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The Great American Revolution
Steel Looper at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California. Opened 1976.
- Height
- 113 ft
- Drop
- n/a
- Top speed
- 55 mph
- Length
- 3,457 ft
- Inversions
- 1
- Ride time
- 2 min 12 s
- Designer
- Schwarzkopf
The Great American Revolution is a steel looping roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It was built by Schwarzkopf, designed by Ing.-Büro Stengel, and opened on May 8, 1976. Attractions Magazine describes it as the world's first modern looping roller coaster, and American Coaster Enthusiasts has named it a landmark.
History
The ride has changed names several times: La Revolución from 1981, Revolution from 1988 and The New Revolution from 2016, when it was repainted, its station was redone and lap-bar-only restraints returned. On May 8, 2026, its 50th anniversary, the park restored the original name. It appeared in the 1977 film Rollercoaster.
The coaster stands 113 feet tall and follows the terrain over 3,457 feet of track, with one 90-foot vertical loop and a 144-foot tunnel. It reaches 55 mph. Each train has five cars seating 20 riders.
Sources
- rcdb.com/130.htm (RCDB: Schwarzkopf, designer Ing.-Büro Stengel, opened 5/8/1976, 3,457 ft, 113 ft, 55 mph, 1 inversion, 2:12, 90-ft loop, 144-ft tunnel; names Great American Revolution (1976-1980), La Revolución (1981-1987), Revolution (1988-2015), New Revolution (2016-2025); 2016 repaint and lap bars; in the 1977 film Rollercoaster)
- attractionsmagazine.com/six-flags-magic-mountain-historic-co... (May 9, 2026: park restores the original name The Great American Revolution for the 50th anniversary; world's first modern looping coaster; ACE landmark; 55 mph, 113 ft, 3,457 ft; ride lasts 149 seconds)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Flags_Magic_Mountain (Opened May 29, 1971 (Newhall Land and Farming with SeaWorld); bought by Six Flags 1979; 16 operating coasters with opening years; record for most coasters no longer held; Superman closure announced March 28, 2025; X2 closed 2026; Magic Flyer closed January 2026)
Numbers are from the ride's manufacturer and park where published; "n/a" means we have not confirmed that number yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.