Snapshot: A Goliath of a Drop

Goliath- Six Flags Magic Mountain — *You’ll need some steely nerves to take on this steel roller coaster*

It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. At a 255-foot (78m) drop, The Goliath held briefly the world record for the longest and fastest (85 mph) opening drop on a closed-circuit roller coaster in 2000.

The Goliath calls Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California its home, and has been there since 2000. Known as the Thrill Capital of the World, almost all the rides in the park will set your heart racing.

The Goliath is located in the Colossus County Fair zone, and has an ancient Mayan civilization theme, which explains why its name is in “ruins”.

The moment the coaster dispatches from the station, it takes a 180 degree right turn and makes a slow nerve-wracking ascent to the top, at 235 feet high (72m). At the bottom going up, the combination of the crowd chattering and the crackling sounds from chain wheels on tracks distracts you from the impending drop. But nearer to the top, ambient sounds from the people below drifted to soft mumbles, and the crackling sound that gradually slows down is all you hear. Then it’s all silence, except for the soft howl of the bellowing wind. You have reached the top of the drop. You look around, but just see blue skies. People below have now become specks. For dramatic purposes, the coaster pauses, and your heartbeat intensifies. Before your heart bursts out of your chest, the Goliath descends, rapidly, down 255 feet. The rest of the ride is a blur of twists and turns, and yes, more drops. When your train reaches back to the station, one thing is clear. You need to ride it again.

Tip: DO NOT try to lift your hands high while on the Goliath. The G- force is too strong. You would not want to have your arms broken from riding a coaster.