The Joker opened at Six Flags Over Texas on May 20, 2017, bringing a new kind of disorientation to the Arlington park’s Gotham City area. Built by S&S Worldwide as a “4D Free Spin” model, it became the park’s 13th roller coaster and introduced a ride format where the spinning motion has nothing to do with the direction of travel.
Themed after the DC villain, the coaster uses face-off seating that puts riders across from each other as their car tumbles independently of the track layout. After an elevator-style chain lift hauls trains straight up a 120-foot, 90-degree vertical wall, gravity and momentum take over, sending riders through up to six head-over-heels flips during the short but jarring journey.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Over Texas
- Manufacturer: S&S Worldwide (Sansei Technologies)
- Model: 4D Free Spin
- Opened: May 20, 2017
- Height: about 120 feet
- Top speed: about 38 mph
- Length: about 1,019 feet
- Inversions/Flips: up to 6 head-over-heels flips
The Ride Experience
The Joker’s trains carry riders in pairs of seats facing each other across a central axle, so the spin element can rotate forward, backward, or not at all depending on how the ride programs each cycle. A vertical chain lift pulls the train straight up a 90-degree wall before the free-fly mechanism takes over.
Because the flipping is uncoupled from the car’s movement along the track, no two rides feel quite the same. Riders can face a flip-free drop on one run and a full head-over-heels tumble on the next, which is part of why the model earned the “Free Spin” name.
Part of Gotham City
The Joker’s addition expanded the Gotham City-themed section of Six Flags Over Texas, joining other DC-branded attractions in the area. Its purple-and-green support towers and dueling Joker signage tie the ride visually to its comic-book namesake.
The S&S 4D Free Spin model also runs at other Six Flags parks, but the layout, color scheme, and surrounding theming at the Arlington location are specific to this installation.
Explore more: Explore more roller coasters.
Folds into its own pocket. Pop it on when the storm rolls in and the rides reopen to short lines.
Keeps your phone strapped to you, not in a loose-article bin. Zip it before the lift hill and walk straight off the exit ramp.
Rapids, log flumes and splash zones without the rice-bag aftermath. The touchscreen still works through the window, so you can still take photos.
The Joker FAQs
When did The Joker open at Six Flags Over Texas?
The Joker opened to the public on May 20, 2017.
Who manufactured The Joker?
S&S Worldwide (Sansei Technologies) built the ride using its 4D Free Spin model.
How many times does The Joker flip riders?
Riders can be flipped head-over-heels up to six times, though the exact number of flips can vary by cycle since the spinning is independent of the train’s movement.
Get More from The Joker
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate The Joker, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.