Six Flags Entertainment Corp. temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six amusement parks after a man died falling from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12, the company confirmed. A spokesperson said the closures came “out of an abundance of caution” as the park cooperates with the ongoing investigation, according to The Associated Press.
The Six Flags roller coaster closures affect parks across the country, though the company has not released a list naming the specific rides or parks involved. The park where the fatal fall occurred, Six Flags Over Georgia, sits about 10 miles west of downtown Atlanta, according to CNN.
What Happened On The Goliath Ride
Goliath is a 210-second ride that climbs to a top height of 200 feet and reaches speeds of 70 miles per hour, according to CNN. Six Flags classifies the coaster as a hypercoaster with a thrill rating of 4 out of 5.
An eyewitness told CNN affiliate WXIA that the man fell from the coaster and struck the ride’s car three separate times before landing on the roof of a haunted house attraction below. Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said “a terrible tragedy” occurred at the park, confirming one person died and others were injured, per CNN.
A Six Flags spokesperson said staff members and local authorities responded immediately following the incident. The company has not detailed what caused the man to fall, whether he was properly secured, or what specifically prompted the decision to close nine coasters rather than a smaller number.
What It Means For Six Flags Riders
The closures land two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced it would permanently shut down its X2 roller coaster, a move that followed a CNN investigation documenting reports of life-altering injuries and deaths tied to that ride. In July, two women wound up in the same Santa Clarita emergency room with brain injuries after riding X2 just six days apart, CNN reported.
Six Flags is the largest amusement park operator in the United States and the largest regional theme park company in the world, a status cemented by its 8 billion dollar merger with Cedar Fair in 2024. Under that deal, Cedar Fair holds 51% of the combined company while Six Flags owns 49%. The company runs 20 amusement parks, 14 water parks and nine resort properties across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, along with a park in Saudi Arabia.
Background And Context
The death at Six Flags Over Georgia drew comparisons to the 2022 death of Tyre Sampson, a 14-year-old Missouri boy who was killed after being ejected from a ride at Florida’s ICON Park, according to CNN. Last year, a guest died after riding the Stardust Racers coaster at Universal Epic Universe, USA Today reported, as part of broader scrutiny over theme park ride safety nationwide.
No information has been released identifying the victim or the people injured in the fall. The exact cause of the fall, including whether mechanical failure or another factor was involved, remains under investigation.
What’s Next
Six Flags has not announced a timeline for when the nine closed coasters will reopen or named which parks beyond Six Flags Over Georgia are affected. The company said it continues to cooperate with local authorities investigating the fatal fall. Follow the Six Flags Georgia coaster death investigation as more details emerge from officials and the company.
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