Wrath of Rakshasa opened on May 31, 2025, at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, instantly claiming two world records for dive coasters: the steepest drop angle at 96 degrees beyond vertical and the most inversions at five. Built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, the steel dive coaster stands 180 feet tall and sends riders plunging 171 feet at 67 mph.
The ride occupied the park’s County Fair section, replacing the Buccaneer Battle attraction, and drew its theme from Hindu mythology. A fictional traveling exhibition presented guests with carnival-style queue theming and artifact displays tied to the Rakshasa — a shape-shifting demon — all beneath a striking blue-track, gold-support color scheme visible across the Great America skyline.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M)
- Opened: May 31, 2025
- Height: 180 ft (55 m)
- Drop: 171 ft (52 m) at 96°
- Top Speed: 67 mph (108 km/h)
- Length: 3,239 ft (987 m)
- Inversions: 5
The Ride Experience
After ascending the chain lift to 180 feet, riders hang suspended over the beyond-vertical drop before plunging 171 feet at 96 degrees — one full degree past vertical — and accelerating to 67 mph. The sequence of five inversions includes an Immelmann loop, a dive loop, a zero-G roll variant, a corkscrew, and a barrel roll, separated by sweeping turns and a 360-degree helix before the final brake run.
Each of the three trains seats 21 riders seven-across in a single floorless row, equipped with B&M vest restraints. With all three trains running simultaneously, the coaster maintained competitive throughput for a ride of its intensity. Total ride duration came in at approximately two minutes.
Records and Recognition
When it debuted in May 2025, Wrath of Rakshasa surpassed both Yukon Striker at Canada’s Wonderland and Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger at Six Flags Fiesta Texas to claim the title of most-inverted dive coaster in the world. Its 96-degree drop angle simultaneously set a new record for the steepest dive coaster descent ever constructed.
Recognition followed quickly: the ride placed fifth in Amusement Today’s 2025 Golden Ticket Awards for Best New Theme Concept, and USA Today’s 2026 Readers’ Choice poll ranked it fifth among the best new theme park attractions in the country — a strong debut for a coaster in only its first full operating season.
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Wrath of Rakshasa FAQs
What world records does Wrath of Rakshasa hold?
Wrath of Rakshasa holds two dive coaster world records: the steepest drop angle at 96 degrees beyond vertical and the most inversions at five, surpassing previous record holders Yukon Striker and Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger.
Where is Wrath of Rakshasa located?
Wrath of Rakshasa is at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, in the park’s County Fair section.
Who built Wrath of Rakshasa?
The coaster was designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the Swiss manufacturer also behind record-breaking dive coasters like Valravn at Cedar Point and Yukon Striker at Canada’s Wonderland.
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Photo: Feather Better / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.