The Joker’s Jinx was a steel launched roller coaster in the Gotham City section of Six Flags America in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Built by Premier Rides and designed by Werner Stengel, it opened on May 8, 1999, using linear induction motor (LIM) technology to catapult trains out of the station instead of a traditional chain lift hill.
Themed around Batman’s arch-villain, the ride packed a full inversion coaster into a compact footprint, sending riders through a tangled ‘spaghetti bowl’ of track. It operated for over two decades before closing permanently on November 2, 2025, when Six Flags shut down the entire Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor property.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags America, Upper Marlboro, Maryland
- Manufacturer: Premier Rides
- Opened: May 8, 1999
- Closed: November 2, 2025
- Height: 78.8 ft (24 m)
- Top speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)
- Length: 2,705 ft (824 m)
- Inversions: 4
The Ride Experience
Riders boarded in Gotham City and were shot through a narrow launch tunnel, reaching 60 mph in about three seconds flat with roughly 4.5 G’s of force. From there the train dove into a dense tangle of track nicknamed a ‘spaghetti bowl,’ threading a cobra roll, a sidewinder, and a corkscrew in quick succession. The entire ride lasted around 56 seconds, and trains held 24 riders across six cars, two across per row.
The ride’s restraints changed over the years: it launched with over-the-shoulder harnesses before switching to lap bars for the 2002 season, a shift that let riders feel more of the launch’s punch. A 2020 repaint gave the track a brighter green finish, and the coaster kept running with only minor interruptions, including a brief 2017 stall that stranded riders safely at height with no injuries.
Gotham City and the Park’s Closure
Joker’s Jinx anchored a 6-acre Batman-themed area called Gotham City, built as part of Six Flags America’s transformation after the park adopted the Six Flags name. The land’s villain theming framed the coaster as the Joker’s own twisted creation, designed to torment Gotham’s citizens.
In 2025, Six Flags announced it would permanently close Six Flags America and its adjoining Hurricane Harbor water park as part of a company-wide portfolio review following the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger. The park, and Joker’s Jinx along with it, shut its gates for good on November 2, 2025, ending a run of more than 26 years.
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Joker’s Jinx Photo Archive: July 2001
These are original ThrillZing photos of The Joker’s Jinx taken at Six Flags America on July 14, 2001, restored and upscaled from the original camera files. They show the Premier launched spaghetti-bowl coaster in its third season: the HAHA entrance sign, the green track and purple supports tangled above the trees, a train threading the layout, and the Wildcard novelties shop below the ride. All photos are free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license with credit to ThrillZing and a link to this page.
The Joker’s Jinx FAQs
What type of roller coaster was Joker’s Jinx?
It was a steel launched coaster built by Premier Rides, using a linear induction motor (LIM) to accelerate trains from 0 to 60 mph in about three seconds instead of a lift hill.
When did Joker’s Jinx close?
It closed permanently on November 2, 2025, when Six Flags shut down the entire Six Flags America park and its Hurricane Harbor water park.
How many inversions did Joker’s Jinx have?
It had four inversions, including a cobra roll, a sidewinder, and a corkscrew, packed into a dense 2,705-foot layout.
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