Ninja (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Encyclopedia
Ninja is an Arrow Dynamics
steel
suspended roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain
in Valencia, California
. It is the fastest roller coaster of its kind in the world, joint with Vortex at Canada's Wonderland
, both with top speeds of 55 mi/h.
The coaster is located in the Samurai Summit area of Six Flags Magic Mountain
in Valencia
, California
. Ninja was built in 1988 as the fifth of the ten original Arrow suspended coasters. It is one of four suspended-track roller coasters at Magic Mountain (the others being Batman: The Ride
, Tatsu
, and Deja Vu
) and is still considered by guests as one of the best rides in the park, even with newer and more modern coasters installed nearby.
Ninja's station building previously served as the upper station for Magic Mountain's dragon tram. The tram carried passengers up and down the hillside until its closure in 1981, and its abandoned lower station can still be found near the Jetstream water ride and Ninja's final brake run.
Ninja is the only Arrow Dynamics suspended swinging coaster west of the Mississippi River
. The other three suspended swinging coasters in North America (Vortex
at Canada's Wonderland, Iron Dragon at Cedar Point
, and Flight Deck at Kings Island
) are all east of the Mississippi.
Ninja received a fresh coat of paint for the 2007 season; the ride was repainted with bright red track and white supports.
Recently, Six Flags Magic Mountain installed a new control system for Ninja.
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
steel
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
suspended roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
in Valencia, California
Valencia, California
Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the...
. It is the fastest roller coaster of its kind in the world, joint with Vortex at Canada's Wonderland
Vortex (Canada's Wonderland)
Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is a suspended roller coaster, which enables it to swing under the track. It officially opened during the 1991 season. On "Vortex" riders are taken up through the top of the mountain and dropped at high speeds...
, both with top speeds of 55 mi/h.
The coaster is located in the Samurai Summit area of Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
in Valencia
Valencia, California
Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Ninja was built in 1988 as the fifth of the ten original Arrow suspended coasters. It is one of four suspended-track roller coasters at Magic Mountain (the others being Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride is a steel inverted roller coaster found in many Six Flags theme parks, as well as other parks around the world, including Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Fiesta Texas , Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags St. Louis, Six Flags...
, Tatsu
Tatsu
Tatsu, meaning "dragon" in Japanese is a steel flying roller coaster operating at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It opened May 13, 2006. The ride was promoted with a Japanese mythology theme. Tatsu is the only flying coaster to have a Zero-G Roll...
, and Deja Vu
Déjà Vu (roller coaster)
A Giant Inverted Boomerang is a type of steel shuttle roller coaster manufactured by Vekoma. The ride is a larger, inverted version of Vekoma's popular Boomerang sit down roller coasters...
) and is still considered by guests as one of the best rides in the park, even with newer and more modern coasters installed nearby.
Ninja's station building previously served as the upper station for Magic Mountain's dragon tram. The tram carried passengers up and down the hillside until its closure in 1981, and its abandoned lower station can still be found near the Jetstream water ride and Ninja's final brake run.
Ninja is the only Arrow Dynamics suspended swinging coaster west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The other three suspended swinging coasters in North America (Vortex
Vortex (Canada's Wonderland)
Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is a suspended roller coaster, which enables it to swing under the track. It officially opened during the 1991 season. On "Vortex" riders are taken up through the top of the mountain and dropped at high speeds...
at Canada's Wonderland, Iron Dragon at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
, and Flight Deck at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
) are all east of the Mississippi.
Ninja received a fresh coat of paint for the 2007 season; the ride was repainted with bright red track and white supports.
Recently, Six Flags Magic Mountain installed a new control system for Ninja.
Incidents
- On August 30, 2008 at approximately 4 PM PST, 20-year-old Michael Rohrer of West Hollywood, CA was struck by a passing coaster vehicle from overhead after he entered a restricted area below the ride by scaling two 6' perimeter fences to retrieve a lost hat. He was treated at the scene by park first-aid, then air-lifted to UCLA Medical Center in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in comatose condition. He was pronounced dead on August 31, 2008 at approximately 2 AM PST. Cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma.