Most Anticipated Ride Of The Decade Explodes Into Action

Valencia, CA — Six Flags Inc. is making history as it debuts the most anticipated new roller coaster of the decade at Six Flags Magic Mountain just outside of Los Angeles – X – the world's first 4th dimensional coaster. X marks the completion of a stunning capital expansion transforming the noted Los Angeles Thrill Park into the world's first-and-only Xtreme Park with more coasters than anywhere on the Planet!

"Six Flags is known world-wide as the industry leader in quality thrill ride innovation, and bar none, Six Flags Magic Mountain leads the pack always adding the biggest and the best," noted Gary Story, president of Six Flags, Inc. "There's no better place to break the world record than in Los Angeles. Our Xtreme Park that truly exemplifies the powerful Six Flags brand."

"As the park's 15th rollercoaster, this ride marks a very important milestone for Six Flags Magic Mountain, capturing the "coveted crown" and staking our claim as the number one Thrill Park in the world," stated Del Holland, vice president and general manager of Six Flags California. "With Southern California's rapidly changing theme park climate, this is now the perfect opportunity to redefine this Park – which required not one, not two, but three new coasters in the last 12 months – a bombshell that is still echoing throughout the industry! We're elated to complete this stunning Xtreme Park transformation with the debut of this revolutionary new Xtreme coaster."

Known world-wide as a thrill ride haven, the recent addition of three roller coasters puts Six Flags Magic Mountain in a league of it's own …transforming the noted Thrill Park from "theme park"… to "The Xtreme Park!" With an unmatched world-class coaster collection now totaling 15, the new Xtreme Park sets a Guinness Book World record for more coasters than anywhere else on the Planet. X makes its stunning debut to the public on January 12, 2002.

"Three coasters in 12 months is simply unprecedented in this highly competitive business," commented Paul Ruben, North American editor of Park World Magazine and noted roller coaster historian. "And Six Flags Magic Mountain not only captured the crown but they did it in style…two of the three set new world records…and X is sure to single-handedly change the future of the industry for years to come. There hasn't been this much anticipation for a ride since Superman The Escape nearly five years ago."

X is designed to break all the rules. For the first time ever, riders race in prototype vehicles that now spin independently 360-degrees forwards and backwards on a separate axis – creating an unprecedented "don't know what to expect next" sensation.

Perched on the edge of massive 20-foot-wide 5-ton wing-shaped vehicles, the 2-minute thrill begins with a 200-foot climb facing the sky before flipping over headfirst, face down for a near vertical plummet to earth. Racing at 76 miles-per-hour, the rush continues as riders fly through a massive 200-foot tall sky dive and over the top of a giant 185-foot raven turn performing several acrobatic full 360-degree front and back "flips" while blazing the rails of the mind-boggling 3,600-foot twisting steel maze.

In addition to X, Déjà Vu also set new roller coaster records as the tallest, fastest suspended looping boomerang roller coaster when it debuted late August. "Déjà Vu is a big time thrill ride and guest reaction has been overwhelming," noted Holland. "The ride experience has exceeded even our wildest expectations!"

Think you've experienced it before, think again. Strapped into sleek ski-lift style chairs suspended from the track above, Déjà Vu sends riders dangling face-down out of the station and up the first striking blue tower…to then…simply…drop into a complete vertical 20-story free-fall reaching speeds of 65 miles-per-hour before racing head-over-heels over an enormous 110-foot-tall butterfly turn…followed by the outside of a 102 foot-tall vertical loop before rocketing up the second 200-foot-tall tower – only this time riders are on their back with nothing but the sky above. The heart-pounding rush accelerates as the entire thrill is experienced again …only this time backwards! It's Déjà Vu!

Xtreme thrills are not just for the big kids! Not to be overshadowed by the big boys the new "Giant Among Kids Coasters," Goliath Jr., debuted last spring and continues to provide Xtreme thrills exclusively for the pint-sized set. As the miniature version of one of the hottest rides in America today, Goliath Jr. is a must experience ride for the young thrill seeker in training.

Since the park's inception in 1971, Six Flags Magic Mountain has provided more than 300 million roller coaster rides. The park ushered in the next generation of thrill rides in 1997 when it introduced Superman The Escape – the first and only ride to break the 100-mph speed barrier. Other record-breaking coasters include Viper – the tallest looping coaster in the world; Colossus – the tallest wooden coaster on the West Coast; The Riddler's Revenge – the tallest and fastest standup coaster on the planet and Revolution – the world's first 360 degree looping coaster.