Poltergeist is the coaster that skips the climb and goes straight for the scream: instead of a chain lift, linear induction motors catapult the train to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds, then dump riders into a tightly wound cobra roll, sidewinder, and corkscrew inside a haunted-manor storyline at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.
It’s also a survivor. Poltergeist is one of only a handful of Premier Rides LIM catapult coasters ever built, and since its closest American sibling, Joker’s Jinx, shut down with Six Flags America in November 2025, Poltergeist is now the only outdoor coaster of its type still running in the U.S. Here’s what to know before you ride, from the exact launch mechanics to the ghost story built into the queue.
Quick Answer
Poltergeist is a Premier Rides steel launch coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas that uses linear induction motors (LIMs) to fling its train from a standstill to 60 mph in roughly 3.5 seconds, no lift hill required. The ride then packs a cobra roll, sidewinder, and corkscrew into a compact 2,705-foot layout for four inversions and about 75 seconds of airtime and G-force in the Rockville section of the park. The minimum height to ride is 54 inches, and it’s been running since May 28, 1999.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas Manufacturer: Premier Rides Designer: Werner Stengel (Ing.-Büro Stengel) Opened: May 28, 1999 Height: 78.8 ft (24.0 m) Top speed: 60 mph (97 km/h) Launch time: 0-60 mph in about 3.5 seconds Length: 2,705 ft (824 m) Duration: about 1 minute 15 seconds Inversions: 4 (cobra roll, sidewinder, corkscrew) Max G-force: 4.5 Gs Height requirement: 54 in (137 cm) Capacity: 2 trains, 24 riders each (48 per cycle)
The Ride Experience
There’s no waiting through a slow climb on Poltergeist. Riders board, get locked into individual ratcheting lap bars, and within seconds the train is shot down a narrow launch tunnel and out into a cobra roll before they’ve had time to react. From there the layout twists through a sidewinder and a corkscrew in what fans nicknamed a ‘spaghetti bowl’ — a dense, looping footprint that reverses the train’s momentum more than once as it threads back through itself.
Unlike some of its Premier Rides siblings, Poltergeist doesn’t have a mid-course brake run, so once the launch hits there’s no pause until the final brake stretch. The whole circuit is over in about 75 seconds, and with 4.5 Gs of force packed into that short span, it earns its reputation as one of the more physically intense rides in the park despite being far shorter than the big steel hypercoasters nearby.
The Story: Bartholomey Manor’s Ghost
Poltergeist isn’t just a launch coaster — it’s built around a haunted-house narrative. The queue and station are themed as Bartholomey Manor, the decaying estate of P. Vincent Bartholemay, a vengeful spirit said to capture riders and drag them through the sky with him. The path in winds past a weathered cemetery entrance, gargoyle statues, and gothic mansion detailing before riders ever reach the launch tunnel.
The 2021 refurbishment leaned further into that theme, adding a new archway, a hedge maze, expanded planters and set dressing, and a ghostly statue perched atop the station. It’s one of the more story-driven launch coasters in the Six Flags portfolio, closer in spirit to a dark ride than a straightforward thrill machine.
How Intense Is Poltergeist?
Poltergeist sits toward the top of Six Flags Fiesta Texas’s intensity scale, not because of height or length, but because of how much happens in so little time. The instant launch removes the anticipation of a lift hill, the inversions come in rapid succession, and the train pulls up to 4.5 Gs through the tightest turns. There’s no slow buildup — riders go from standing still to upside-down in a matter of seconds.
That intensity is also why the original over-the-shoulder restraints didn’t last. Riders found them uncomfortable and disorienting through the inversions, and Premier Rides swapped them for individual ratcheting lap bars in 2002, a change most riders and coaster enthusiasts consider a major improvement.
History and Updates
Poltergeist was announced in October 1998 as part of a larger expansion at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and opened on May 28, 1999, replacing Seaside Golf, a mini-golf course that had operated since the park opened in 1992. It’s one of just a handful of Premier Rides LIM catapult coasters ever built: two enclosed Flight of Fear rides opened at Kings Dominion and Kings Island in 1996, Mad Cobra opened in Japan in 1998 before relocating to China, and Joker’s Jinx opened at Six Flags America the same year as Poltergeist.
The restraints were reworked in 2002, and in July 2021 the ride closed for a multi-month refurbishment that added an air-conditioned indoor queue, a repaint in light green and green-gray tones, and the expanded Bartholomey Manor theming, reopening that September. With Joker’s Jinx permanently closed alongside Six Flags America in November 2025, Poltergeist is now the last outdoor example of this launch-coaster design still operating in the United States.
Poltergeist vs. Other LIM Launch Coasters
Poltergeist belongs to a small, specific family: Premier Rides’ LIM catapult coasters, built between 1996 and 1999 and nicknamed ‘spaghetti bowl’ coasters for their tightly packed, four-inversion layouts launched straight from the station. Flight of Fear at Kings Dominion and Kings Island are indoor versions of the concept; Mad Cobra (relocated from Japan to China) and the now-closed Joker’s Jinx were the outdoor versions, alongside Poltergeist.
Compared to modern launch coasters that use linear synchronous motors (LSMs) for repeated multi-stage launches, Poltergeist’s single LIM launch is simpler and older technology, but it’s also part of what makes it feel distinct: one hard hit of acceleration, then pure momentum through the whole layout.
Planning Your Visit
Poltergeist is located in the Rockville section of Six Flags Fiesta Texas and typically runs during the park’s regular operating hours, though ride availability can vary with weather, maintenance, and seasonal schedules. As with most Six Flags launch coasters, expect the wait to run longer in peak summer months and on weekends, and shorter during weekday off-season visits; a Flash Pass or similar skip-the-line option can help if the queue is long.
Since hours, ticket prices, and seasonal calendars change throughout the year, check the official Six Flags Fiesta Texas website for current operating hours, ticket options, and any ride closures before you go.
Poltergeist roller coaster FAQs
What launches Poltergeist instead of a lift hill?
Poltergeist uses linear induction motors (LIMs) to launch its trains from a standing start to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds, eliminating the need for a traditional chain lift hill.
How many inversions does Poltergeist have?
Poltergeist has four inversions, including a cobra roll, sidewinder, and corkscrew, packed into a compact 2,705-foot layout.
When did Poltergeist open, and who built it?
Poltergeist opened at Six Flags Fiesta Texas on May 28, 1999. It was manufactured by Premier Rides and designed by Werner Stengel of Ing.-Büro Stengel.
How tall do you have to be to ride Poltergeist?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm) tall to ride Poltergeist.
Is Poltergeist scary or intense?
Poltergeist is considered one of the more intense rides at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It launches without warning, hits up to 4.5 Gs, and strings its four inversions together in about 75 seconds with no mid-course brake to pause the action.
What is Poltergeist’s storyline about?
The ride is themed around Bartholomey Manor, a haunted estate belonging to the vengeful spirit P. Vincent Bartholemay, who is said to capture riders and pull them through the sky with him.
Is Poltergeist the last coaster of its kind?
It’s the last outdoor example still running in the U.S. Poltergeist is one of a small family of Premier Rides LIM catapult coasters built between 1996 and 1999; its closest sibling, Joker’s Jinx, closed permanently with Six Flags America in November 2025.
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