KK Update on SFGA website...

Not really an update, but at least they admit it isn't running!14, 2005

Dear Valued Guest:

Six Flags Great Adventure's Kingda Ka roller coaster is not currently in operation. We are working diligently to bring the ride back in operation as soon as possible. However, we do expect it will be closed for several weeks.

We realize that our guests' expectations for this record breaking coaster are especially high. We apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience this temporary closure may cause.

Please check here for updates on Kingda Ka. As soon as we have determined the specific date it will reopen, we will post details.

Until then, we hope you will enjoy all of the other great entertainment our park has to offer, with over 60 rides and attractions, including our new Golden Kingdom section featuring Balin's Jungleland for youngsters and a one-of-a-kind tiger show, 6 other new shows, the world's largest drive-through safari outside of Africa, and one of America's best water parks at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Six Flags Great Adventure offers an enormous entertainment experience for our guests.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Rick McCurley
Vice President and General Manager,
Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari and Hurricane Harbor

This was put up a couple days after the incident. I've heard reports that all parts have arrived, but I'm skeptical. Hopefully it will be open when I go at the end of August!

my bad. I thought it said 7/14...not 6/14...

Nope, June 14...sorry you got your hopes up...

Well, the upside to it being June 14 -- and not July 14 -- is that now the "several weeks" timeline is that much closer.

So what was this incident you speak of?

The incident is all over this site but in short. KK had an issue during a launch in testing and is broken. No one knows specifics as to what broke unless they work on KK for GADv and the workers at GADv tell you they are not allowed to say what happened. So anything else is either rumor or speculation.

I heard that the brake fins at the beginning caught fire and the cable broke.

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No one knows specifics as to what broke unless they work on KK for GADv and the workers at GADv tell you they are not allowed to say what happened. So anything else is either rumor or speculation.

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'Nuff said

Actually, after the incident, a local paper did an article explaining what happened. Apparently during a test cycle, something having to do with the catch car broke lose during the actual launch and damaged a number of the steel brake fins lining the launch track as well as some other misc. damaged parts. The park is waiting for replacement pieces from Intamin to be fabricated and shipped over. Then it has to be inspected, installed, and then tested. There goes Kingda Ka's first summer.

what happened is a piece of the launch sled basin , the plastic covering, got ripped off and caught in the car as it launched.

This caused all sorts of nasty damage and screwed up the break fins. *** Edited 7/16/2005 12:00:20 AM UTC by majortom1981***

From what i heard the parts didn't have to come from over seas. Intamin had someone here in the states manufacture the parts, this is why the parts are getting to SFGADv so soon. They brake fins are being replaced, there's even photos of this over at GAinsider, there are also photos showing creates that have other needed parts for KA. Far as i know there is no track removed from Ka, and there is no new piece of track on the way. The damages to the track were minor, all that was need was welding here and there. They didn't even have to remove any piece of track to do that. The main parts of the ride that were damaged was the launch sled basin as said above by majortom1981, the launch cable, the brake fins, and the underside of the first car of the train. Under the first car of the trais is where the launch cable, launch sled basin, and brakes all jammed under it. Stopped it dead in it's tracks or should i say on it's track hehehe. *** Edited 7/16/2005 3:34:57 AM UTC by westcoaster man***