Earlier today, Kingda Ka, formerly the world’s tallest and second-fastest roller coaster, was officially demolished for good. In the footage, best captured by a local FOX affiliate’s helicopter, you see the coaster’s iconic 456′ tall top hat – all that remained of the coaster’s track – come crashing down following a controlled explosion at the base of the tower.
While it truly is the end of an era in New Jersey, it did cause us to think of other times a coasters demolition was caught on camera. After scouring the internet, here are seven more coasters whose final demise was caught on film.
Mega Zeph – Six Flags New Orleans
A more recent addition to this list, after sitting dormant for nearly 20 years following Hurricane Katrina, the entire Six Flags New Orleans property is in the process of being razed, including the demolition of Mega Zeph, the park’s Custom Coasters International-designed wooden coaster.
Wicked Twister – Cedar Point
Wicked Twister, Cedar Point’s Intamin Impulse coaster, was removed prior to Cedar Point’s 2022 season. The top of one of its twin twisted spires was pulled down, where it neatly stacked into two pieces. It was replaced by the Grand Pavilion restaurant, an anchor of Cedar Point’s new “Boardwalk” area of the park.
Firehawk – Kings Island
To make way for Orion – which debuted in 2020, Kings Island demolished Firehawk, a first-generation flying coaster from Vekoma, prior to the 2019 season. This video shows an excavator removing a portion of Firehawk’s lift hill. (A second video shows the “final push” of Firehawk’s vertical loop.)
Dania Beach Hurricane – Boomers
One of Florida’s most iconic wooden coasters was demolished in favor of South Florida real estate development in 2016, after sitting dormant since 2011.
Ozark Wildcat – Celebration City
Celebration City’s Ozark Wildcat only lasted for six seasons at the Branson park before it closed for good in 2008. The Great Coasters International wooden coaster was officially demolished in 2015, and its trains were sent to Dollywood for use on Thunderhead.
Volcano: The Blast Coaster – Kings Dominion
Volcano’s closure caught many fans by surprise when the ride’s closure was announced prior to the 2019 season. It was demolished, along with its iconic mountain, during the 2019 season – and Kings Dominion fans will finally have their replacement in 2025 with the addition of Rapterra.
Son of Beast – Kings Island
One of the most infamous demolitions on this list, Son of Beast was officially demolished in 2012, following the ride’s closure in 2009. The land where Son of Beast sat is now home to Banshee, an inverted coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard.
Bonus: Space Spiral at Cedar Point
While not a roller coaster, we’re including the demolition of the Space Spiral observation tower at Cedar Point simply because of the multiple-angle video above. Along with Disaster Transport, Space Spiral eventually made way for Gatekeeper at America’s Roller Coast.
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