Iron Rattler is a steel hybrid roller coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) and opened on May 25, 2013. Standing 179 feet tall and reaching a top speed of 70 mph, it delivers one of the most terrain-integrated coaster experiences in the American Southwest, its track weaving in and out of a real limestone quarry wall.
Created by converting the aging wooden Rattler using RMC’s patented I-Box steel track system, Iron Rattler broke new ground as one of the first hybrid coasters to feature a zero-g roll inversion. It earned an 11th-place ranking among the world’s best steel coasters in its debut year at the Golden Ticket Awards, later peaking at 4th place in 2017, and continues to draw enthusiasts seeking its signature blend of raw drop and quarry-hugging layout.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, TX
- Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC)
- Opened: May 25, 2013
- Height: 179 ft (55 m)
- Drop: 171 ft (52 m) at 81°
- Top Speed: 70 mph (110 km/h)
- Length: 3,266 ft (995 m)
- Inversions: 1 (zero-g roll)
The Ride Experience
Riders begin with a chain lift to 179 feet before plunging down an 81-degree drop at 70 mph — one of the steepest first drops on any hybrid coaster. The layout then threads through the quarry terrain with four overbanked turns ranging from 93 to 110 degrees, keeping lateral forces unusually high throughout. A zero-g roll at the top of the quarry wall delivers a moment of sustained weightlessness before a tunnel section near the base, enhanced with fog and lighting effects, closes the ride.
The Gerstlauer trains feature serpent-themed styling, lap bars, and seat belts, seating 24 riders per train in a 2-across, 2-row configuration. The 48-inch height requirement reflects the intensity of the experience — this is firmly a thrill coaster, with no gentle moments once the lift crests.
From Rattler to Iron Rattler
The site’s history runs deeper than 2013. The original Rattler opened on March 14, 1992 as the world’s tallest wooden roller coaster, holding that record until 1994. Decades of use, along with roughness complaints, led Six Flags to partner with RMC designer Alan Schilke, who grafted the company’s I-Box steel track onto the Rattler’s existing wooden support structure after the wooden version closed in August 2012.
The conversion dramatically raised the drop from 124 to 171 feet, boosted top speed from 65 to 70 mph, and added the signature zero-g roll — a first for the I-Box format at the time. The $10 million transformation is widely cited as one of RMC’s most successful early conversions and helped establish the company as the leading force in hybrid coaster design.
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Iron Rattler FAQs
What kind of roller coaster is Iron Rattler?
Iron Rattler is a steel hybrid coaster built by Rocky Mountain Construction using their I-Box track system mounted on the original wooden support structure of the former Rattler. This combination of a wood frame and steel track gives it an unusually smooth ride despite its aggressive layout.
How fast and tall is Iron Rattler?
Iron Rattler stands 179 feet tall and sends riders down a 171-foot drop at an 81-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 70 mph. The total track length is 3,266 feet.
What was Iron Rattler before it was converted?
Before its 2013 transformation, the ride operated as The Rattler — a wooden coaster that opened in 1992 as the world’s tallest wooden roller coaster. Rocky Mountain Construction rebuilt it as Iron Rattler after the original wooden version closed in August 2012.
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Photo: Jpp858 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.