Six Flags Great Adventure plans Bakunawa, a 382-foot spinning coaster

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, announced on July 28, 2026, that it will add Bakunawa, a spinning launch coaster scheduled to open in 2027. The park says the ride will stand 382 feet tall and reach 100 mph, which would make it the tallest and fastest spinning roller coaster in the world.

The ride

Bakunawa is being built by Mack Rides. Its floorless cars spin freely, and the train is propelled by three linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches. One of those launches takes place while the train is upside down, which Six Flags and Mack describe as a world first. The park also says riders will go through an inversion at 80 mph.

Six Flags lists six world records it expects the coaster to set: fastest spinning coaster, tallest spinning coaster, fastest inversion, longest stall inversion, first floorless spinning coaster and first upside-down launch. The park also said Bakunawa's height places it among the five tallest roller coasters in the world.

The name comes from a sea serpent in Philippine folklore. Bakunawa will be the signature attraction of The Boardwalk, an area of the park that gained Shoreline Pier, new family rides and evening entertainment during the 2026 season. The announcement gave the opening only as 2027, with no specific date.

Context

The park was previously home to Kingda Ka, a 456-foot launch coaster that operated from 2005 until 2024. Its tower was later taken down by controlled demolition. Bakunawa is shorter than Kingda Ka was; its height and speed records are claimed within the spinning coaster category.