“Project Purple” finally has a name — and six world records to go with it. Six Flags Great Adventure today revealed Bakunawa, a 382-foot, 100-mph spinning launch coaster opening in 2027 as the centerpiece of the park’s Boardwalk district. Named for the moon-eating sea serpent of Philippine mythology, it will send riders through three launches — including the world’s first launch that fires while the train is completely upside down — aboard free-spinning, floorless trains that rotate differently on every ride.
Stats at a Glance
- What: Bakunawa, the world’s tallest and fastest spinning launch coaster
- Where: The Boardwalk at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, New Jersey
- When: Opening 2027
- Height: 382 feet — among the five tallest roller coasters on Earth
- Top speed: 100 mph, reached on the third of three launches
- Track: 3,163 feet; ride time about 2 minutes 17 seconds
- Trains: Two 20-passenger, free-spinning floorless trains; 48-inch minimum height
Watch: The Announcement Teaser
Six World Records
Six Flags says Bakunawa will claim six world records when it opens:
- World’s tallest spinning coaster — 382 feet
- World’s fastest spinning coaster — 100 mph
- World’s first upside-down launch — accelerating from 60 to 80 mph while fully inverted
- World’s fastest inversion — 80 mph
- World’s longest stall inversion
- World’s first floorless spinning coaster trains
The Ride: Three Launches, One of Them Upside Down
The layout builds speed in stages. A first launch takes the train from 0 to 60 mph. Then comes the headline moment: a second launch that accelerates riders from 60 to 80 mph while the train is completely inverted — something no coaster has ever done. A third and final launch pushes the train to its full 100 mph before it climbs the 382-foot tower, crests through a spiral banked at 180 degrees, and dives back toward the Boardwalk.
Because the floorless vehicles spin freely rather than on a fixed schedule, the sequence hits differently every time — you might take the upside-down launch facing forward, backward, or somewhere mid-rotation. Park president Mike Fehnel called the ride “our next defining milestone — an attraction that demonstrates our commitment to innovation while giving guests another incredible reason to visit, stay longer and return throughout the year.”
Watch: The Official POV
The Legend Behind the Name
In Philippine mythology, the Bakunawa is a colossal sea serpent that rises from the ocean to swallow the moon — the ancient explanation for eclipses. That lore finally decodes the park’s months-long “Project Purple” teaser campaign: the mysterious shipping container washed ashore at the Boardwalk, the dangerous-cargo warnings, the glowing purple light and the booming impacts from inside. Something was being delivered to the Jersey Shore — and it turns out to be a moon-eating dragon.
Life After Kingda Ka
Bakunawa rises adjacent to the plot where Kingda Ka — the world’s tallest coaster at 456 feet — stood until its February 2025 demolition, and it gives Great Adventure a new signature skyline piece just two seasons later. It also caps a rapid transformation of the Boardwalk district, which added the Shoreline Pier this year with five family flat rides (Barrels O’ Fun, Flying Scooters, Hypno Twister, Super Roundup and Wave Swinger) plus the Boardwalk Nights live-entertainment lineup. A nautical sea-serpent as the area’s anchor attraction is a fitting payoff.
Sources: Six Flags Great Adventure, Coaster101, Attractions Magazine. Featured image and videos: Six Flags Great Adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall and fast is Bakunawa at Six Flags Great Adventure?
Bakunawa stands 382 feet tall and reaches 100 mph across three launches, making it the world’s tallest and fastest spinning coaster and one of the five tallest roller coasters in the world.
When does Bakunawa open?
Bakunawa opens in 2027 in the Boardwalk district at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.
What world records will Bakunawa break?
Six Flags claims six records: tallest spinning coaster (382 ft), fastest spinning coaster (100 mph), first upside-down launch, fastest inversion (80 mph), longest stall inversion, and the first floorless spinning coaster trains.
Does Bakunawa replace Kingda Ka?
Bakunawa is rising adjacent to the plot where Kingda Ka stood before its February 2025 demolition, and it becomes the park’s new signature attraction.