A new first-of-its-kind ride coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain will take thrill seekers on an off-road motorcycle ride over rugged hillside terrain when the new roller coaster debuts at the Valencia amusement park in 2026.
The Los Angeles County Planning Department approved construction permits on Monday, Jan. 6 for a new roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, according to county records.
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Magic Mountain announced plans in November to bolster its collection of 20 roller coasters in 2026 with a new first-of-its-kind thrill ride in North America as part of Six Flags’ plan to spend $1 billion on new rides over the next two years.
The new permit allows for grading to begin so Magic Mountain can construct retaining walls, a station and a mechanical building for a new roller coaster.
Blueprints for Project 90011 variously describe the new ride as a “Six Flags Vekoma Coaster” or “Six Flags Thrill Glider Roller Coaster.”
“Those labels tip that the new coaster will be a Vekoma Thrill Glider, which would be a new model from the Dutch manufacturer that first was rumored a couple of years ago as a kind of suspended motorbike coaster,” according to Theme Park Insider.
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The Vekoma Thrill Glider would be built on 3.4 acres of the former Showcase Theater site between the Full Throttle and Superman: Escape from Krypton coasters.
Since 2004, Vekoma has built Motorbike straddle-style coasters in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and China – but never North America.
Vekoma has made several suspended coaster models – but has not yet produced a suspended motorbike coaster.
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Magic Mountain has the 1988 Ninja suspended coaster, but an off-road motocoaster traveling over hillside terrain would certainly add a modern twist to the ride concept.
Six Flags will release additional details on the new Magic Mountain coaster in summer 2025.