Mamba is a steel hypercoaster at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri, built by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing and designed by Steve Okamoto. It opened to the public on April 18, 1998, following an announcement made on September 11, 1997, and cost more than $10 million to construct in the park’s Africa-themed section.
Since its debut, Mamba has held the title of Missouri’s tallest, fastest, and longest continuous-circuit coaster. Its out-and-back layout relies purely on speed and airtime rather than inversions, sending riders down a 205-foot first drop before a 184-foot second hill, a sweeping 580-degree helix, and a series of camelback hills.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, Missouri
- Manufacturer: D.H. Morgan Manufacturing
- Designer: Steve Okamoto
- Opened: April 18, 1998
- Height: 205 feet
- Top speed: 75 mph
- Length: about 5,600 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Mamba’s ride begins with a chain-lift climb to 205 feet before plunging into the coaster’s signature first drop at a steep 66-degree angle. From there, trains rocket through a 184-foot second hill and a broad 580-degree helix that pins riders to their seats with roughly 3.5 G’s, before working through five consecutive camelback hills that deliver strong bursts of airtime along the way back to the station.
With three trains carrying 36 riders each, Mamba was engineered purely around speed and terrain rather than loops or corkscrews, a design choice that has kept its out-and-back layout feeling relentless for over two decades. Its full circuit takes around three minutes, one of the longer ride durations among American steel hypercoasters.
A Missouri Landmark
As of 2026, Mamba remains tied with Steel Force at Dorney Park as the ninth-longest steel coaster in the world, and it still holds the record as Missouri’s tallest, fastest, and longest continuous-circuit coaster. The ride’s track was repainted from red to green in late 2024, refreshing its look for a new generation of riders.
In October 2025, the park conducted safety inspections after reports of seat belt malfunctions, replacing 18 worn buckles before reopening the ride on October 30, 2025. Nearly three decades after opening, Mamba continues to be one of the signature attractions at Worlds of Fun.
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Mamba FAQs
How tall is Mamba at Worlds of Fun?
Mamba’s first drop and overall height measure 205 feet, making it Missouri’s tallest coaster.
Does Mamba have any inversions?
No. Mamba is a hypercoaster with zero inversions, relying on its out-and-back layout, hills, and a 580-degree helix for thrills.
When did Mamba open?
Mamba opened to the public on April 18, 1998, after being announced in September 1997.
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Photo: Tkexb173 at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.