The coaster also graced television screens weekly as the final scene of the intro to the ’90s sitcom Step by Step. Griswold on a tireless quest to get to Wally World so he and his family could ride a coaster called Screemy Meemy, portrayed by none other than Colossus. The 1983 movie, National Lampoon’s Vacation had Clark W. It was featured in movies and television shows in the ’80s and ’90s. The classic coaster even had an acting career. The park modified the ride and changed the height and weight requirements before reopening it. Upon investigation, the park concluded that the lap bar did not properly lock due to the woman’s size. Six month’s after its June 1978 opening Colossus was shut down for a year when a woman was thrown from the train. The second, Psyclone, was built in 1991 and torn down in 2007 to make way for the third, Apocalypse: The Ride, which was known as Terminator Salvation from 2009 to 2010. It was the first of three wooden coasters that have occupied space in the park. This summer Magic Mountain will run one side of the ride backwards until June 15, before closing the ride for good.Ĭolossus was designed by San Fernando-based Bernards Construction and cost $7 million to build. Every year the park ran one side of the coaster backwards for Halloween during its Frightfest event. The coaster featured 4,325 feet of twin tracks that could operate simultaneously, six drops (two of them over 100 feet) and 14 hills. When it was built in 1978 it made roller coaster history, reaching a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour and peaking at a height of 125 feet. Once hailed as the world’s greatest roller coaster, Colossus was an icon among coasters in the theme park. They also urged guests not to miss their last chance to ride the wooden roller coaster before its closure. Without giving away too much information, officials at the Southern California theme park released a statement saying that the park would announce exciting future plans at a later date. Six Flags Magic Mountain vaguely announced Tuesday that Colossus, the granddaddy of all coasters, would be closing later this summer.īanners cropped up around the park last week stating the coaster would be closing on August 16. KTLA reports that wood where the fire started was charred black, planks were falling to the ground and part of the track had completely collapsed.The roller coaster that once held the title of the world’s tallest and fastest is ending its 36-year reign as the king of wooden coasters. The ride itself had been closed since August 17 so workers could start the process of transforming the 36-year-old roller coaster into what the park touted as the longest hybrid coaster in the world. No injuries were reported and the park was closed on Monday. Sister station KTLA reports the theme park said the top of the lift hill caught fire while contractors were working on disassembling it.Ĭaught on video: Part of the Colossus roller coaster has collapsed after catching fire /QTxrUmzFPP ( KTLA) - Colossus, an iconic roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain caught fire on Monday afternoon, significantly damaging a part of the ride that was in the process of being taken apart. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated.