X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain has closed

[Matt N]

This does make me sad.

I was always sceptical I’d even like X2 that much, but I am sad I didn’t get to ride it and it does feel like the chapter is closing for that proper maximalist era of coasters that I’m sad I never got to experience.

As much as coasters have come a long way and we make some brilliant layout designs now, rides like X2 were a mark of an era where parks weren’t afraid to be bold and there was a real sense of mechanical maximalism in coaster building that I feel is missing today to an extent. It is great that we’ve learned how to be efficient and get the most out of what we build and the modern layout designs are brilliant, but on a gut instinct level, there’s something about these properly envelope-pushing designs of the early to mid 2000s that I quite miss in modern design. I yearn for that sort of mechanical ambition to return!

 

[dixhuit]

I see them remplacing it by tallest and first hyper B&M wing coaster. It look quite similar for the GP without being as intense and thrilling. It’s also very reliable.

 

[Efteldingus]

I see them remplacing it by tallest and first hyper B&M wing coaster. It look quite similar for the GP without being as intense and thrilling. It’s also very reliable.

It's a cool idea tbh. I doubt the current model could go up to such sizes though? I feel like it might need more beefy track and such, like the dives

 

[roomraider]

It's a cool idea tbh. I doubt the current model could go up to such sizes though? I feel like it might need more beefy track and such, like the dives

The current tallest is only just under 200ft. So can't see why they couldn't break that barrier. It's not a terrible fit.

 

[Rob Coasters]

The new one at Energylandia opening next year is also rumoured to hit around 203ft.

But I wouldn't rule out there being no replacement at all. X2's spot is on an absolutely ridiculous dead end and is incredibly far out of the way of anything. There's probably something they could do with the space, but if you want people to commit towards walking that far for one singular ride, I imagine you'd probably want it to be something a little more impressive than a wing coaster that might struggle to be even the fourth best ride in the park.


I imagine for now they'll just cut their losses and leave the land empty, waiting for further development.

I'm imagining a timeline. Right now X2 might sit collecting dust as lawsuit evidence for the next couple years, then when everything's settled, I imagine deconstruction starts in early 2028 at the absolute earliest. Then you still need the money to demolish Escape From Krypton as well. Then Viper or Ninja or Scream might bite the dust at some point too. Then by 2030 you might be considering what goes in X2's spot, and who knows how rides might've developed by then. Maybe wing coasters are out of fashion, maybe a wing coaster is too close and too inferior to what X2 was, maybe a wing coaster is actually a perfect fit for the park. Maybe people have moved on from X2 by then and people won't be as fussed about what might be a "worthy" replacement, then you can do whatever.

To me, "X2 replacement" feels like a more 'if' than 'what' or 'when'. But I won't deny people's rights to speculate, as it's fun to do that.