Six Flags Magic Mountain's Colossus Closes August 16th!

[TTD03]

36 years was a good run, but Six Flags Magic Mountain has announced that Colossus will be closing on August 16th, 2014. The giant racing wooden roller coaster opened in 1979 and features two side by side tracks that each run over 4,300 feet long.

Colossus has seen major changes and reprofilings throughout the years, taking what started as a rather thrilling ride and taming it down little by little. While many have a soft spot for the ride in their hearts, it's been growing less popular over the years. From the enthusiast side of things, Colossus ranked #116 in 2013's Best Wood Coaster Poll, falling from #60 the first time the poll was done in 1994.

As to why the ride is closing in the middle of the park's busy season, well, rumors have existed for almost a year now that Colossus is next in line to receive a Rocky Mountain Construction makeover. Just like the New Texas Giant, Iron Rattler, and now Steel Medusa, Colossus is rumored to ditch its wooden track and instead become a wild steel coaster.

Coincidentally I asked our readers last year what Six Flags coaster should be next to be transformed, and Colossus was the run away winner. For now the park is only saying that they will announced "exciting future plans" at a later date. Until we know more, make sure you get your final rides in before August 16th!
Source

[Coasterkidmwm]

I really want to know if they'll bother painting the new supports white if it becomes "Iron Colossus"

[TTD03]

It's the Six Flags corporation, they'll do whatever is the cheapest.

[Oscar]

Maybe paint it brown so they look wooden?

[gouldy]

I will be there on that day...

[Goku1910]

RMC would need to make some major changes to the layout to make it a thrill ride again....

[GRIM.657]

Colossus is an icon of SFMM, I'm sad to see it go... I may try to make out there on that weekend, bet the ride will be packed though. Here's hoping for another wooden ride, or another racer.


If this is an RMC makeover I hope they keep the racing. Still sad to see this happen though even if it is, the wood->steel makeover thing is cool and all but I don't want it to be that big of a trend :p

the timeline seems about right for RMC, it seems like they like to start construction in the middle of the season rather than wait until the off season

[TTD03]

Goku1910 wrote:

RMC would need to make some major changes to the layout to make it a thrill ride again....

I agree, a lot needs to be changed.

[Oscar]

gouldy wrote:

I will be there on that day...

Expect it to be crowded

[Turbo]

RMC racer, for the love of god please be an rmc racer! I know SF has a fetish for RMC's right now and it would be an EPIC coaster if it is remade by RMC

[TTD03]

I just hope that they continue the trend and bring one to the east at Great Adventure!

[Paradox]

Now do this for Cyclone at SFNE please.

^^With El Toro right there great adventure doesn't really need the kind ride RMC provides, especially not within Rolling thunder's now empty space

[TTD03]

Yea, maybe something different, am hoping for some Giga action, even though I know that won't happen.

[Turbo]

^NAYSAYER SHALL CURSE THY CHANCES!

[TTD03]

Let's not be lewd about it

Though I am sad to hear this iconic coaster is nearing its end, the memories I have riding this behemoth will live on. in its earlier years, Colossus was the longest, tallest and fastest wooden coaster ever built; filled with airtime and large drops. When it was first built in 1978, Colossus was truly a giant among coasters, and helped Six Flags Magic Mountain secure is permanent place as the thrill capitol of the world. Over the years Colossus saw some major changes, the first of these was when the original IAD 6 seater bench trains were replaced by the sleeker more modern Morgan trains. Then a few years later, the iconic double down was replaced by a major block brake, if you look closely, you can still see the original double down beneath the block brakes, many enthusiasts who had the chance to ride Colossus prior to this change claim that it killed the ride, helping to put the final nail in the coffin. I never got a chance to ride Colossus with the original elements and trains, so I have no personal opinion regarding this. i have noticed that there has been a lack of attention to this ride, both by the maintenance staff and enthusiasts alike. I can't remember the last time I saw this ride operate as a racing coaster, I have been to SFMM on slow and busy days, and they seemed to only be running one side regardless of the crowd levels with both red and black trains on the same track. It seems the only time Colossus receives and notoriety within the last 10 or 12 years are the events in which you can ride Colossus backwards. Anyone who has driven the I-5 through Santa Clarita knows that Colossus is pretty much the first sight of SFMM. it is an unmistakable landmark. It may have been dwarfed over the years, but, still managed to stand out above every other ride in the park. Here's to an unforgettable 36 year run.

[TTD03]

^, that was deep

I honestly think people are underestimating colossus. Its most likely it will be transformed like everyone thinks, but it not like other Six Flags wood giants, it's a double sided track! What are they going to do, how. Are they going to get rid of the double track? Keep it? How will they make Side by side over banked hills, barrel rolls? There's more mysteries than those transformed before it. The tracks could be different, and then we could basically get two new coasters, cool tunnels, barrel rolls, overbanks intertwined! It could be cooler than other transformed before it. Also as everyone else has mentioned how important and memorable this coaster is to the park, being a classic in front of the park, the first thing you see; then they won't cheap out, or tear it down. It's a piece of art in front of the park!

Someone on Screamscape mentioned that if they combined the two sides, then the coaster would become the longest in the world, furthering the records SFMM already has, and desires.
My idea would be to keep the original layout on one side, which the coaster starts in, then at the end, they rotate the coaster backwards (like the end of Indiana Jones) and then have it run on the other track, the other track having a new cool layout, with new barrel rolls, over-banks, all in reverse! So the coaster keeps it's history, both the layout and the history of it running backwards, becomes the longest coaster in the world, we all get a new coaster, and the park's most iconic coaster stays a work of art.

Sorry this is so long, I just love this coaster! And I'm excited to see what happens! It's not another typical transformation!

^ While its an original ride and not a rehab, lightning racer fits about the same footprint as collosus and that does interesting things, plus with Gravity group's Hi five element on Dauling Dragons, and then you include all the interesting stuff RMC has already done I think the ride will be in safe hands.

[Turbo]

Helo9797 wrote:

My idea would be to keep the original layout on one side, which the coaster starts in, then at the end, they rotate the coaster backwards (like the end of Indiana Jones) and then have it run on the other track, the other track having a new cool layout, with new barrel rolls, over-banks, all in reverse!

I can't tell you how much I want this. THIS!

[TTD03]

Helo9797 wrote:

I honestly think people are underestimating colossus. Its most likely it will be transformed like everyone thinks, but it not like other Six Flags wood giants, it's a double sided track! What are they going to do, how. Are they going to get rid of the double track? Keep it? How will they make Side by side over banked hills, barrel rolls? There's more mysteries than those transformed before it. The tracks could be different, and then we could basically get two new coasters, cool tunnels, barrel rolls, overbanks intertwined! It could be cooler than other transformed before it. Also as everyone else has mentioned how important and memorable this coaster is to the park, being a classic in front of the park, the first thing you see; then they won't cheap out, or tear it down. It's a piece of art in front of the park!

Someone on Screamscape mentioned that if they combined the two sides, then the coaster would become the longest in the world, furthering the records SFMM already has, and desires.
My idea would be to keep the original layout on one side, which the coaster starts in, then at the end, they rotate the coaster backwards (like the end of Indiana Jones) and then have it run on the other track, the other track having a new cool layout, with new barrel rolls, over-banks, all in reverse! So the coaster keeps it's history, both the layout and the history of it running backwards, becomes the longest coaster in the world, we all get a new coaster, and the park's most iconic coaster stays a work of art.

Sorry this is so long, I just love this coaster! And I'm excited to see what happens! It's not another typical transformation!

This sounds amazing!

What do you guys thinks is more likely, that they keep the double track layout, or get rid of it? Its hard to decide because getting rid of one of the tracks is easier and cheaper, but Colossus has always been a two tack coaster, thats its history. It would be alwful! But whats more likely?

[Turbo]

I think they'd keep the dual track for extra media hype. Probably go along the lines of this in the ads:
IF YOU THOUGHT #YOLO WAS EXTREME, YOU WERE WRONG. BECAUSE HOW THERE'S...
#YOLO... TIMES 2!

I died a little inside typing that...