The Ramblin’ Den
Welcome to The Ramblin' Den, the podcast where two best friends, Brandon and Kevin, tackle anything and everything—from wild conspiracy theories to debates over pizza toppings, and everything in between. No scripts. No filters. Just pure, hilarious chaos. Whether they're on the same page or totally disagreeing, one thing’s for sure: it’s always an entertaining ride. Tune in for unpredictable conversations, random thoughts, and a whole lot of laughs. Perfect for anyone who loves to ramble (or just listen to two people who do)! Join the fun in The Ramblin’ Den—you never know where we’ll end up next.
The Ramblin’ Den
Roller Coaster Requiem: The Fall of Kings and the Future of Thrills
The skyline of Six Flags Great Adventure has been forever altered with the sudden removal of Kingda Ka, the tallest roller coaster on the planet. After nearly 20 years of launching thrill-seekers 456 feet into the air at 128 miles per hour, this engineering marvel was dismantled without fanfare, leaving enthusiasts scrambling to experience one final ride.
What makes this story particularly fascinating is the complete lack of transparency throughout the process. Construction markers appeared mysteriously around the ride in early fall, sparking rumors that spread through social media while Six Flags maintained radio silence. No announcement, no farewell tour - just whispers and speculation until demolition crews arrived. This communication failure created a bitter divide within the community, with passionate arguments breaking out online about the validity of these rumors.
The timing couldn't be more suspicious, coming right after the Cedar Fair and Six Flags merger. Many believe that since Cedar Fair owned Top Thrill Dragster (Kingda Ka's predecessor and competitor), they wanted to reclaim the "tallest coaster" title for their own parks. Meanwhile, El Toro - consistently ranked among the world's greatest wooden coasters at the same park - sits in a precarious position after multiple incidents, undergoing a complete retracking while narrowly avoiding permanent closure under New Jersey's strict "three strikes" regulatory framework.
We dive deep into what these changes mean for the future of Six Flags Great Adventure and the broader theme park industry. From the emotional final weekend when enthusiasts from across the country gathered to say goodbye, to the abandoned sections of the park left in Kingda Ka's wake, this story touches on the powerful connection people form with these mechanical marvels. Join us as we explore why these decisions matter to both die-hard coaster fans and casual visitors alike, and what might come next in this rapidly changing landscape.
Have you experienced the loss of a favorite attraction? We'd love to hear your stories in the comments, or share your predictions about what might replace these fallen giants!
oh my god, those cheers are very, very loud I don't like that.
Speaker 2:That's why I was. It's been such a long time. Anyway, live from Philadelphia. Pa, it's your boys, brandon and Kevin. Welcome to the Ramblin' Den.
Speaker 1:That's right. Welcome back For episode two, if you didn't leave us after episode one you're doing good, yeah, and we are live again on the stream on Twitch the Ramblin' Den Yep. So if you guys want to follow along for the fun while we record your favorite podcast to be, please do, if you have questions.
Speaker 2:we're going to get to your questions or thoughts at the end of our recording session and we will give you at least a dedicated, at least five to ten minutes, depending on what time we have to answer your questions and to and maybe even a shout out.
Speaker 1:Maybe Shout out to all of you, maybe Shout out to all of you.
Speaker 2:I'm going to turn my headphones down because they hurt. That's fair. Okay, yeah, all right.
Speaker 1:All right.
Speaker 2:All right. So, ladies and gentlemen, what are we talking about today in the Ramblin' Den? Well, we are talking about the state of amusement parks and roller coasters Revisited. Well, it's not revisited.
Speaker 1:It is. We've talked about it before.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but for those who followed us from the BKS show.
Speaker 1:Oh yes.
Speaker 2:But for the Ramblin'.
Speaker 1:Den. Well, this is a recycled. It is and isn't a recycled topic. It's only because of the fact that, again, if you listen to the first episode, you know you would understand that there's a lot of things we can bring back to the table because of the fact that it's always updated news and you know topics to talk about.
Speaker 2:But to our brand new listeners, who I know we're going to bring in. This is the first time that the Ramblin' Den has ever talked, and will not be the last time, but the first time that we've ever spoken about roller coasters and theme parks Now Kev to my left, is an enthusiast. I am a learning enthusiast. I am growing my knowledge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I got to give you credit, though, man. Yeah, I gotta give you. I gotta give you credit though, man, despite the fact that you're like not like a big avid writer, you do. You do seem to very much. So hold your interest in the shit and, like I like how you asked me to like, educate you on certain things. When you see something you're like that looks like a big deal, let me ask kev and like you know, I'll tell you about it.
Speaker 2:I'll tell you whether it's a big deal or not a big deal. I've had so many instances and where I've thought it was a big deal because, like bro chill and I'm just like fuck you then I thought I, I thought I had something special, I mean it's always special, especially the fact that you bring it to me.
Speaker 2:It's cool, you know, but and I always appreciate that like today I I sent I'm pretty sure you've seen it before, but uh, I always I've learned to now check the um, check, check the comments and like when it was posted. So three days ago this post was posted, but it's probably been a post that's been up before El Toro, which is Kev's number one in the. Well, I don't know if this is number one.
Speaker 1:It's my number one wooden coaster. It's his number one wooden coaster. It's probably my number two in my you know.
Speaker 2:It didn't get the RMC treatment like Wildcat. What did you say? I forget what it said. It started with an F.
Speaker 1:What were you talking about In the video? Yeah, the animated video. Yeah, I mean it was technically a. It was like an RMC. It was technically an RMC.
Speaker 2:Okay, so they reimagined.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it was. Again, this is an animated version. This is not real, right, obviously. So they reimagined el toro, uh, which is one of the greatest wooden coasters in on the planet, uh, and they reimagined it as an rmc, kind of like an rmc makeover.
Speaker 1:So if anyone's ever been to, let's talk about rmc real quick probably the easiest, you know, easiest uh thing that people would know here or even in the general area would be Hershey Park, wildcat was reimagined into a RMC roller coaster, which stands for Rocky Mountain Construction which is a company that literally goes ahead and makes a hybrid roller coaster out of an old beat-up wooden roller coaster.
Speaker 2:So they bring certain rides back to life, they give them another life, and I was joking with Kev.
Speaker 1:Which I think is super dope.
Speaker 2:Right, which is awesome because, you're preserving history, right, but giving it a new twist, giving it a new life Bringing in a big old new crowd. I was joking with Kev right for all of our roller coaster enthusiasts, I was like yo, what if RMC from now on every wooden coaster? They did just kept the original name but put revenge at the end Thunderbirds revenge. I think of all your wooden coaster and just put revenge, toro's revenge.
Speaker 1:I do got to say what was the? What was the? It was called El Toro Bravo. Right, that's what they called it in the video, which was kind of neat because they kept that as like a a memoir to the whole Spanish you know history, because they kept that as like a memoir to the whole Spanish history and stuff, which was pretty cool. But yeah, no.
Speaker 2:So I mean, yeah, el Toro is a big one, but don't touch him, man, don't reanimate it. There are some things that we don't.
Speaker 1:It's going to be retract, which is great, and I've been saying that for years, ever since the beginning of those accidents per se that have happened.
Speaker 2:I think the most important. I think what they should have done right. So this is me learning and and for our listeners, you're learning too, except if you're not. Toro is basically on like strike three and a half. Okay, like it got away with some, it got away with some shit. So basically there are laws per the state that from my understanding kev will correct me if I'm wrong that if a roller coaster has a certain amount or they get to a strike three.
Speaker 2:Like per state, like depending on the state. So in Jersey it's almost like it's pretty much a three strike and you're out rule.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Yep, so Toro, what was it about two years ago? Three years ago hit its third strike.
Speaker 1:Believe it or not, I think it was three, three years ago.
Speaker 2:three years ago hit its third strike, believe it or not, I think it was three, three years, I think it flew by, but yeah, you had the derailment and then you had the pothole right, so yeah, so it hit strike three and kev was extremely nervous because jersey is a three strike rule. Third strike and you're out. And that would mean that toro was out of commission and could never run again. Ever like there's.
Speaker 1:There's no way around it, it's the law, that's it three strikes and you're out like in this, in the sense, basically, they would have either had to dump the money and be forced to reimagine the thing, or they would have had to be forced to take it down right.
Speaker 2:So kev was extremely nervous at this time. He was very I, I remember, for at least the story was there for about a month and for about a month straight. Uh, kevin's really really worried about what could happen to Toro and um. So so basically, uh, I believe that this retract, I think.
Speaker 1:Oh, it's going to save a lot.
Speaker 2:Why not? Why not just shut it down for the year? I agree. I agree Cause I feel like they're risking time. In one shot.
Speaker 1:Because shit, they closed down the rest of the park basically Right.
Speaker 2:We'll get into that, right Because if you think about it, if you don't, if you do this in increments and there is, for some reason, some ungodly reason, a stroke of bad luck where toro has another derailment, that's it, it's over, that's game. So I think the park should shut it down and just and I don't care if it reopens in 2027, 2028 just do it right, take your time and then run the test, they don't learn shit.
Speaker 1:The first time, hell even the 50th time it's just and that's where we dive into a little thing called king deca, and I'm sure everybody knows, if you don't even have to be an enthusiast or a rider to know that big name of a roller coaster, because I mean, it literally was an icon for what it was and that I'm, and it's no secret to the world now anyone we're listening to you know who's gonna be listening. Now, I mean, everybody knows, even people who it got national news coverage it got national news coverage.
Speaker 1:I mean that's a big, it was a big deal, but that all happened because of corporate, because corporate, you know, is a thing that likes to either make or break any company so let's talk about the merger first.
Speaker 2:Yep, king of cob was. First of all. We're talking about uh jackson, new jersey, six flag, six flags, great adventure. I have been there and, uh, when I was there it was to ride the first monorail. Uh, jersey, devil, beautiful ride. I still love that ride.
Speaker 1:I haven't written also an rmc coaster.
Speaker 2:That is an rmc coaster, so I haven't written a lot of rides. Guys, I, I, I think I'm. I'm like 20ish Around there. We could count them later.
Speaker 1:I am curious to know your count. We'll figure it out?
Speaker 2:Yeah, we will figure it out, but we went together for Jersey Devil. What was it? Opening weekend?
Speaker 1:It was within the month.
Speaker 2:So we went With my nephew Ead Shout out to Ead, who is at Temple right now doing his thing. God bless you.
Speaker 1:Much love man.
Speaker 2:So we were there and I had an opportunity to ride it. I was a little bit thinner then, but I think my confidence was taken out of me after the spectacle that one of the ride assist put on me for toro. Yeah, I remember that kev kept looking back at me say it's not. I'm looking at the screen, it's not you. I don't know why they keep saying it's you.
Speaker 1:I was looking at the clearance screen.
Speaker 2:It wasn't you it wasn't my car, it was another car, but the guy was making such a spectacle that I was just like I was uncomfortable at that point.
Speaker 1:No, I get it, but that dude was significantly bigger than you.
Speaker 2:Right For the record, you're right.
Speaker 1:And so I was like it was very clear, I knew exactly who it was. He was in front of me.
Speaker 2:So I was like you know what Me and EA were like. I told him he had to stay, would you?
Speaker 1:but yeah, it probably spooked him too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, which I get and there are other things he said later. He just they call it unfortunately you know there's negative uh terms for that they call it the walk of shame yeah uh, and he didn't want me to do that alone, because what it is is it's really not a walk of shame, but yes, it's, it's we're.
Speaker 2:We're human beings so like, if you're doing something like that, it does feel like oh, you know yeah, so he didn't want me to do that alone, he told me later, so he just got off, which was very admirable of him because he could have stayed on and experienced one of the greatest rides that there are, uh, when it comes to, if not the greatest when it comes to wooden it's not too late.
Speaker 1:Oh no, I do not want you to ride it until it's retract no, I. I because you will get a poor experience right now because I heard that it's like like rough as sandpaper right now. It's unbelievable right now. I heard it's crap actually right now. I actually heard.
Speaker 2:it's unenjoyable right now, but that's why they should have shut it down.
Speaker 1:Trust me, I know so 2028 or 2027. I know it.
Speaker 2:Anyway. So anyway, King of Car was there and I had an opportunity to ride it, but I think my confidence was just shot. I got on Jersey Devil, no problem, A couple times.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we went on twice. There were three times. Three times yeah.
Speaker 2:Kevin, I think he did a grand total of four, because he did once in the front, once in the back, once in the middle and again in the front. Is that what you did? You did the front twice, I can't remember. Anyway, maybe, maybe.
Speaker 1:But yeah, that definitely rocked your confidence for getting the biggest of enthusiasts. Um, your first time going on something that scale of intensity is is definitely going to be a little intimidating. I mean shit, the first time I ever, even even the last time. I just wrote it. We'll get into that in a minute even the last time I just wrote it. I mean, like I forget what this experience is like right now.
Speaker 2:Let's see how this is gonna go well, you and silver, who were in the chat, were were there. You were there. You were such an enthusiast. You were there when the ride opened.
Speaker 1:Correct. Well, not opening day, but for the soft opening weekend for season pass holders.
Speaker 2:Yes, and you guys waited how long.
Speaker 1:Well, Sylvia was not actually with me that night. Oh, I thought he was. No, we have ridden it together.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:I was actually alone. I was my mom first and last time.
Speaker 2:Right, yes, I was alone.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so hey so I was 15 years old, my mom dropped me off at the park. It was, you know, these were the days where you could actually trust to drop your child off at a theme park, right? She dropped me off. Um, I, I beelined right for it and I waited a whopping four and a half hours.
Speaker 2:Four and a half hours Yep and I made.
Speaker 1:I made a couple of friends in line. Um, we were there cause I think that the soft opening started at 7 PM, something like that. So we, we got. I got in the park probably around like seven 30, and the park closed at 10 30 and I didn't get out until I think I did. We didn't even get out of the park until maybe 11, 11, 30 or something. I didn't get home till probably like 1, 1, 30, but but.
Speaker 2:But, with that being said, it was amazing first time you rode car, explain first of all. Let's explain car to people who don't know what cut is.
Speaker 1:So why don't?
Speaker 2:you. Why don't you start with exactly what it is and what made it so unique, and then tell us about your first and last experience?
Speaker 1:so basically what kingda ka is as a launching high intensity launch roller coaster that was opened in 2005. It was basically a answer from six flags to cedar point, who was, ironically enough, now their owner, basically. But they had opened one called Top Thrill Dragster back in 2003, and it was the world's first quote-unquote strata coaster, which means that a height can exceed anything from 400 to 500 feet tall. So this was a hydraulic launch roller coaster that Top Throat Dragster had done, and it had gone from zero to 120 miles per hour and went up of a height of 420 feet tall. That was unbelievable. But now then, Six Flags' answer was like we are going to make one taller and a little faster. So then it took the throne of having the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, with 128 miles per hour in three and a half seconds and 456 feet tall.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:So now it has stood the tallest roller coaster in the world. For now, this will be coming up 20 years.
Speaker 1:20 years this will be coming up 20 years, 20 years, 20 years. So it was just shy, just shy of keeping the record for for a full-blown 20 years as the tallest coast in the world. That's unbelievable because we're obviously we're, we're fresh into 2025. It was open in 05. So, yeah, that is what that's the rundown of what kingda kai is. Um. If you do not know what it looks like, go ahead. Youtube has 50,000 videos of what Of it in its prime POV.
Speaker 2:Yeah, in its prime.
Speaker 1:And it'll actually show you opening day. And these lines were just absolutely insane. I heard that opening day was actually eight hours long To the public. Was eight hours long.
Speaker 2:So let's explain. A lot of people say well, I'm not waiting eight hours for a ride.
Speaker 1:You have to understand that this attracted enthusiasts from across the country on the eastern seaboard and whom whom I've met on the weekend that it was closing, so I'll explain that later too, but yeah like you, this.
Speaker 2:This is for enthusiasts, for an enthusiast, enthusiast. This is not a ride you miss no this is a ride that you make the journey for. Yep, now, especially if you live in the united states, you're gonna try to find a way. Okay, now it all depends money, whatever, if you're gonna fly, if you're gonna drive, whatever it may be, but especially for this. So we so it was.
Speaker 1:It was a brat, it's, it's a bragging right, and I'd be a liar to ever say that it was one of my favorite roller coasters. It wasn't, but. But that's simply because I mean, first of all, we are never going to deny the fact that that thing was an absolute maintenance nightmare, which is part of the reason why it is no longer trick pony.
Speaker 1:But, with that being said, that one trick pony really, really packed a punch right just saying but no, it does not, does not qualify into, even, probably even into my top 10, to be fair right. But with that being said, um, it was a lot of people's favorite, a lot of people, and I also understand why it might have been for them, because that might have been their cup of tea. Everybody has their own preference.
Speaker 1:I mean, a lot of people say that was their favorite role question more power to them, um it was first of all 18 seconds, by the way, from the point that you literally leave the launch, literally from the point that you launch off that pad to the point that you hit the first break run at coming off, coming down off the hill. It's over, blink, 18 seconds. And now? Imagine these people who have waited eight hours to get on this thing.
Speaker 2:I mean that's but at the dedication, but the experience is bonkers is it worth it at the end of the day?
Speaker 1:for the first time, 100. Yes 100.
Speaker 2:I had an opportunity. I had an opportunity but, like I said, my, my, my confidence. You know it's funny I wanted I think it's big people can get on roller coasters, it just depends on which one right and what I mean by big is like okay, your, your belly, right, everybody's worried about the belly, so you believe it or not, that's not even.
Speaker 1:That's never even. One of the biggest parts is actually hips. Have a lot to do with it too. I've witnessed that happen. They need to start figuring and I understand it's a safety thing, but they need to start figuring out different, different little attributes. Yeah, like to figure out like you know a, this person's, this size, you know.
Speaker 1:There there should be like extender type, like restraints, or or or seats type, like restraints or or or seats, however, but you know what I'm going to be honest with you, I'm going to be like 100 on ashes in the chat and said rip to the king, rip to the king better believe it. Long live the king here's.
Speaker 2:here's what I'm here's. Here's one thing right as as accommodating as we can be to bigger people, like for right now myself, I've seen incredible, very motivational and inspirational stories of enthusiasts who've gone to the park. They were too big to ride the new ride and they turn their lives around because they want to ride that ride.
Speaker 1:It's more of a wake-up call, right.
Speaker 2:Like they want to be able to ride that ride they want to be able to experience.
Speaker 1:I have actually yeah, you're right, I've actually heard a lot of those little stories too. Which is it's, it's very uh, it is inspiring to know that people like give a shit that much that they want to really like make their life changes for that particular exactly, which is cool.
Speaker 2:And then they get to do it. And I followed this one guy his journey and then you know he was too big for a ride. And then, the next thing you know, he worked his ass off for like a year and by the opening season of the next year he was on every coast and ever since he's maintained his figure, he's maintained his health and he has gone around the world and ridden coasters everywhere. In a way it's inspirational for bigger people to say hey, wow.
Speaker 2:I mean, this guy loves something so much and it hurt him so bad that he couldn't partake, he couldn't live with himself.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I mean, if you really think that you're going to go and have this good time, you travel for something you know, like this is something you really want to do and realize, hey, kicking the nuts can't do it anyway, because. I'm simply too large in some retrospect for the safety to even consider me being on it.
Speaker 2:Now, yes, should there be some rides that are accommodating? Yes, but I think for the more challenging, the more dynamic rides it is, it's it's, it's safety issue. Yeah, it's, it's, not me I'm not even trying to be mean, because I am one of those people no, it's sketchy it's you can't, you can't put the risk of yourself and others who might like. Could you imagine you're sitting next to somebody and there's a failure and it's your fault. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Well, and that has happened many, many, many times before.
Speaker 2:But we digress because we ramble. That's what we do. So your first experience 18 seconds, well worth the wait. 100% what, Without a doubt. So you heard the rumors. The rumors started creeping in back in October.
Speaker 1:Actually before that, which is funny because I didn't even know that there was rumors as far back as like early September. Dude, I remember it, I came across leaks prior to that.
Speaker 2:I remember you really started to make a big deal about it in October.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well for me. Yes, yeah, you were make a big deal about it in october. Yeah, well for me.
Speaker 1:yes, but I but, going back into looking at some of some other people's social media stuff, that I actually started to realize that people started to realize shit back in or probably early, early september or something like that, you started to believe I started to believe it late october, early november and then you were like bro, I, I have to go well, it's because the real, the realization hit me when people are starting to say you know, oh, this might be the last season for con, yada, yada, yada. So mind you to the listeners, if you remember that role because I was just talking about that had through top thrill, uh, top throw dragster. They had reanimated into something called top thrill too. So now what happened was they added a thing called a vertical spike. It's kind of a swing launch, where it launches forward, then backwards and then it clears the entire top hat with a whole new launching system and everything.
Speaker 1:Because they had experienced an accident back in, I believe, 2022, got the ride shut down. I want, yeah, got the ride shut down because it was a flywheel that came off the train and hit someone in line. And now that is terrible, terrible, and I feel so bad and yeah, I mean it should never happen. The person did survive.
Speaker 2:They did survive. Yes, they did, however?
Speaker 1:they were holding on for life. And two nothing like that should have happened, but they. It comes right down to the fact that hydraulic systems are way too hard to keep up with. And the second some was wrong. It's usually catastrophic, like it was. So what they did was they put in now magnetic launches, which are way better to upkeep and way less dangerous. And now will the launch be as fast from the dig?
Speaker 2:no, unfortunately not. You'll probably experience a rollback you will.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, it's not even just things like that, like the, the top speeds, you know, even even from the dig like it, it goes from like zero to 72 first, versus versus it was going 120 from the dig the thing is is I I have to throw this in there the thing is.
Speaker 2:Another reason why I think they took king down was, even though king was a maintenance nightmare, it was still getting more rides because the redesigned Top Thrill Dragster had a company that Kev says had no business being a part of the revamp.
Speaker 1:There's a company that redid the Top Thrill 2 refabrication. So if anyone has obviously been down the boardwalk and they've been on a couple of those little spinny rides and things like that and they flip you upside down you, gotta you, gotta you gotta Sam Perlin man, you want to see one of those things involved in a monstrous roller coaster project? I don't Guess what they did, and now it's not even working.
Speaker 2:It was such an embarrassing launch.
Speaker 1:They swear it's going to open this year.
Speaker 2:It was such an embarrassing launch for a brand new ride.
Speaker 1:It lasted a whopping eight days.
Speaker 2:And then it was shut Into opening day. It was shut for the season. Yep Done.
Speaker 1:And now I heard that they had to actually replace the trains. Already they had to do a lot of calibrations. I mean, I think they just took them off to see what they could do with them and then they started actually considering, okay, we need a whole new train, both of them. So basically, uh, what? So yeah, sorry, I started getting sidetracked. So so with king da ka I thought, okay, well, maybe they're going to give it the quote-unquote top thrill to treatment, they're going to reanimate it, they're not going to they're not going to take it down.
Speaker 1:I was like they're not going to do that's the tallest coast in the world. Why the hell would they do that make no sense and I was like, well, maybe a reanimation, but uh, I mean, I still am gonna probably want to ride it for the last time, you know, being in the form that it's in. So I didn't really fully believe yet. But then I started seeing people posting pictures of markers, construction markers on the ground there it is in and around the walkway, in and around the station.
Speaker 1:And this on the third, I was like that something's happening that was it something's happening?
Speaker 2:I gotta go yeah, and so kev reached out to a couple people. Unfortunately, my size I couldn't. I, there was no guarantee that I could get on with him, uh, and so he reached out to a couple people. But it's, it's also like what the middle of november, like it was actually october november, it's pretty it's pretty pathetic that I know exactly when it was it was.
Speaker 1:This is terrible. When was it? I left my niece's birthday. Oh wow, to go ride this thing, well, listen. Things matter.
Speaker 2:But they understood and we did have lunch.
Speaker 1:But the thing is they weren't even going to be hanging out all day long anyway, Like we had lunch, I promised them lunch to send lunch.
Speaker 2:I went to lunch with them and then I literally went from launch and went to the park, right. So you got there and then you said you saw the markings for yourself because you took pictures and you showed them.
Speaker 1:You showed them to me, yep and I realized yep, this shit's real and this is real life this is well the real life part was the fact that the second, the second I walked through the uh, the gate of the place, I had my my camera strapped around me because I went to take some pictures of it, and the guy said here's some, take some pictures of the king. I said absolutely. He said he said good thing you're here, man. Uh, you know this is the last weekend and I was like I said the rumors really are true. Huh, like you know, it looks like it's gonna be closing. He said yeah, and then I was like no, I said no reanimation or anything like that. They're gonna be taking it down.
Speaker 2:He was like yeah, see, six flags and I couldn't believe that and I was like no I don't six flags.
Speaker 1:I was like I don't know, this guy might just be, you know, tickling my balls a little bit the whole merger has been a mess, but why did that come to?
Speaker 2:my mind they ran such a terrible cover-up campaign, yep, and like online, people were fighting about it and I remember I wrote something and I was like somebody was fighting, like you guys do realize that corporate probably told their workers to lie about whatever when it came to that ride, because people were like, well, I have my source and my source says this, and my source says that, well, they can't risk the, the, they can't risk their job yeah, so you can't then just shut up, right, so you know what do?
Speaker 1:you don't say I got this and you're so passionate about it and accidentally dropped somebody's name.
Speaker 2:Well, my source you know. Ronnie said well then, there goes ronnie's job yeah, ronnie gone right and so by ronnie.
Speaker 2:people are lying about it, but it neither here or there. What's happened? Because I got it there, you go, man. Oh shit, so we shit. So we're learning, guys, we're learning. So let's rapid fire this down as we get there. We can go one or two minutes over, that's okay. We can't turn this into six hours, because we could go on six hours. We'll revisit this. 2025 has been significantly bad, for the main reason that a lot of fan favorite rides have gotten the can without an explanation.
Speaker 1:And it all has happened since Cedar Fair, and Six Flags now have merged. And Cedar Fair, I seriously think that since they had the title of tallest and fastest in the world with Top Thrill Dragster, that they wanted it back, they wanted the title back and they forced six flags. Well, if we're gonna do this, you gotta take king down but which is bullshit?
Speaker 2:all right, so in which is bullshit? But then you have to also ask yourself the reason it's been a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah like, why not tell the fans?
Speaker 2:right, they didn't say they would.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this was all unannounced shit. Yeah, why not? We had to find out. All of us enthusiasts had to find out via youtubers, from youtubers. There's two in particular people and I give shout out, major shout out to coaster studios and el torre ryan major shout out to you two. And also collie wood studios, who is a good uh content creator on uh instagram. I actually bought a shirt for him that actually says long live the king on it. Uh for for the, obviously the, the legendary you know experience that everybody's ever had on on king dakot that was. I give a shout out to you three because you three were the reason that every enthusiast that who was there that closing weekend and who believed you guys were able to ride it one last time was it and I got to meet so many people that that was probably with the exception of saying goodbye to it for the last three rides that I got to ride.
Speaker 1:That was probably the most memorable roller coaster experience I've ever had because I was literally finally, for once, around everybody who was exactly like me from all over the world.
Speaker 2:It's a beautiful experience, oh, it's a beautiful experience, when you are surrounded it's crowded, when you're surrounded by people who are just at what I call an enthusiast enthusiast. When you are around people like that, it makes the though it's. It makes those moments bitters, bittersweet yeah, it's very bittersweet. Yeah, it's definitely better yeah it's very bittersweet because hey man like, look like yo they were all here for the same reason.
Speaker 2:They're all there for the same reason. They all took time out of their days to ride this icon, this history-making roller coaster that was taken away from everybody for no reason. And the other thing is quickly. We're so upset because they have not released any information as to what is going to replace such an icon.
Speaker 1:They claim that will come in the summer, but what we truly would have deserved was an actual statement and we never got one. There was a press release and that didn't even make it to any sort of website, didn't make it to any social media, nothing. The thing is news. Got word of it quickly because obviously there was all these people around I guess, and now it ended up being a thing.
Speaker 1:So then, people in the coaster community, they do their digging man, and the day that they realized that it was going to come down, the news was there helicopters were in the sky, and they got to watch the whole thing happen on live national television.
Speaker 2:Kev still has to find that conversation of a guy who like, oh dude, that fucking prick.
Speaker 1:He was on.
Speaker 2:Facebook. He swore a guy who, like that fucking prick it was the only he swore he was- calling kev like he was being rude to very rude, saying you know you.
Speaker 1:You basically like, uh, typical, typical, basically douche, so many words, douchebag that thinks he knows everything about these roles. He's like I have a source from a source from a source that he was so confident it's gonna be there next year there, it's not going nowhere.
Speaker 2:But well, if he's smart, he deleted the comment he probably did.
Speaker 1:That's probably why I can't find it like the told you so aspect.
Speaker 2:for so many people I know, like kevin, it was almost like vindication for some enthusiasts because, like there was a real war online, people were were really calling each other out and saying, hey man, what do you? You don't, your source is trash and and it was getting personal and I think it was like, even though it was very sad that it was true, it was a major source of vindication and I got into arguments with only people who were literally saying you know?
Speaker 1:like, why are you guys being such idiots for believing the rumors? Well, I got to tell you, dude, I'm glad I did believe the rumors.
Speaker 2:Markings on the ground. It's proof enough.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because rumors on the ground are yes, that's a proof enough. Yeah, not just that, not just that, but rumors. I gotta tell you, in big shit like this, rumors usually have hold some truth. Just saying, and this guy colliewood studios dude on instagram, pretty sure I'm, I'm, 90 sure that he's the same one that had this thing. He listed sources that are. He listed several things that he heard about rumors in and around Kingda Ka, and three out of four things have already been confirmed as fact. Now and then. The last one will be whatever replaces the thing, and I swear to God, if that's what replaces it, it's not going to be pretty for the park. They are going to get their asses chewed, the fuck out.
Speaker 2:What you have to understand is King of Car, toro, jersey Devil and Nitro are the four coasters that probably bring the most money to the park. When people are coming to go to Six Flags, they're going to ride Nitro, a classic and one of the best roller coasters.
Speaker 1:I mean next to Apollo, great coaster next to apollo I mean those two are like for me, they're almost for someone who's a b&m fanboy, yes, I'm gonna say that they're both great yeah they're both made by the same company. So I mean, uh, I'm an apollo fan, but a lot of people would actually a lot of people would actually crucify me for saying that that's better than than nitro.
Speaker 2:But I, I stand on that hill nitro is nitro, that's just great, don't get me wrong nitro was amazing because we had that beautiful moment with ed oh no, that was a oh wait, wait, that was nitro.
Speaker 1:What was?
Speaker 2:it was apollo it was nitro, so we went down the first two hills, was it? Yeah and then we come up to that oh, yeah, the yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So the mid course, the mid course right, so yeah, it goes he thought it was over, yeah, it goes.
Speaker 2:We go down the first two big hills, everything's great. We're coming up to that mid stop, right, and and it starts to slow down, he goes, oh okay. And then we drop again.
Speaker 1:He goes, it's not over his voice got so high pitch and he has a relatively deep voice, man oh my god, he's like it's not over, yeah man but from that experience he learned, because when we got on apollo he knew what to expect right, exactly, he was not surprised on
Speaker 1:apollo he was like all right, bring it courses. Mid courses usually tend to shock people who don't realize they're there and what they're for it's just to you know, fuck with you well, it definitely helps for the audience. But but no, mid-course is what they actually are is just in case there is a valleying roller coaster on the second half of the course, they can stop it right there so it doesn't collide. That's literally what they're for.
Speaker 2:Well, but it gives a lot of fun yeah, so I'll never forget that, because he was like, oh my god, he was like it's not over, and that was on nitro like that was beautiful.
Speaker 2:But now what you've done is you've greatly diminished the value of six flags. Great adventure. You've taken away a money maker, you've taken away a reason to come, and that's why you have to be so careful with toro, because if you mess that up, yeah it's, that's the end of the park and one of the shittiest things that I saw around the park right now is the fact that they, the one section of of the park is called the boardwalk, and that's where the green lantern was, by the way.
Speaker 1:That's gone too gone um, superman is where superman is right. So guess what? It's literally the only ride in that entire strip that is open. That's, that's open. The racetrack is gone, the uh, slingshot is gone, the? Um, it's the twist. The twister ride is gone.
Speaker 2:Obviously, green laner is gone, uh, the yeah it's, it's a mess, it's's hurting so badly.
Speaker 1:And, by the way, the skyline of that place from the parking lot used to be beautiful and it looks so weird. Not the same Without Toro, or sorry, king Daka, god forbid. Toro's the only thing peeking in the background. You got that in the background. You got Superman in the background looking to your left of the park, king Daka is literally gone Gone, which looks incredibly weird Since it was there for the past 20 years. Incredibly weird. Makes no sense, yeah, and then you got again Green Lantern gone. But I mean, fuck that thing.
Speaker 2:Well, we got to touch on some things and we are definitely going to revisit, but we are going to adhere to our half-hour time limit, which we probably went over by a couple minutes.
Speaker 1:And that's okay and that's okay. But consistency, consistency, cohesion, we had to. We touched on what we needed to for this.
Speaker 2:So now we're going to.
Speaker 1:But real quick go ahead. Long live the king Long live the king.
Speaker 2:Thank you for chilling out with us for episode two and get ready for episode three. It's the random day. Catch you in the next one.
