Six Flags has announced it has acquired the rights to an iconic roller coaster, known as one of the most acclaimed roller coasters of all time. Plus, there's a possibility it could end up in Texas.
Roller coaster ArieForce One was originally built at Fun Spot America Atlanta in Fayetteville, Georgia. The coaster was renowned as one of the best steel coasters of the modern era, noted for its high speeds and airtime, including one of the largest zero-g stalls in the world. ArieForce One opened in March 2023, equipped with a top speed of 64 mph and around 3,400 feet of track.
The coaster was named in honor of Fun Spot America founder John Arie Sr. Fun Spot was permanently closed on Aug. 2, 2026, after the park experienced financial sustainability issues.
After Fun Spot's closure put the beloved $13 million, 154-foot-high hulking steel roller coaster's fate in doubt, Six Flags has officially acquired the iconic coaster and announced it will dismantle and enhance the ride, which will debut at an undisclosed Six Flags park in 2028 or 2029.
"From the moment ArieForce One closed, we knew how much this coaster meant to the enthusiast community and to guests who traveled from around the world to experience it," Mark Pauls, chief operating officer of Six Flags, said in a press release. "We are thrilled to preserve its legacy, invest in its future and bring this extraordinary attraction to a new generation of guests."
Since opening in 2023, ArieForce One has become a sensation among roller coaster enthusiasts. John Arie Jr., CEO of Fun Spot America, told fans in August that it would "not gonna be your last ride on [ArieForce One]." Arie Jr. is thrilled that Six Flags will preserve the coaster, ensuring fans and enthusiasts can keep experiencing the ride and that the memories it created will live on.
"Seeing ArieForce One preserved and finding a new home with Six Flags means a great deal to me and my family. Its story isn't ending, it's beginning a new chapter, and we are excited that future generations will get to experience ArieForce One," Arie Jr. said in a press release statement.
Six Flags has not announced which of its parks the coaster will call home but there's a possibility it could end up in Texas. The amusement park company recently announced it will relocate its headquarters to Arlington, Texas, from Charlotte, North Carolina by March 2027. Six Flags operates five parks in the Lone Star State, including Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.
"The passion surrounding ArieForce One is unlike anything we've seen in recent years," Paul said. "When the time comes to reveal its new home, we believe that announcement will be just as exciting as the acquisition itself."
Strange | Texas county seeks to fix jail before Renaissance faire folks arrive
Chickens | Why Von Miller's other career proves he's the greatest Aggie
Film | Texas losing one of its last drive-in theaters
Dolly | Why a part of Dolly Parton will always be with one Texas drag queen
For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here.
This article originally published at Six Flags acquires fan-favorite roller coaster, saving it from retirement.