Kingda Ka was the world’s tallest roller coaster — a 456-foot steel giant at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. From its debut on May 21, 2005, to its dramatic controlled implosion on February 28, 2025, it defined extreme thrill-seeking for an entire generation of coaster fans.
In this guide you will find every verified fact about Kingda Ka: its height, speed, hydraulic launch system, world records, and the full story of why it closed. Whether you searched ‘kindaka roller coaster,’ ‘Kingda Ka height RCDB,’ or simply want to know how fast it really went, you are in the right place.
Quick Answer
Kingda Ka was a hydraulic-launch steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. It stood 456 feet tall, reached 128 mph from a standstill in 3.5 seconds, and held the title of world’s tallest roller coaster from its opening in 2005 until its permanent closure in November 2024 and demolition on February 28, 2025.
Where Is Kingda Ka Located?
Kingda Ka was located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey — in Ocean County, roughly 90 minutes from New York City and 60 minutes from Philadelphia. It made Six Flags Great Adventure one of the most visited parks in the northeastern United States.
The ride no longer stands. Its iconic top-hat tower was imploded on February 28, 2025. Six Flags Great Adventure itself remains open, and a new record-breaking launch coaster is currently under construction on the same footprint, expected to open in 2027.
Kingda Ka Facts: Complete Stats Sheet
All specifications below are sourced from the Roller Coaster Database (RCDB, listing #2832) and Wikipedia: • Height: 456 feet (139 m) — world record • Drop: 418 feet (127 m) — world record • Top Speed: 128 mph (206 km/h) • Launch: 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds • Launch Power: approximately 20,800 peak horsepower (15.5 MW) • Ride Duration: approximately 28 seconds • Track Length: 3,118 feet (950 m) • Vertical Angle: 90 degrees • Inversions: 0 • Capacity: 1,400 riders per hour • Manufacturer: Intamin Amusement Rides • Designer: Werner Stengel • Opened: May 21, 2005 • Permanently Closed: November 2024 • Demolished: February 28, 2025
According to RCDB, Kingda Ka maintained its status as the world’s tallest roller coaster for the entirety of its operational life. No coaster surpassed its 456-foot height before it was removed.
How Fast Is Kingda Ka?
Kingda Ka reached a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h). That speed was achieved from a dead stop in just 3.5 seconds, thanks to a hydraulic launch system generating approximately 20,800 peak horsepower — roughly equivalent to 16 Formula 1 engines firing at once. Riders described the sensation as being fired from a cannon.
When it opened in 2005, Kingda Ka was also the world’s fastest roller coaster, edging out Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. That speed record fell in November 2010, when Formula Rossa at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi began operating at 149 mph. Kingda Ka’s height record of 456 feet, however, was never surpassed during its lifetime.
Height of Kingda Ka: Breaking Down the 456-Foot Tower
The 456-foot measurement refers to the peak of the top-hat tower — the highest point riders reached before the 418-foot plunge back to earth. That drop angle is a full 90 degrees straight down, followed by a 270-degree spiral twist that left riders briefly disoriented before the ground rushed back into view.
After the main descent, the track climbed a 129-foot camelback hill that sent riders airborne before returning to the dual-loading station. At the absolute top of the tower on a clear day, riders could reportedly glimpse both the New York City skyline and the Philadelphia skyline simultaneously — more than 50 miles in each direction.
The Hydraulic Launch System Explained
Kingda Ka did not use a traditional chain lift. Instead, a hydraulic launch mechanism attached a catch car to the underside of the train and accelerated it down a straight launch track, releasing at the base of the tower. The entire launch sequence lasted 3.5 seconds.
Intamin used similar technology on Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, which Kingda Ka was directly modeled after and built to exceed. The hydraulic system was breathtaking but demanding: it required intensive maintenance, contributed to frequent downtime throughout the ride’s 20-year life, and was ultimately a factor in the park’s decision to retire the coaster rather than continue operating it.
Kingda Ka’s World Records
On opening day, May 21, 2005, Kingda Ka simultaneously claimed two world records: tallest roller coaster (456 feet) and fastest roller coaster (128 mph). It was also only the second ‘strata coaster’ ever built — an enthusiast classification for coasters exceeding 400 feet — following Top Thrill Dragster, which opened at Cedar Point in 2003.
The speed record was claimed by Formula Rossa in 2010. The height record of 456 feet was never broken. As of the day Kingda Ka closed in 2024, it remained the tallest roller coaster ever constructed in the world.
Why Did Kingda Ka Close?
Six Flags Great Adventure confirmed Kingda Ka’s permanent closure in November 2024, citing plans to build a new ‘multi-world-record-breaking launch roller coaster’ in its place. The park also removed Green Lantern, Twister, and Parachutes to free up the surrounding footprint for two new coasters.
The operational realities behind the decision were evident to longtime fans: the hydraulic launch system had aged considerably over two decades and became progressively more expensive and complex to maintain. Downtime had long been a frustration — the ride frequently sat idle mid-season for repairs.
Demolition began January 20, 2025, with track removal. The 456-foot top-hat tower was brought down in a controlled implosion on February 28, 2025, executed by Controlled Demolition, Inc. The event was livestreamed and watched by thousands of fans marking the end of an era.
The Legacy of Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka’s legacy lives in the culture it created as much as the records it held. It was the headline attraction in the early-2000s coaster arms race, when parks competed aggressively to build the biggest and fastest. Enthusiasts crossed the country to mark it off their bucket lists. Parents brought their children on pilgrimages to the Jersey shore to conquer 456 feet of steel.
For the industry, Kingda Ka was a turning point. Its maintenance challenges demonstrated the limits of pure spectacle engineering — future launch coasters have increasingly prioritized reliability and throughput alongside raw stats. A physical piece of Kingda Ka’s track was preserved and relocated after demolition, ensuring a tangible fragment of the legend survives.
What riders will remember most: the roar of the hydraulic launch, the white-knuckle 3.5 seconds, the split-second gasp at the summit, and the 270-degree spiral drop that felt like the world turned sideways.
What Comes Next at Six Flags Great Adventure?
A new record-breaking launch coaster is actively under construction on the Kingda Ka site. Originally announced for a 2026 debut, the project was officially delayed in July 2025 and is now expected to open in 2027. Six Flags has described it as ‘multi-world-record-breaking’ but has not yet released the ride’s name, manufacturer, or specific statistics.
In the meantime, The Flash: Vertical Velocity — which the park describes as North America’s first boomerang roller coaster — has opened nearby as part of the broader redevelopment. The Kingda Ka footprint is actively being transformed into the park’s next major thrill destination.
Kingda Ka roller coaster FAQs
What is the ‘kindaka’ roller coaster?
‘Kindaka’ is a common misspelling of Kingda Ka, the hydraulic-launch steel roller coaster that stood at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. Kingda Ka stood 456 feet tall and reached 128 mph before being permanently closed in November 2024 and demolished on February 28, 2025.
How tall is Kingda Ka?
Kingda Ka stood 456 feet (139 meters) tall — the world’s tallest roller coaster throughout its entire operational life from 2005 to 2024. Its drop measured 418 feet (127 m), also a world record.
How fast does Kingda Ka go?
Kingda Ka reached a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h), launching from 0 mph in just 3.5 seconds via a hydraulic launch system producing approximately 20,800 peak horsepower. It was the world’s fastest coaster when it opened in 2005 and lost that title to Formula Rossa in 2010.
Where is Kingda Ka roller coaster?
Kingda Ka was located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, about 90 minutes from New York City. The ride has been demolished as of February 2025, but Six Flags Great Adventure remains open and is building a new record-breaking coaster on the same site, expected in 2027.
Is Kingda Ka still open?
No. Kingda Ka permanently closed in November 2024 after nearly 20 years of operation. Its 456-foot tower was imploded on February 28, 2025. A replacement launch coaster is under construction at Six Flags Great Adventure and is expected to open in 2027.
What replaced Kingda Ka at Six Flags?
Six Flags Great Adventure is building a new ‘multi-world-record-breaking launch roller coaster’ on the Kingda Ka site, currently expected to open in 2027 after a delay from its original 2026 target. The Flash: Vertical Velocity, described as North America’s first boomerang roller coaster, also opened nearby as part of the same redevelopment.
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