Montezooma’s Revenge opened at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California on May 21, 1978, and instantly became one of the most talked-about rides in the country. Built by Schwarzkopf and designed by Werner Stengel, the shuttle loop coaster used a spinning flywheel to catapult its train out of the station and reach 55 mph in just 4.5 seconds, before sending riders through a 76-foot vertical loop and up a 148-foot spike backwards. At the time of its debut it stood as the tallest roller coaster in the world, a title it held until 1983.
For decades Montezooma’s Revenge remained a fan favorite for its raw, mechanical intensity and its status as one of the last flywheel-launched shuttle loops still running anywhere. The American Coaster Enthusiasts recognized it as a Roller Coaster Landmark in 2019. The ride closed for an extensive refurbishment in February 2022 and returned on August 6, 2026 rebranded as MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress, now powered by a modern linear synchronous motor launch in place of the original flywheel.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, California
- Manufacturer: Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH
- Designer: Werner Stengel
- Opened: May 21, 1978 (reopened August 6, 2026 as MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress)
- Height: 148 feet
- Top speed: 55 mph
- Length: About 800 feet
- Inversions: 1 (vertical loop)
The Ride Experience
Riders board a train that shoots forward out of the station and hits 55 mph in roughly 4.5 seconds, tearing through a 76-foot vertical loop before climbing a 148-foot spike. The train then falls backward through the loop and station, retracing the entire sequence in reverse. It’s an out-and-back “shuttle loop” format, meaning the whole ride happens on a single stretch of track, with the same forces experienced forward and backward.
What made the original Montezooma’s Revenge unique among modern launch coasters was its flywheel launch system, a purely mechanical method of storing and releasing energy that produced a distinctly punchy, old-school kick. Following the 2022-2026 refurbishment, that flywheel was replaced with a linear synchronous motor, giving the reborn MonteZOOMa a smoother but still forceful launch while preserving the ride’s original layout and structure.
A Landmark of Coaster History
By the time Montezooma’s Revenge arrived in 1978, Knott’s Berry Farm already had two roller coasters running: the Corkscrew, which debuted in 1975 as one of the first modern looping coasters, and Cycle Chase, a motorcycle-themed steeplechase coaster that opened in 1976. Montezooma’s Revenge quickly stood apart from both, becoming one of only a handful of flywheel-launched shuttle loops ever built, which earned it a Roller Coaster Landmark designation from the American Coaster Enthusiasts in 2019.
Rather than retire the aging ride, Knott’s Berry Farm invested in restoring it, closing the coaster in February 2022 for a multi-year refurbishment that replaced its launch system and trains while keeping its signature loop-and-spike layout intact. Its return in 2026 as MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress keeps a piece of Southern California theme park history running for a new generation of riders.
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Montezooma’s Revenge FAQs
Is Montezooma’s Revenge still open?
The ride closed for refurbishment in February 2022 and reopened on August 6, 2026 under the new name MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress at Knott’s Berry Farm.
How fast does Montezooma’s Revenge go?
It launches riders to a top speed of about 55 mph in roughly 4.5 seconds.
Who built Montezooma’s Revenge?
It was manufactured by Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH and designed by Werner Stengel, opening on May 21, 1978.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.