New Texas Giant is the steel-and-wood hybrid coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington that put Rocky Mountain Construction on the map. It reuses the timber structure of the original 1990 Texas Giant but rides nothing like it, thanks to a brand-new steel I-Box track that turned a notoriously rough wooden coaster into one of the smoothest, most intense rides in the park.
Beyond the stats and the history, this guide covers the parts most write-ups skip: how the ride actually compares to the coaster it replaced, exactly what happened during the widely reported 2013 safety incident and how Six Flags responded, where to sit for the best experience, and what to know before you ride, including the height requirement and where to find current park hours and tickets.
Quick Answer
New Texas Giant is a 153-foot steel hybrid roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) on the wooden frame of the original 1990 Texas Giant. It opened April 22, 2011, reaches 65 mph, drops 147 feet at a 79-degree angle, and has zero inversions. Following a fatal 2013 incident, Six Flags redesigned the restraints and added seat belts to every train; the ride has operated with those upgrades ever since and remains a top-rated attraction at the park.
Ride Stats at a Glance
Park: Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX. Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction (I-Box steel track), built on the original Dinn Corporation timber structure. Designer: Alan Schilke. Opened: April 22, 2011.
Height: 153 ft (47 m). First Drop: 147 ft at 79°. Top Speed: 65 mph (105 km/h). Length: 4,200 ft (1,300 m). Inversions: 0. Trains: 3, each seating 24 riders (2-across, 2-row) and themed to a 1961 Cadillac Deville. Restraints: individual hydraulic lap bar plus seat belt. Height Requirement: 48 inches (122 cm), confirmed on the ride’s official page. Thrill Level: rated among the park’s most intense attractions.
The Ride Experience and Where to Sit
The 153-foot chain lift is the last calm moment before RMC’s signature aggression takes over. Riders plunge 147 feet at 79 degrees, then get thrown through a sequence of airtime hills, sweeping S-curves, and the famous over-banked turn that rolls well past vertical, all on I-Box steel track that feels nothing like a traditional wooden coaster despite sitting on wood supports. There are no loops or inversions here; every thrill comes from speed, banking, and sustained negative-g airtime.
Seating position matters more than on most coasters. The back row amplifies the airtime on the drop and hills and is the pick for riders chasing the strongest ejector-air moments, while the front row gives the clearest unobstructed view down the 79-degree first drop and through the over-banked turn. Every seat now has its own hydraulic lap bar and a seat belt, a restraint setup that was upgraded industry-wide after this specific ride’s 2013 incident, covered below. Secure loose items before boarding; there is no on-ride storage, and dropped items can’t be retrieved from the wooden support structure below the track.
New Texas Giant vs. the Original Texas Giant
The original Texas Giant opened March 17, 1990, as the tallest wooden coaster in the world at 143 feet, with a comparatively tame 53-degree first drop. It earned a loyal following but became progressively rougher over nearly two decades, eventually falling out of favor with enthusiasts. Rather than demolish it, Six Flags closed the ride in 2009 and handed it to a then-largely-unknown Idaho contractor, RMC, which stripped every inch of wooden track while keeping most of the original timber support structure.
The rebuild added 10 feet of height, steepened the drop from 53° to 79°, and swapped wood-on-wood track for RMC’s new I-Box steel rail system. The result eliminated the roughness almost entirely while making the ride objectively faster and more intense than the coaster it replaced. Riders who remember the old Texas Giant’s rattly, unpredictable trims will notice the difference immediately: New Texas Giant delivers precise, controlled forces instead of random jolts.
The 2013 Safety Incident and What Changed
On July 19, 2013, 52-year-old rider Rosa Esparza fell roughly 75 feet from New Texas Giant, striking a support beam and landing on the roof of a tunnel; she died at the scene. Witnesses and a park employee had raised concerns about how her restraint was seated before the train departed, and the ride’s restraint-indicator light had reportedly been repaired only days earlier. Six Flags closed the ride indefinitely while state and internal investigators examined the restraint system.
On September 10, 2013, Six Flags announced that its investigation found no mechanical failure. The coaster reopened on September 14, 2013, after redesigned restraint bars, new padding, and individual seat belts were installed on all three trains. Esparza’s family filed a wrongful-death suit against Six Flags and train manufacturer Gerstlauer; the parties reached a confidential settlement in November 2014 that did not assign fault to either side.
That incident had ripple effects across the whole chain: Six Flags subsequently added seat belts to other roller coasters at its parks as an extra precaution, even on rides that hadn’t had any issues. New Texas Giant has operated with the upgraded restraint package for more than a decade since and remains an active, popular ride at Six Flags Over Texas today.
A Landmark in Coaster History
New Texas Giant holds a singular place in coaster history as the first ride ever built with RMC’s I-Box track and the first coaster the company ever converted from wood to steel hybrid. Its success proved the hybrid-conversion concept viable at a moment when RMC was still a niche player, and it set off a wave of similar wood-to-steel rebuilds at parks across North America over the following decade.
The ride won the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride in 2011 and ranked among the top hybrid coasters in industry polls in the years after opening. Designer Alan Schilke’s steep drops and aggressive over-banked turns, first proven here, became the signature style of nearly every RMC project that followed, cementing this Arlington coaster as the origin point of an entire hybrid-coaster movement.
Planning Your Visit
Riders must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall to ride New Texas Giant, and it’s rated among the park’s most intense attractions, so expect a fast-moving standby line to relax somewhat outside of peak summer weekends; a single rider line has also been offered in past seasons for guests riding alone.
Six Flags Over Texas typically runs a full daily schedule in summer and a lighter, weekend-and-holiday schedule the rest of the year, with hours that shift by season and even by day. Ticket pricing works in tiers, with single-day gate tickets, discounted advance online tickets, season passes, and memberships (which add perks like parking and season-long admission) all priced differently. Because operating hours and admission pricing change throughout the year, check the official Six Flags Over Texas site for the current calendar, ride hours, and ticket options before you go.
New Texas Giant roller coaster FAQs
Where is New Texas Giant located?
New Texas Giant is located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas.
Who built New Texas Giant?
Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) built the steel I-Box track in 2011, reusing the wooden support structure of the original 1990 Texas Giant, which was built by Dinn Corporation.
How tall is New Texas Giant and how fast does it go?
New Texas Giant stands 153 feet tall and reaches a top speed of 65 mph during its 147-foot, 79-degree first drop.
Is New Texas Giant safe to ride?
Yes. Following the fatal 2013 incident, Six Flags redesigned the restraint system and added a hydraulic lap bar plus a seat belt to every seat on all three trains. The ride has operated under that upgraded restraint package since reopening in September 2013.
What happened to New Texas Giant in 2013?
A 52-year-old rider, Rosa Esparza, fell from the ride on July 19, 2013, after her restraint was not properly secured. Six Flags closed the ride for about two months, found no mechanical failure, and reopened it with redesigned restraints, new padding, and seat belts added to every seat.
Does New Texas Giant have any loops or inversions?
No. It has zero inversions; all of its thrills come from steep drops, airtime hills, banked turns, and speed.
How is New Texas Giant different from the original Texas Giant?
The original 1990 Texas Giant was an all-wood coaster with a 143-foot height and a 53-degree first drop that grew rough over time. RMC’s 2011 rebuild kept the wooden supports but replaced the track with steel I-Box rail, added 10 feet of height, steepened the drop to 79 degrees, and made the ride significantly smoother and more intense.
What is the height requirement for New Texas Giant?
Riders must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall.
Where’s the best seat on New Texas Giant?
The back row delivers the strongest airtime on the drop and hills, while the front row gives the clearest view of the 79-degree first drop and the over-banked turn.
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