Fifty years after it changed roller coaster history, the Schwarzkopf classic at Six Flags Magic Mountain is back under its original banner. In July 2026 the park restored the ride’s full 1976 name, The Great American Revolution, after a decade as “The New Revolution” and decades before that as simply “Revolution.” Whatever you call it, this is one of the most historically important steel coasters on the planet.
Opened on May 8, 1976 in Valencia, California, The Great American Revolution was the world’s first modern roller coaster with a vertical loop — the element that kicked off the looping-coaster arms race of the late 1970s and 1980s. Designed by the legendary Werner Stengel and built by Anton Schwarzkopf, it remains a masterclass in smooth, terrain-hugging layout design.
Key Stats
| Height | 113 ft (34 m) |
| Drop | 83 ft (25 m) |
| Speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Track length | 3,457 ft (1,054 m) |
| Inversions | 1 (vertical loop) |
| Max g-force | 4.9 |
| Duration | 1:19 |
| Manufacturer | Anton Schwarzkopf |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Opened | May 8, 1976 |
The Loop That Started It All
Earlier looping coasters existed in the early 1900s, but their circular loops battered riders with brutal forces. Stengel’s breakthrough was a clothoid-shaped loop that tightens gradually, keeping forces manageable — though at up to 4.9 Gs, the Revolution still ranks among the highest g-force roller coasters you can ride today. When it opened for America’s bicentennial in 1976, it was also briefly the world’s tallest complete-circuit coaster, a title it held until 1978. See how today’s giants compare on our list of the tallest roller coasters in the world.
A Terrain Coaster Like No Other
Unlike modern loopers that stack elements over a compact plot, the Revolution sprawls across 3,457 feet of forested hillside, diving through tunnels and weaving along the terrain before lining up its single, iconic 90-foot-tall loop. The 2016 refurbishment (as “The New Revolution”) replaced the old trains with modern lap-bar rolling stock and, for a time, added optional Samsung VR headsets. The 2026 renaming completes the circle, returning the coaster to the name it carried on opening day.
Hollywood Fame and Coaster Honors
The Revolution is a movie star, too: it anchored the 1977 disaster film Rollercoaster and appeared in 1983’s National Lampoon’s Vacation as part of Walley World. American Coaster Enthusiasts designated it an ACE Coaster Landmark in 2002. The park even temporarily rebranded it “Red Sox Revolution” in November 2018 after losing a World Series wager — proof the old Schwarzkopf still gets plenty of love.
FAQ
Why is The Great American Revolution famous?
It was the world’s first modern roller coaster with a vertical loop, opening at Six Flags Magic Mountain on May 8, 1976. Its clothoid loop design, engineered by Werner Stengel, became the template for virtually every looping coaster built since.
How tall and fast is the ride?
The coaster stands 113 feet (34 m) tall with an 83-foot (25 m) drop, hits 55 mph (89 km/h), and covers 3,457 feet (1,054 m) of track in about 79 seconds.
When was it renamed The Great American Revolution?
In July 2026, for the ride’s 50th-anniversary season, Six Flags Magic Mountain restored the original 1976 name. It had been called La Revolución (1981–1987), Revolution (1988–2015), and The New Revolution (2016–2025).
Photo: Jeremy Thompson via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)