Most roller coasters let you settle into your seat and anticipate the drops ahead. X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain takes that comfort away entirely. Perched on the outside of a wide wing-shaped train, you ascend the lift hill facing backwards — then spend the next two minutes never quite knowing whether you’re facing forward, backward, skyward, or straight down toward the pavement. Opened in January 2002 as simply ‘X’, this 175-foot steel monster was the world’s first 4th dimension roller coaster, built by Arrow Dynamics and designed by engineer Alan Schilke.
A $10 million renovation in 2008 relaunched it as X2 with lighter trains, a red-and-black repaint, on-board audio, and fire effects. More than two decades on, no ride quite replicates what X2 does — but as of this writing the coaster is not running: it has been closed since early July 2026 following a medical incident, and California regulators are still reviewing it. Here’s everything you need to know, including its current status, how the ride works, and its full history.
Quick Answer
X2 is the world’s first 4th dimension roller coaster, located in the Baja Ridge section of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Its seats rotate 360 degrees independently of the track — driven by a separate pair of rails and a rack-and-pinion gear system — sending riders through a near-vertical 88.5-degree first drop at 76 mph. The ride has been closed since July 2026 while Cal/OSHA reviews it, with no reopening date announced.
Is X2 Open Right Now? (2026 Closure Status)
X2 has been closed since early July 2026, after emergency responders were called to the ride on July 5 for a rider found unconscious. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded, and the attraction was formally listed on Six Flags Magic Mountain’s scheduled-closures board shortly after. California’s Cal/OSHA Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit opened an inspection into the incident, and as of mid-August 2026 that review is still ongoing.
Six Flags has not published a reopening date. A park spokesperson said Magic Mountain hopes to reopen X2 as soon as possible but has no timeline to share with guests. If you’re planning a visit specifically to ride X2, check the official Six Flags Magic Mountain website or app for the current ride status before you go, since closures like this can last weeks or months while a state inspection is underway.
X2 Stats at a Glance
Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California. Section: Baja Ridge. Type: 4th Dimension steel roller coaster. Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics. Designer: Alan Schilke. Opened: January 12, 2002 (as X); relaunched May 24, 2008 (as X2). Height: 175 feet (53 m). First drop: 215 feet (66 m) at 88.5 degrees. Top speed: 76 mph (122 km/h). Track length: 3,610 feet (1,100 m). Inversions: 2. G-force: 4Gs. Trains: 3 trains, 7 cars each, 28 riders per train. Hourly capacity: approximately 1,600 riders. Height requirement: 48 inches (122 cm).
How the 4th Dimension Works
On a conventional coaster your seat stays aligned with the direction the train is traveling. On a 4th dimension coaster the seats rotate forward and backward on their own independent axis — that rotation is the ‘fourth dimension’ added on top of the normal three axes of coaster motion. The mechanical solution uses four rails instead of the normal two: an inner pair of primary weight-bearing running rails, and an outer pair of dedicated rotation-control rails connected to the seats through a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism. As those rotation rails shift relative to the main track at engineered points on the course, they drive the seats to spin by a programmed amount — every flip, dive, and turn is choreographed, not a random free-spin.
The Ride Experience, Element by Element
Riders sit two across on either side of the narrow train chassis, exposed on the wings with nothing but the seat structure around them. Before the lift hill, the seats rotate to face backwards, so you climb 175 feet watching the queue shrink below while the on-board audio builds toward the crest. There, the seats pitch forward, locking you nose-down for the 215-foot first drop at 88.5 degrees — just 1.5 degrees short of vertical — before the train has even begun to fall.
The drop accelerates the train to 76 mph and pulls 4Gs through the pullout. The layout continues through two raven turns, a skydive element, and a backward backflip inversion, each paired with additional seat rotations. Flame throwers fire during the outside raven turn, close enough for riders on the outer seats to feel the heat as they spin toward the flames. The brake run levels the seats back to upright and the audio fades — leaving most riders quietly recalibrating which way is up.
Height Requirement and Who Can Ride
X2 requires a minimum height of 48 inches (122 cm), the standard threshold for Magic Mountain’s biggest thrill coasters, and Six Flags rates it a top-tier thrill level. Riders must be able to sit upright in an exposed wing seat with an over-the-shoulder restraint and pneumatic lap bar, so expect a snugger fit than most coasters — loose items, phones, and hats aren’t permitted in the seating area and must go in a locker at the station. Because the ride flips riders through multiple rotations and inversions, it’s a poor fit for anyone prone to motion sickness, neck or back issues, or anxiety about disorientation; the exposed-wing seating also means no long hair worn loose and no large jewelry.
History: From X to X2
Arrow Dynamics — the company behind the first modern tubular steel coasters and the first modern looping coaster — was contracted by Six Flags Magic Mountain in the late 1990s to build a full-scale prototype 4th dimension ride. Designer Alan Schilke pushed for hypercoaster scale, and park president Gary Story agreed the coaster should match a signature attraction visible near the entrance. Construction overran both budget and schedule, and Arrow Dynamics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy shortly before the ride’s debut, having reportedly lost millions on the project. X had a soft opening on December 24, 2001, with the official public opening on January 12, 2002 — but a fault in the seat rotation mechanism forced a closure that June, and the ride didn’t reopen until August. X was Arrow Dynamics’ final completed project before the company closed.
By late 2007, Six Flags committed $10 million to a comprehensive overhaul. The original pink-and-yellow color scheme was replaced with red track on black supports, first-generation trains were swapped for a lighter third-generation design with an improved pneumatic restraint system, and on-board audio and flame effects were added. The rebuilt coaster reopened as X2 on May 24, 2008, and has remained one of the park’s signature attractions since.
Safety Incidents and Ride Closures
X2’s history includes more than mechanical hiccups. In June 2022, 22-year-old Christopher Hawley rode X2 at Magic Mountain and collapsed shortly after exiting; he died the next day from what his family’s wrongful death lawsuit describes as a traumatic brain injury. The lawsuit, filed against Six Flags, alleges the ride’s forces caused the fatal injury and is part of ongoing litigation — the courts have not made a final determination on liability or cause.
The most recent closure dates to July 5, 2026, when a rider was found unconscious on the ride and paramedics responded. That incident triggered the current Cal/OSHA inspection covered above, and X2 has not operated since. Six Flags has not linked the two incidents publicly, and no findings from the 2026 investigation have been released as of this writing.
Planning Your Visit
Six Flags Magic Mountain sells single-day tickets, season passes, and membership plans with tiered pricing that varies by season and how far in advance you book — buying online ahead of your visit is typically cheaper than paying at the gate. Park hours shift seasonally, generally opening mid-morning and extending into the evening on peak days, with shorter hours on slower weekdays. Because X2 is currently closed for an indefinite period, check the ride’s live status before you plan a trip around it. For accurate, up-to-date hours, ticket prices, and the current X2 operating status, see the official Six Flags Magic Mountain website.
X2 is a Arrow Dynamics creation — see our full Arrow Dynamics profile for the company’s history and signature coasters.
X2 4th dimension coaster FAQs
Is X2 open right now at Six Flags Magic Mountain?
No. X2 has been closed since early July 2026 after a medical incident on the ride, and California’s Cal/OSHA Amusement Ride and Tramway Unit is still reviewing it. Six Flags has not announced a reopening date — check the official Six Flags Magic Mountain website or app before visiting if riding X2 is a priority.
Why is X2 closed in 2026?
A rider was found unconscious on X2 on July 5, 2026, prompting an emergency response and a subsequent Cal/OSHA inspection. The ride has remained closed throughout the investigation, with Six Flags saying it hopes to reopen as soon as possible but giving no timeline.
How tall do you have to be to ride X2?
Riders must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall. X2 also uses an over-the-shoulder restraint and pneumatic lap bar, so riders need to be able to sit securely upright in an exposed wing-style seat.
What makes X2 a ‘4th dimension’ roller coaster?
X2’s seats rotate 360 degrees on an independent axis, controlled by a separate outer pair of rails and a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism, on top of the normal forward, lateral, and vertical motion of the track. That extra rotation axis is the ‘fourth dimension.’
How fast does X2 go and how many inversions does it have?
X2 reaches a top speed of 76 mph during its 88.5-degree first drop and has 2 inversions across its 3,610-foot layout, including a backward backflip and a skydive element, pulling up to 4Gs.
Has anyone died on X2?
In June 2022, 22-year-old Christopher Hawley collapsed after riding X2 and died the following day; his family’s wrongful death lawsuit against Six Flags alleges the ride caused a fatal brain injury, though the case has not concluded. That incident is separate from the July 2026 closure and ongoing Cal/OSHA review.
Who built X2 and when did it open?
X2 was built by Arrow Dynamics and designed by engineer Alan Schilke. It opened as ‘X’ on January 12, 2002, then closed and reopened in 2008 after a $10 million renovation as X2, with new trains, audio, and flame effects.
Get More from X2 4th dimension coaster
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate X2 4th dimension coaster, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.