X2 (roller coaster) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids X2
Previously known as X (2002–2007)
X2's first drop
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Location	Six Flags Magic Mountain
Park section	Baja Ridge
Coordinates	34°25′16″N 118°35′34″W / 34.421005°N 118.592885°W / 34.421005; -118.592885
Status	Closed
Soft opening date	December 24, 2001 (2001-12-24)
Opening date	January 12, 2002 (2002-01-12)
Closing date	July 12, 2026 (2026-07-12)
Cost	$45 million (2002) $10 million (2008)
General statistics
Type	Steel – 4th Dimension
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Alan Schilke
Model	4th Dimension Coaster
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift
Height	175 ft (53 m)
Drop	215 ft (66 m)
Length	3,610 ft (1,100 m)
Speed	76 mph (122 km/h)
Inversions	2
Max vertical angle	88.5°
Capacity	1600 riders per hour
G-force	4
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Must transfer from wheelchair
X2 at RCDB

X2 was an exciting steel roller coaster at the amusement park Six Flags Magic Mountain. It was located in sunny Valencia, California, in the United States. A famous company named Arrow Dynamics built the ride. The coaster opened on January 12, 2002, under the original name X. It was the world's very first fourth-dimension roller coaster. The special design had seats that could spin completely around. The seats spun independently, even while the train zoomed on the rails. It was also the very last coaster constructed by Arrow Dynamics. After many years of thrills, park officials retired the coaster permanently in 2026.

History of the Famous Roller Coaster

A creative ride designer named Alan Schilke came up with the idea for X. He remembered enjoying a classic carnival ride called the Zipper when he was younger. Later, Schilke helped design a secret project for Arrow Dynamics. He made an animation showing ride cars doing backflips in the air. The concept waited on a desk for three years. Another famous park named Cedar Point did not buy the design. Schilke then shared the idea with Gary Story, an executive at Six Flags. Story loved the concept and decided to build it.

Story wanted the ride to be huge, much larger than original plans. Arrow Dynamics built a small 20-foot (6.1 m) model to test the spinning system first. Schilke later admitted the project was very difficult for a brand new design. Building a giant version of a prototype made the engineering extremely tricky. Even so, the designers were thrilled to create their dream ride.

An overview of the track when the ride was known as X

In December 2000, Six Flags Magic Mountain announced X to the public. It was part of an enormous $30 million park expansion project. The project also introduced two other coasters named Goliath Jr. and Déjà Vu. These additions gave the park 15 roller coasters in total. This set a world record for the most coasters in one park. Newspapers called this exciting race for giant rides a "coaster war."

The ride was originally scheduled to open during the summer of 2001. However, making such complex technology work properly caused multiple delays. Arrow Dynamics had financial trouble and lost money while inventing the complicated track. Six Flags had to finish the remaining fabrication and construction work. The coaster finally welcomed season passholders on December 24, 2001. It officially opened to all guests on January 12, 2002. The entire project cost about $45 million.

During its first summer, workers noticed a spinning seat was not moving smoothly. The ride closed temporarily in June 2002 for repairs and safety upgrades. Engineers adjusted the mechanisms, and the ride opened again on August 13.

One of the new trains during testing

In late 2007, park officials announced a big $10 million makeover for X. The coaster closed down so crews could upgrade it into X2. The engineering firm S&S Power helped design much lighter trains. Each new train weighed around 1,700 pounds (770 kg) less than the old models. The designers installed a new air-powered restraint system to hold riders securely. They also added speakers directly into the headrests to play music. Exciting special effects were added, including bright lights and a misty tunnel. X2 made its grand debut on May 24, 2008.

X2 Closing update

After running for many years, the coaster closed on July 12, 2026. Park safety teams conducted an investigation following health and safety concerns from riders. On September 29, 2026, the theme park announced the ride would close permanently.

Amazing Ride Experience and Cool Track Layout

The track of X2 stretched 3,610 feet (1,100 metres) through the park hills. The coaster featured two special inversions called a raven turn. In these turns, riders curved smoothly upside down and right-side up. Unlike normal coasters, the seats could rotate 360 degrees forward or backward. The movement was directed by two extra steel rails along the main track. Because of this, X2 had four rails instead of two rails.

How the Track Layout Worked

A train left the station and made a sharp turn over the queue. The train then climbed the lift hill with riders facing totally backward. Riders reached the top of the hill at 175 feet (53 m) above the ground. Next, the train slipped through a small dip called a pre-drop. It climbed a short rise before plunging down an enormous drop. This giant drop plunged 215 feet (66 m) down at a steep 88.5-degree angle. During the descent, the train reached an incredible speed of 76 mph (122 km/h).

On this steep drop, the seats rotated forward so riders faced straight down. A cool fog effect greeted riders at the bottom of the hill. The train then entered an inside raven turn. Here, a maneuver called "lie-to-fly" flipped riders from their backs to their stomachs. The train then zoomed over a hill while seats spun in a full backflip. Next came a wide fan turn, followed by a quick "fly-to-lie" rotation. Real fire effects shot into the sky as the train entered another raven turn. After a final rotation, the brakes slowed the vehicle before the station.

Engineering Behind the Rotating Trains

X2 relied on special engineering to spin riders smoothly along the course. The track used four rails to guide the trains safely. Two main rails held up the train cars as they rolled. Two extra rails moved a special rack and pinion gear setup. This mechanical system pushed gears up and down to spin the seats.

Each heavy vehicle weighed 5 tonnes (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons) and measured 20 feet (6.1 m) across. Guests sat in pairs out on wings on either side of the track. Four tall rack gears under the cars rode along the extra rails. When the rails changed height, the gears turned the seats automatically.

When the ride became X2, designers added a fun onboard sound system. Speakers right next to the ears of the riders played rocking music:

• Harry Connick Jr. singing "It Had To Be You"
• Famous movie quotes, including lines from R. Lee Ermey in the film Full Metal Jacket
• The rock band Metallica playing their hit song "Enter Sandman"
• The classic rock group Aerosmith rocking out to "Love in an Elevator"
• Hip hop legends the Beastie Boys playing the energetic anthem "Sabotage"
• The band Rage Against the Machine performing the song "Wake Up"

Similar Roller Coasters Around the World

Further information: S&S – Sansei Technologies#Roller coasters and Fourth-dimension roller coaster#Design

Eejanaika is a similar roller coaster to X2, located in Japan

Only a few other roller coasters like X2 were ever built worldwide. The second one ever built was named Eejanaika. It opened at an amusement park named Fuji-Q Highland in Japan. The park is located in the city of Fujiyoshida. The name eejanaika is a fun Japanese phrase meaning "Isn't it great!" This Japanese version stands an impressive 250 feet (76 m) in the air. Its seats rotate while the track turns riders completely upside down. A third sister coaster named Dinoconda opened in Shanghai, China, in 2012.

Golden Ticket Awards and Recognition

X2 was very popular with coaster fans and won many awards. The magazine Amusement Today ranked the top steel roller coasters every year. X2 appeared on this famous list for over twenty years in a row.