Six Flags Great Adventure unveiled Bakunawa on Tuesday, July 28, the world’s tallest and fastest spinning launch coaster.
Bakunawa will stand 382 feet tall and reach speeds of up to 100 mph along a 3,163-foot track.
After demolishing the Kingda Ka coaster in early 2025, Six Flags began constructing what will be its 15th roller coaster.
Bakunawa, named after the legendary sea serpent of Philippine mythology, will debut in 2027.
“You’re going to climb 90 degrees straight up to the top of the 382-foot-tall tower, reaching the top and kind of sliding around the outside, which looks terrifying and amazing at the same time, before losing speed,” said Mike Fehnel, park president for Six Flags Great Adventure.
“And then you get to do it all again in reverse.”
Riders will blast through three launches, including what Six Flags says will be the world’s first upside-down launch, aboard free-spinning, floorless trains that rotate throughout the ride, making each trip slightly different.
The three launches take riders from 0 to 60, then from 60 to 80 while upside down, and finally reach its max speed of 100 mph.
The coaster will use two trains carrying 20 riders each, with a minimum height requirement of 48 inches, and each ride will last about two minutes and 17 seconds.
Bakunawa will set six world records: the world’s fastest spinning coaster at 100 mph, world’s tallest spinning coaster at 382 feet, world’s fastest inversion at 80 mph, world’s longest stall inversion, the world’s first floorless spinning coaster, and the world’s first upside-down launch.
“Guests will board the world’s first free-spinning, floorless coaster trains that rotate naturally throughout the ride, ensuring no two experiences are exactly alike,” Six Flags said.
Ryan Eldredge, director of sales and marketing, said “It’s about planting our flag in the ground and saying, we’re here, we’re back and we’re ready to play. We’re bringing dynamic thrills to the area, to the tri-state, to the country and to the world.”
There was a great buzz among the hundreds of media, public, and content creators that were on-hand for the unveiling of the project.
“We have never seen a ride like this,” said Ryan Chin, a content creator known as ElToroRyan, who was on hand documenting the day for his YouTube channel and its 170,000 subscribers.
“The upside-down launch, the spinning trains, it’s just very unique. It’s totally different.”
The coaster’s complete course will stretch 3,163 feet.
At the top of the 382-foot tower, the train will enter a spiral followed by a 180-degree bank, providing expansive views of Six Flags Great Adventure.
Bakunawa will be the centerpiece of a revamped Boardwalk area at Six Flags Great Adventure, although the park has not announced a specific opening date or shared additional details about the renovation.
“Over the past year, we’ve made meaningful investments across our resort that continue to transform the guest experience,” said Mike Fehnel, park president of Six Flags Great Adventure.
“From Shoreline Pier and the continued evolution of The Boardwalk to enhancements at Wild Safari, Hurricane Harbor New Jersey and Savannah Sunset Resort, every transformation is part of a long-term vision to strengthen Six Flags Great Adventure as the Northeast’s premier destination for thrills, entertainment and family experiences.”
Manufactured by Germany’s Mack Rides, the massive attraction introduces several industry firsts, including the world’s first upside-down launch, where riders accelerate from 60 to 80 mph while completely inverted.
The trains rotate naturally throughout the track so no two rides are ever identical.
Along with the announcement, Six Flags put its 2027 Gold Season Passes on sale, which will offer passholders early access to ride Bakunawa when it opens.
In the viral moment that Project Purple evolved into, the park’s months-long teaser campaign finally revealed its mysterious attraction on a stage filled with media and coaster enthusiasts. The campaign had built anticipation through shipping containers, purple track pieces, and ominous cargo warnings stretched across the park’s Boardwalk. When the covers came off, riders saw the free-spinning, floorless train cars that form the heart of Bakunawa’s revolutionary design. The seats themselves—four rows of five passengers per car—could rotate independently throughout the ride, fundamentally changing how a traditional roller coaster operates.
The announcement capped a long wait for fans disappointed by Kingda Ka’s closure in early 2025. Six Flags had teased a replacement coaster since 2024, then pushed the opening back from 2026 to 2027 to perfect the design. The design didn’t disappoint: featuring three separate launches, an inverted element at 80 mph, and technology borrowed from European manufacturer Mack Rides, Bakunawa stands as the most technologically complex spinning coaster ever attempted.
Spring 2027 is when riders will be able to experience Bakunawa for the first time.