Six Flags Apocalypse is the wooden roller coaster hiding in plain sight at Six Flags Magic Mountain — tucked into the smoky, bunker-themed Underground section near Riddler’s Revenge, and often overshadowed by the park’s bigger steel giants despite being one of its most re-ridden coasters.
If you’ve seen the name and wondered whether it’s the same ride that used to be called Terminator Salvation, how rough or rough-free it actually is, or where exactly to find it in the park, this guide covers the full picture: stats, history, what the ride experience is like, and practical tips for riding it.
Quick Answer
Apocalypse: The Ride is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, built by Great Coasters International (GCI) and opened May 23, 2009. It stands 95 feet tall, drops 87.3 feet, hits a top speed of 50.1 mph, and runs 2,877 feet of twisting out-and-back track through fog-filled tunnels in the park’s Underground area.
Where to Find Apocalypse at Magic Mountain
Apocalypse sits in The Underground, the industrial, bunker-themed zone of Six Flags Magic Mountain that also includes Riddler’s Revenge and X2. The entrance queue leans into the ride’s sci-fi theming: riders pass through a mock “security checkpoint” and bunker set dressing before boarding, a holdover from the ride’s original Terminator-themed storyline.
The coaster occupies a plot with a deep history at the park — it replaced Psyclone, a wooden coaster that stood there from 1991 to 2007, which itself followed the short-lived Shockwave stand-up coaster and the Sarajevo Bobsleds in the 1980s.
Full Stats: Height, Speed, Length, and Trains
Apocalypse was designed by Jeff Pike and built by Great Coasters International at a reported cost of around $10 million. It stands 95 feet tall with an 87.3-foot first drop, reaches a top speed of 50.1 mph, and covers 2,877 feet of track in roughly 3 minutes per ride.
The ride operates with two trains of 11 cars each, carrying 22 riders per train (two across, one row per car), giving it a theoretical capacity of around 1,000 riders per hour. There’s no inversion on the layout — the thrill comes entirely from GCI’s signature tight turns, quick direction changes, and sustained airtime rather than loops or corkscrews. The minimum height requirement is 48 inches.
From Terminator Salvation to Apocalypse: The Full Name History
The ride opened on May 23, 2009 as Terminator Salvation: The Ride, timed to the release of the Terminator Salvation film. At launch it was notable as the first wooden roller coaster with onboard audio, a speaker system built into each train that played Terminator-themed sound effects — though the system malfunctioned not long after opening and was never repaired.
Following Six Flags’ 2010 corporate restructuring and a broader pullback from paid film-licensing deals, the ride was renamed Apocalypse: The Ride on January 8, 2011. The theming shifted from the Terminator storyline to a more generic premise about survivors taking refuge in a bunker after a global war, while keeping the same ruined, industrial set pieces.
In 2015, during Fright Fest, the ride briefly operated under yet another name, Shadows of Evil: The Ride, as a tie-in promotion for the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops III, before reverting permanently to Apocalypse.
What the Ride Experience Is Like
After a 95-foot chain lift, Apocalypse drops into a dense, twisting GCI layout packed with quick lateral direction changes and pops of airtime — the hallmark of GCI’s out-and-back wooden coaster designs. The course threads through three fog-filled tunnels, including one that passes directly beneath the station, adding a theatrical, disorienting touch to an otherwise fast-feeling ride.
A 50.1 mph top speed sounds modest next to Magic Mountain’s steel hypercoasters, but Apocalypse’s tight turns and track that runs close to the wooden structure make it feel noticeably faster than the number suggests — a point riders consistently bring up in reviews. The ride also includes a small pyrotechnic fireball effect as part of its theming.
Because it’s a traditional wooden coaster rather than a steel one, expect some natural jostle and lateral force through the turns — it’s smoother than many classic woodies thanks to GCI’s modern track technology, but it isn’t glass-smooth like a steel inverted coaster.
Tips for Riding Apocalypse
Apocalypse typically draws shorter lines than Magic Mountain’s headline steel coasters, making it a good option to slot in between waits for bigger rides rather than a first-thing-in-the-morning priority. Front-row seats give the clearest view into the tunnels and the first drop; back-row seats tend to feel the sharpest snap through the mid-course turns.
The ride has operated in both Fast Lane and standard-queue configurations depending on the season, so check current line options at the entrance. Riders prone to motion sickness from quick side-to-side movement should note that Apocalypse’s turns come in rapid succession with little letup, unlike smoother, more spaced-out layouts.
Photos
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Rapids, log flumes and splash zones without the rice-bag aftermath. The touchscreen still works through the window, so you can still take photos.
Cheaper than the $15 poncho at the gift shop and you get a whole bag. Toss one in every backpack for water rides and pop-up storms.
Apocalypse: The Ride FAQs
Is Six Flags Apocalypse a wooden or steel coaster?
Apocalypse is a wooden roller coaster, built by Great Coasters International (GCI) and opened in 2009.
How tall and fast is Apocalypse at Magic Mountain?
Apocalypse stands 95 feet tall, drops 87.3 feet, and reaches a top speed of about 50.1 mph over 2,877 feet of track.
Was Apocalypse always called that?
No. It opened in 2009 as Terminator Salvation: The Ride, was renamed Apocalypse in January 2011 after Six Flags moved away from paid film licensing, and briefly ran as Shadows of Evil during a 2015 Call of Duty promotion.
Where is Apocalypse located in Six Flags Magic Mountain?
It’s in The Underground section of the park, on the site formerly occupied by the Psyclone wooden coaster, near Riddler’s Revenge and X2.
Does Apocalypse have any inversions or loops?
No. It’s a non-inverting wooden coaster — the thrill comes from tight turns, quick direction changes, and airtime rather than loops.
What is the height requirement for Apocalypse?
Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.
Does Apocalypse still have the onboard audio from when it opened?
No. The ride launched in 2009 as the first wooden coaster with onboard train audio, but the speaker system broke down not long after opening and was never repaired.
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