Apocalypse: The Ride is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, built by Great Coasters International and designed by Jeff Pike. It opened on May 23, 2009, originally themed to the film Terminator Salvation before Six Flags rebranded it Apocalypse in 2011 as part of a wider move away from movie licensing.
Set in the park’s Underground section, the coaster stands 95 feet tall with an 87.3-foot first drop, reaching a top speed of 50.1 mph over 2,877 feet of track. Its tightly twisted GCI layout and misty tunnels have made it one of Magic Mountain’s most respected wooden coasters since it opened.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain
- Manufacturer: Great Coasters International
- Opened: May 23, 2009
- Height: 95 ft
- Top speed: 50.1 mph
- Length: 2,877 ft
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
After a 95-foot chain lift, Apocalypse drops 87.3 feet into a layout packed with quick direction changes and airtime moments typical of GCI’s out-and-back wooden designs. The course threads through misty, fog-filled tunnels — including one that passes beneath the station — adding a theatrical touch to the otherwise fast, twisting ride.
Though its 50.1 mph top speed is modest by modern standards, the coaster’s tight turns and close-to-the-structure track give it a sensation of much higher speed, a trait frequently highlighted in rider reviews of the layout.
From Terminator to Apocalypse
The ride opened as Terminator Salvation: The Ride to tie into the 2009 film release and was notable at the time as the first wooden coaster with onboard audio, though the sound system was short-lived. When Six Flags restructured its film licensing deals in 2011, the ride was renamed Apocalypse, dropping the movie theming while keeping its dark, ruined-world atmosphere. It briefly took on a Call of Duty-themed identity as Shadows of Evil in 2015 before reverting to the Apocalypse name.
Explore more: Browse more roller coasters.
Apocalypse FAQs
Is Apocalypse a wooden or steel coaster?
Apocalypse is a wooden roller coaster, built by Great Coasters International and opened in 2009.
How tall and fast is Apocalypse?
The coaster stands 95 feet tall and reaches a top speed of about 50.1 mph.
Was Apocalypse always called that?
No, it opened in 2009 as Terminator Salvation: The Ride and was renamed Apocalypse in 2011 after Six Flags moved away from film licensing.
Get More from Apocalypse
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Apocalypse, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Cliff Horn from Palm Desert, CA, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.