On November 14th, 2024, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that they are retiring Kingda Ka for a new record-breaking roller coaster to open in 2026. Kingda Ka closed on November 10th, 2024, and I managed to get my last rides on November 7th, 2024. Most people look at Kingda Ka as just a roller coaster, but to me, this ride had a lot of sentimental value.
In this article, I'm going to share my favorite memories of Kingda Ka and why it is so sentimental to me.
When I was in elementary school, I remember hearing about Kingda Ka and being fascinated by the idea of launching at 128 mph and going up a 456-foot-tall tower. I was in second grade when this ride opened, but then I rode it for the first time when I was in fourth grade in 2007. I was terrified during my first-ever ride, but after the ride ended, it immediately became my favorite roller coaster. I wouldn't stop talking about it for weeks with my family and friends, and it made me want to learn more about roller coasters.
Throughout the rest of my elementary and middle school years, Kingda Ka was always the ride I was most excited to get on when I visited Six Flags Great Adventure. One fun memory I had of Kingda Ka during this time was that I rode this coaster with my elementary school principal during a season-only night pass. We both happened to be in the park that night, and we both rode it together for fun.
As the years went on, I often took my best friends on this roller coaster and all three of my brothers to experience Kingda Ka. Sometimes, we would wait more than two hours just to experience it, and then they would get off with their minds completely blown. I always loved bringing my old friends and family on this roller coaster and seeing their reactions which made many fun memories. I have also brought Josephine to Kingda Ka, and although she didn't ride it that day, she was fascinated by just watching the roller coaster operate. Kingda Ka had a wonderful presence in the park that always made me smile, even on days when I was only visiting the Wild Safari or driving past the park.
During the 2020s, I found that one of the most fun aspects of visiting Kingda Ka was meeting other roller coaster enthusiasts and becoming friends with them. Occasionally, I would see roller coaster enthusiasts that had many followers or subscribers online, and I loved meeting and hanging out with them which made the experience more enjoyable.
Additionally, in 2021, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, was allowed to dual Kingda Ka for the first time that year, which made visiting the Golden Kingdom even more exciting. I loved riding Kingda Ka and Zumanjaro repeatedly while waiting for them to duel because it made for a more exciting experience.
By September 2024, I started hearing rumors of Kingda Ka closing. I initially ignored these rumors because the park never announced anything, and there wasn't any physical evidence of the ride closing. However, in mid-October, construction markers started to appear around Kingda Ka which made me concerned.
As a result, I went to visit Six Flags Great Adventure on November 7th, 2024, to get my final rides on this record-breaking coaster. Although the ending of the day was bittersweet, I could not have asked for a better day to experience Kingda Ka one last time. The park was relatively empty, it was 70° outside with blue skies, and I managed to ride Kingda Ka 27 times in 3 hours. During two of my rides, the train almost rolled back, which made the experience more exciting. Additionally, the ride operators were also very quick at dispatching all the trains, and it was nice hanging out with other roller coaster enthusiasts who were there for the same reason.
All in all, Kingda Ka was not only the roller coaster that made me become an enthusiast, but it was also a place where I shared many wonderful memories with family, best friends, and where I made even more friends.
I'm very grateful that I grew up near Great Adventure, and that I was able to experience Kingda Ka hundreds of times throughout my life.
Six Flags Great Adventure has announced that they will replace Kingda Ka with a record-breaking multi-launch coaster in 2026, and whatever they build has big shoes to fill.
Rest in peace Kingda Ka and thank you for all the great memories.
Comments