• The year was 1971, when Michael Jackson had just broken solo, and bellbottoms were beginning to be in style when a land-owning company based in Newhall decided to construct a thrill park like no other. The Newhall Land & Farming Company had plans of an amusement park, more thrilling than Los Angeles’ other parks such as Disneyland & Knotts Berry Farm. 1972, gave way to Magic Mountain’s second log flume attraction, Jet Stream. This brought the park’s water ride count up to two, while Goldrusher still remained the only rollercoaster.
Magic Mountain saw the rise of it’s second coaster in 1973, Mountain Express, a compact wild mouse coaster. Mountain Express was located where Flashback once stood, near the park entrance. The attractions would offer a good adrenaline rush to guests, something that the other competition had not brought yet. Ground-breaking began at a vacant land spot in Valencia, just off of the 5 freeway. Finally, on May 29, 1971 Magic Mountain debuted to the public with over 33 attractions, including Goldrusher & the Sky Tower. Originally, Magic Mountain started with about 500 employees, which was a lot for a theme park as small as it used to be. Also a feature of Magic Mountain, the Showcase Theatre (now the Golden Bear Theatre) hosted many great acts, including, Barbra Streisand (who was the first), R.E.M, Paula Abdul, New Kids On The Block.
Magic Mountain saw the rise of it’s second coaster in 1973, Mountain Express, a compact wild mouse coaster. Mountain Express was located where Flashback once stood, near the park entrance. The attractions would offer a good adrenaline rush to guests, something that the other competition had not brought yet. Ground-breaking began at a vacant land spot in Valencia, just off of the 5 freeway. Finally, on May 29, 1971 Magic Mountain debuted to the public with over 33 attractions, including Goldrusher & the Sky Tower. Originally, Magic Mountain started with about 500 employees, which was a lot for a theme park as small as it used to be. Also a feature of Magic Mountain, the Showcase Theatre (now the Golden Bear Theatre) hosted many great acts, including, Barbra Streisand (who was the first), R.E.M, Paula Abdul, New Kids On The Block.
1974-1978
Back Street, a “complex of spinning attractions”, was added in 1974, featuring rides that included, Electric Rainbow (today Grinder Gearworks), Himilaya(today Atom Smasher) & Tumble Drum. However, the area was not known as Back Street until 1987. In 1975, a major attraction at the time, the Grand Centennial Railroad was opened, as a transport through the park to Spillikin Corners, today known as Cyclone Bay.
Revolution, at the time, the Great American Revolution debuted to the public on May 8, 1976 as the world's first coaster to feature a 360 degree loop. Corkscrew at Cedar Point opened only eight days after the Revolution featuring a layout with a vertical loop & two corkscrews, which would have stolen the Revolution’s spotlight as the world’s first vertical loop, if it had opened before it. With the popularity that Revolution had received, Universal decided to feature the coaster in it’s 1977 thriller, “Rollercoaster” as the climax of the movie. The scenes filmed with the Revolution, portrayed the grand opening of the coaster, with the antagonist attempting to blow up part of the ride.
Revolution, at the time, the Great American Revolution debuted to the public on May 8, 1976 as the world's first coaster to feature a 360 degree loop. Corkscrew at Cedar Point opened only eight days after the Revolution featuring a layout with a vertical loop & two corkscrews, which would have stolen the Revolution’s spotlight as the world’s first vertical loop, if it had opened before it. With the popularity that Revolution had received, Universal decided to feature the coaster in it’s 1977 thriller, “Rollercoaster” as the climax of the movie. The scenes filmed with the Revolution, portrayed the grand opening of the coaster, with the antagonist attempting to blow up part of the ride.
After the success of the Revolution, Magic Mountain opened Colossus in 1978 as the world's largest & fastest dual track wooden coaster. That same year, a woman was ejected from one of the trains on the camelback just after the second hill, due to her weight. Because of this, the ride was temporarily closed, while the park replaced this section, by adding a block brake. For a while, the trains ran backwards, until the ride's trains were re-profiled, not allowing this. It is a Fright Fest tradition today, to run one side backwards using the now demolished Psyclone's trains.
Another film, "National Lampoon's Vacation", portrayed Magic Mountain as a fictional park, Walley World, with the family riding both Colossus & Revolution. However, the coasters' names were replaced with the Revolution as “The Whipper Snapper”.Only the interior scenes were filmed at the park, while the introduction was at Santa Anita Park.
Another film, "National Lampoon's Vacation", portrayed Magic Mountain as a fictional park, Walley World, with the family riding both Colossus & Revolution. However, the coasters' names were replaced with the Revolution as “The Whipper Snapper”.Only the interior scenes were filmed at the park, while the introduction was at Santa Anita Park.
The next year, Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. purchased Magic Mountain, thus changing the park’s name to, Six Flags Magic Mountain. Even with the Six Flags name, the park continued to use the Troll mascots, instead of the Looney Tunes Characters. In 1981, Roaring Rapids was added to the park's water ride line-up. Following the opening of Roaring Rapids, Freefall opened in 1982. Riders go up the tower in a standing position, to then be dropped down back to the station lying on their backs. Today the ride is defunct & unoperational.
Sarajevo Bobsleds was added in 84' in dedication to the 84' Winter Olympics. The coaster was located where Terminator Salvation The Ride is standing. Two years later, the bobsleds were removed & relocated to Six Flags Over Texas. It still operates as La Vibora today. In 1985, the park started using the Looney Tunes characters abandoning the trolls. Also, Children's World was re-themed to fit the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes, called Bugs Bunny World. Michael Jackson visited the park that same year, his only visit, riding popular rides at the time Colossus, Roaring Rapids and Revolution. Shockwave, Magic Mountain's first stand-up coaster debuted in 1986 replacing Sarajevo Bobsleds. In two years, the park closed the ride due to the Ride Rotation Program, a program where a ride gets transferred to many different parks. Shockwave went to Six Flags Great Adventure, Astroworld, & finally to Darien Lake only to be put into storage.
Sarajevo Bobsleds was added in 84' in dedication to the 84' Winter Olympics. The coaster was located where Terminator Salvation The Ride is standing. Two years later, the bobsleds were removed & relocated to Six Flags Over Texas. It still operates as La Vibora today. In 1985, the park started using the Looney Tunes characters abandoning the trolls. Also, Children's World was re-themed to fit the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes, called Bugs Bunny World. Michael Jackson visited the park that same year, his only visit, riding popular rides at the time Colossus, Roaring Rapids and Revolution. Shockwave, Magic Mountain's first stand-up coaster debuted in 1986 replacing Sarajevo Bobsleds. In two years, the park closed the ride due to the Ride Rotation Program, a program where a ride gets transferred to many different parks. Shockwave went to Six Flags Great Adventure, Astroworld, & finally to Darien Lake only to be put into storage.
1987-1993
Z-Force opened in 87' but closed for Batman The Ride's installation in 1994. Additionally, Back Street stayed open two more hours after the park closed.
In 1988, the tallest, fastest & longest suspended coaster opened, Ninja. One year after Ninja was installed, the park decided to add a water ride, Tidal Wave, a short ride where riders are in a large boat, dropping down a single drop .
Viper opened in 1990, as the world's tallest & fastest multi-looping coaster until Steel Phantom at Kennywood opened in 1991. Then, Superman Krypton Coaster took the record of tallest loop. Viper still holds the record of tallest looping coaster today.
In 1991, a replica of the Coney Island Cyclone opened where Terminator is today, Psyclone. Psyclone suffered from major damage after the 1994 Northridge Quake, which caused the ride to be very rough, & slow. Spillikin Corners was re-themed for the opening of Psyclone, renamed Cyclone Bay.
Flashback was added in 1992, as the world's only "diving coaster" which had previously operated at Six Flags Great America & Over Georgia. Unfortunately, the ride was removed in 2007, along with Psyclone.
1993 was the official beginning of the Time Warner Era. Yosemite Sam Sierra Falls was added thast same year.
The next year gave way to a whole new re-theming of the Back Street area, as Batman The Ride was built where Z-Force, the looping starship stood.
In 1988, the tallest, fastest & longest suspended coaster opened, Ninja. One year after Ninja was installed, the park decided to add a water ride, Tidal Wave, a short ride where riders are in a large boat, dropping down a single drop .
Viper opened in 1990, as the world's tallest & fastest multi-looping coaster until Steel Phantom at Kennywood opened in 1991. Then, Superman Krypton Coaster took the record of tallest loop. Viper still holds the record of tallest looping coaster today.
In 1991, a replica of the Coney Island Cyclone opened where Terminator is today, Psyclone. Psyclone suffered from major damage after the 1994 Northridge Quake, which caused the ride to be very rough, & slow. Spillikin Corners was re-themed for the opening of Psyclone, renamed Cyclone Bay.
Flashback was added in 1992, as the world's only "diving coaster" which had previously operated at Six Flags Great America & Over Georgia. Unfortunately, the ride was removed in 2007, along with Psyclone.
1993 was the official beginning of the Time Warner Era. Yosemite Sam Sierra Falls was added thast same year.
The next year gave way to a whole new re-theming of the Back Street area, as Batman The Ride was built where Z-Force, the looping starship stood.
Time Warner Era
Hurricane Harbor opened in 1995, as Magic Mountain's neighboring waterpark.
In 1997, Superman The Escape debuted as the world's tallest & fastest coaster shooting riders up a 41-story tower at 100 mph. Originally, both sides ran, but due to weak points in the tower, only one runs. Addtionally, it has been noted that the ride is not as fast, and has been slowed down to put less stress on the electomagnetic motors. That same year, Dive Devil opened.
The next year gave way to, The Riddler's Revenge, the world's tallest, fastest & longest stand-up coaster. A gang shooting took place that year in the parking lot.
Three coasters were planned to be built in 2001, but only two actually did. Deja Vu, X, & Goliath Jr. were all in plans but X & Deja Vu suffered mechanical issues. Deja Vu's opening was delayed to Auguest, while X opened early 2002, due to 8 months of flaws.
The next B&M coaster was added, Scream!, a floorless coaster in which the coaches were floorless leaving riders legs to dangle.
In 1997, Superman The Escape debuted as the world's tallest & fastest coaster shooting riders up a 41-story tower at 100 mph. Originally, both sides ran, but due to weak points in the tower, only one runs. Addtionally, it has been noted that the ride is not as fast, and has been slowed down to put less stress on the electomagnetic motors. That same year, Dive Devil opened.
The next year gave way to, The Riddler's Revenge, the world's tallest, fastest & longest stand-up coaster. A gang shooting took place that year in the parking lot.
Three coasters were planned to be built in 2001, but only two actually did. Deja Vu, X, & Goliath Jr. were all in plans but X & Deja Vu suffered mechanical issues. Deja Vu's opening was delayed to Auguest, while X opened early 2002, due to 8 months of flaws.
The next B&M coaster was added, Scream!, a floorless coaster in which the coaches were floorless leaving riders legs to dangle.
2006- 2010
During the next few years no changes were made, until 2006. Tatsu, the world's tallest, fastest, & longest flying coaster opened in 06' to large media attention.
Six Flags Magic Mountain & Hurricane Harbor was up for sale along with five other Six Flags parks.
Rumors were that the land would be sold to Real Estate Developers, that would later construct housing developments in the area.
The park stated that due to rowdy behavior, mostly from teens & young adults, the park would be sold.
Many companies & amusement park operators made offers on the park such as, Hershey, Cedar Fair & Anheuser-Busch, but none came close to the park's value.
Later in 2006, Magic Mountain was no longer up for sale. In 2007, Psyclone & Flashback were both closed & demolished. X was tranformed into X2 in 2008, with a new paint scheme, new trains, audio & fire.
Terminator Salvation: The Ride opened in 2009, where Psyclone once stood. Designed by Great Coasters International, this woodie consists of banked turns, gut wrenching drops, effects & a pre-show.
Mr. Six's DanceCoaster, was a planned family coaster from Six Flags New Orleans to be opened in Cyclone Bay in May 2010. Later that year, the park released that the coaster would be delayed due to "construction" and would be included in the 2011 line-up. Since then, the area has been reinstated to it's original form.
Six Flags Magic Mountain & Hurricane Harbor was up for sale along with five other Six Flags parks.
Rumors were that the land would be sold to Real Estate Developers, that would later construct housing developments in the area.
The park stated that due to rowdy behavior, mostly from teens & young adults, the park would be sold.
Many companies & amusement park operators made offers on the park such as, Hershey, Cedar Fair & Anheuser-Busch, but none came close to the park's value.
Later in 2006, Magic Mountain was no longer up for sale. In 2007, Psyclone & Flashback were both closed & demolished. X was tranformed into X2 in 2008, with a new paint scheme, new trains, audio & fire.
Terminator Salvation: The Ride opened in 2009, where Psyclone once stood. Designed by Great Coasters International, this woodie consists of banked turns, gut wrenching drops, effects & a pre-show.
Mr. Six's DanceCoaster, was a planned family coaster from Six Flags New Orleans to be opened in Cyclone Bay in May 2010. Later that year, the park released that the coaster would be delayed due to "construction" and would be included in the 2011 line-up. Since then, the area has been reinstated to it's original form.
3 New Coasters For 2011
In September 2010, Six Flags announced three new coaster additions to Magic Mountain, thus making the park's total coasters a record number of 18. These included Green Lantern- an Intamin ZacSpin opening Memorial Day Weekend ; Superman: Escape From Krypton- A revamped ride experience of Superman The Escape with backwards cars, new paint and more ; And Roadrunner Express, A newly themed version of Mr. Six's DanceCoaster to be named after the Roadrunner Express.