CoasterGallery.com -- Fiesta Texas Press Release

Six Flags Fiesta Texas Press Release
Goliath Soars into Six Flags Fiesta Texas Brining Major Park Coaster Count to Eight

September 27, 2007 – The opening of "Goliath," the ultimate inverted coaster, will add a powerful new dimension of thrill technology to an already astounding coaster line-up at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2008. Set to open in spring of 2008, "Goliath" will feature a unique radiating blue steel track and high-speed yellow, blue and orange trains that suspend riders from the coaster track.

Once aboard the unconventional suspended 28-passenger trains, the bottom drops out from beneath the riders and they soar out of the station four abreast to experience spine-tingling gravitational forces and the sensation of racing at 50 mph with nothing beneath their feet but earth and sky.

As riders race across the track, they climb skyward for 10 stories before literally flying up and over a heart-pounding vertical loop and into the ride of their lives! "Goliath," which reaches 105 feet, gives riders the sensation of weightlessness as they race through a zero-gravity heartline spin. Riders will fly head-over-heels through five inversions, including seven-story loops and two additional corkscrews.

"Goliath" will be located in Los Festivales, and will provide a colorful and visually striking landmark as guests enter the park. At a cost of $15 million, the ride is manufactured by Bollinger & Mabillard, the Switzerland masters of innovative coaster design and the pre-eminent creator of inverted coasters.

"'Goliath' will add a new coaster sensation to Six Flags Fiesta Texas next season, as riders are suspended from the track while their feet hang freely below. We constantly strive to add additions to the park which will complement our existing roster of award-winning shows and supreme thrills...and we believe our guests will agree that we've accomplished that goal with this exciting addition," said Six Flags Fiesta Texas President Martin Bozer.

2008 promises to be another memorable season at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, with a return of the Summer Concert Series, the Lone Star Spectacular laser/fireworks extravaganza and, of course, the inclusion of a free waterpark, White Water Bay. More news is yet to follow with regard to specific shows offered; but guests can be sure that the park is sure to maintain the tradition of presenting the "best theme park shows in the country," awarded to Six Flags Fiesta Texas by "Amusement Today" for nine consecutive years.

Fiesta Texas will re-open for the new season on March 15, 2008.

Notes from Joel: Goliath began its life in Thrill Valley in Gotema, Shizuoka Japan. (The park was also known as Odakyu Gotemba Family Land.) The ride was called Gambit and operated from 1995 to 2002. From there it went to Six Flags New Orleans where it was called Batman: The Ride. It ran there from April 2003 until Hurricane Katrina permanently closed the park in August 2005. After sitting dormant until early 2007, it was relocated to Fiesta Texas.

The ride is 2,693 feet long, 105 feet tall, and has 5 inversions. It is expected to have 2 28-passenger trains.