Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger is a Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster in the Crackaxle Canyon section of Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. It opened to the public on July 30, 2022, replacing the Sundance Theatre, an original venue that had stood since the park debuted in 1992.
The ride leans hard into its villainous theming, sending guests through a queue that tells the story of Dr. Diabolical and her quest to harness human fear to power a monstrous creation. From 2022 until 2025, its 95-degree main drop held the record for the steepest plunge of any dive coaster in the world, before being surpassed by Wrath of Rakshasa.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Model: Dive Coaster
- Opened: July 30, 2022
- Height: 150 feet
- Main drop: 142 feet at 95 degrees
- Top speed: 60 mph
- Length: 2,501 feet
- Inversions: 2
The Ride Experience
After a chain lift to 150 feet, riders pause at the top for a beat before plunging 142 feet at a 95-degree angle, past vertical, into the ride’s signature dive. The layout continues with an Immelmann inversion, a 270-degree zero-G roll, a second near-vertical dive of about 75 feet, an airtime hill, banked turns, and a closing helix before returning to the station.
Trains are arranged in the classic dive coaster style, seating riders seven across in a single row with their feet dangling free, which amplifies the sense of exposure during the drops. Six Flags Fiesta Texas runs the coaster with a rotation of trains so that maintenance can occur without cutting into ride capacity.
From Illinois to Texas
The coaster wasn’t originally planned for San Antonio. Reports indicate it was first intended for Six Flags Great America in Illinois, but that park opted to pursue a larger dive coaster of its own, and the project was redirected to Fiesta Texas instead. Its 2022 debut also marked the first Bolliger & Mabillard installation at a Six Flags park since X-Flight opened at Six Flags Great America years earlier.
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Over 3,700 pieces, a real vertical loop and a working chain lift. Display it on a shelf in the coaster room.
Rub-on sunscreen that fits in a pocket — reapply in the queue without greasy hands on the lap bar.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger FAQs
How tall is Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger?
The coaster’s lift hill reaches 150 feet before riders plunge down its signature 142-foot drop.
What company built Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger?
It was built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the Swiss manufacturer known for its dive coaster model, which this ride uses.
Does Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger have any inversions?
Yes, it has two inversions: an Immelmann and a 270-degree zero-G roll, along with a second near-vertical dive later in the layout.
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Photo: Airtime Thrills Raw Footage / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.