Raging Bull is a steel hyper coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. Built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard and opened on May 1, 1999, it made history as the world’s first hyper-twister roller coaster — a model that combines the raw height and speed of a hyper coaster with sweeping banked turns designed to produce relentless airtime rather than inversions.
Standing 202 feet tall and stretching 5,057 feet of track, Raging Bull remains the tallest and longest coaster in the park. Its signature move is a 208-foot drop at a 65-degree angle that plunges riders into a 127-foot underground tunnel before launching them into a series of camelback hills at 73 mph.
Quick Answer
Raging Bull is Six Flags Great America’s 202-foot Bolliger & Mabillard hyper-twister coaster in Gurnee, Illinois. Riders must be at least 54 inches (4’6″) tall to board. After a 208-foot first drop into an underground tunnel, the coaster hits 73 mph and covers 5,057 feet of airtime-filled hills and banked turns in about two and a half minutes, with zero loops or inversions.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois. Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard. Model: Hyper Coaster (hyper-twister variant). Opened: May 1, 1999. Height: 202 ft (62 m). Drop: 208 ft (63 m) at 65°. Top Speed: 73 mph (117 km/h). Length: 5,057 ft (1,541 m). Inversions: 0. Ride Duration: approx. 2 min 30 sec. Height Requirement: 54 in (137 cm). Trains: 3, with 36 riders each (9 cars, 4 across). Hourly Capacity: approx. 1,560 riders.
Height Requirement & Who Can Ride
Raging Bull has a minimum height requirement of 54 inches (137 cm, or 4’6″) to ride — the standard threshold Six Flags uses for its tallest, fastest coasters. There’s no published maximum height restriction, though unusually tall riders should test the lap-bar restraint before waiting in line, since it’s the coaster’s sole restraint system.
Because Raging Bull has zero inversions, it’s often recommended as an entry point into extreme hyper coasters: riders get the full sensation of height, speed, and airtime without going upside down. Six Flags rates the ride at the top of its in-park thrill scale, largely on the strength of the tunnel drop and the sustained speed through the second half of the course.
The Ride Experience
Riders board one of three 36-passenger trains and climb the chain lift to 202 feet before plunging into the underground tunnel — the coaster’s most dramatic moment and a signature touch rarely found on hyper coasters. From there, the layout unwinds across a sweeping series of camelback hills and overbanked turns engineered by Stengel Engineering to generate sustained floater and ejector airtime without a single loop or inversion. The ride’s heartline banking technology keeps turns smooth and free of lateral forces, earning Raging Bull a reputation as one of the most re-rideable coasters in the Midwest.
Each of Raging Bull’s three trains carries 36 riders across nine cars, giving the coaster a theoretical hourly capacity of roughly 1,560 riders — useful context for gauging how quickly the line should move on a typical operating day.
Where to Find Raging Bull in the Park
Raging Bull sits in the Southwest Territory area of Six Flags Great America, themed to a cattle town where the coaster’s namesake bull drove settlers away — a tongue-in-cheek setup that fits the relentless pace of the ride. The queue and loading platform are built to resemble an old mission, with weathered wood and stone facades leading riders to the station before the lift hill.
Wait Times, Single Rider Line & Flash Pass
As one of the park’s marquee coasters, Raging Bull can draw long lines on peak-attendance days, especially in the first two hours after opening and again in the early evening. A single rider line is typically available near the main queue for guests willing to fill empty seats individually, which can meaningfully cut wait times when the ride isn’t running at full capacity.
Raging Bull is also included in Six Flags Great America’s paid Flash Pass (Fast Lane) program, which lets guests reserve a return time instead of waiting in the standard line. Because staffing, weather, and daily attendance all affect actual wait times, check the park’s mobile app or the official park website for real-time queue estimates on the day of your visit.
Legacy and Records
When Raging Bull debuted in 1999, it was only the second Hyper Coaster ever built by Bolliger & Mabillard — and the first to incorporate the twister-style layout that sent the hyper-coaster format in a new direction. Its combination of extreme height, underground tunnel, and airtime-focused hills set a template that influenced later B&M hypers around the world.
Raging Bull debuted at number 14 in Amusement Today’s 1999 Golden Ticket Awards poll of the world’s best steel coasters, then climbed before peaking at number 9 in 2005. It held a spot on that top-50 list every year from 1999 through 2022 — one of the longer active streaks of any coaster from its era, reflecting how well its B&M engineering has aged compared to coasters built in the same period.
Safety Record
Raging Bull’s B&M engineering and heartline banking give it a reputation as one of the smoothest, best-maintained coasters in the Midwest, and it undergoes the same daily and seasonal inspections required of every ride in the park. In May 2003, an 11-year-old rider lost consciousness after riding and later died; a subsequent investigation attributed her death to cardiomegaly, a heart condition she had previously consulted a cardiologist about, rather than any ride malfunction, and Raging Bull continued normal operation afterward. It remains one of the park’s most consistently running major coasters more than two decades later.
Planning Your Visit
Six Flags Great America uses tiered pricing for single-day tickets, season passes, and memberships, with the lowest admission prices typically found by booking online in advance rather than paying at the gate. Add-ons like the Flash Pass queue-skipping system and parking are usually sold separately from general admission.
Operating hours shift seasonally — the park runs limited weekend-only schedules in early spring and fall and expands to daily hours in summer, sometimes with extended evening hours during peak weeks. Because hours, ticket prices, and blackout dates change throughout the year, check the official Six Flags Great America website for the current calendar before you go.
Raging Bull roller coaster FAQs
Who built Raging Bull?
Raging Bull was designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), a Swiss roller coaster manufacturer, with layout engineering by Stengel Engineering. It opened in 1999 as only the second Hyper Coaster B&M had ever produced.
How tall is Raging Bull and how fast does it go?
Raging Bull stands 202 feet (62 m) tall and reaches a top speed of 73 mph (117 km/h) at the bottom of its 208-foot drop, which descends at a 65-degree angle into an underground tunnel.
Does Raging Bull have any loops or inversions?
No — Raging Bull has zero inversions. Instead of loops, it relies on a series of camelback hills and overbanked turns engineered to maximize airtime and smooth, high-speed transitions throughout the 5,057-foot course.
What is the height requirement to ride Raging Bull?
Riders must be at least 54 inches (137 cm, or 4’6″) tall. There is no published maximum height restriction.
Where is Raging Bull located at Six Flags Great America?
Raging Bull is located in the Southwest Territory section of the park, themed around a cattle-town setting with a mission-style loading station.
Is there a single rider line for Raging Bull?
Yes, a single rider line is typically offered near the main queue for guests willing to fill leftover seats individually, which can reduce wait times compared to the standard line.
Has anyone died on Raging Bull?
In May 2003, an 11-year-old rider lost consciousness after riding and later died. An investigation determined the cause was cardiomegaly, a heart condition she had previously consulted a cardiologist about, not a ride malfunction, and the coaster has continued normal operation since.
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