65 mph through a cobra roll and a loop along a 1,200-foot-long track. The 2001 Vekoma coaster, formerly known as
, will be relocated from Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles.
Six Flags St. Louis (Missouri) and Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey) – Both parks will add a Bonzai Pipeline looping water slide to their respective Hurricane Harbor water parks.
Great Escape (New York) – The park’s Splashwater Kingdom water park will add a Nordic-themed Alpine Freefalls water slide complex featuring a freefall speed slide, a twisted mat racer and the Double Black Diamond Cliffhanger.
Six Flags Over Georgia (Atlanta) – The park will add six shows to its entertainment lineup, including a pop music revue, an illuminated dance production and a nightly 45th anniversary spectacular.
Six Flags Over Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth) – The park will add a new live show in 2012.
Six Flags Mexico (Mexico City) and La Ronde (Montreal) – Both parks will add a still-undisclosed ride, attraction or show in 2012.
