After several postponements, Six Flags Great Adventure, located in New Jersey, has confirmed the debut of its new attraction, Bakunawa, for 2027. This ride promises to set six new world records in the category of spinning coasters and position itself as a global benchmark in this segment.
Bakunawa will have a height of 116 meters, equivalent to a 40-story building. It is part of the renovation of the park area called Boardwalk, where Kingda Ka, a roller coaster that was decommissioned at the end of 2024, was previously located. Kingda Ka was notable for being the tallest and fastest in the world in several categories, including spinning, reaching 139 meters in height and 206 km/h.
Although it was announced when the previous attraction stopped operating, the inauguration date for Bakunawa has undergone several changes, and its official name was only defined in July 2026. The name 'bakunawa' has a rich cultural origin: it refers to a mythical Philippine serpent, whose tradition tells that it emerges from the sea to try and swallow the moon during eclipses.
The roller coaster's design reflects this legend; the spiral ascent represents the serpent's rise towards the moon, while the sudden drop symbolizes its return to the ocean. The attraction totals just under one kilometer (964 meters) and is estimated to last about 2 minutes and 17 seconds.
Among the highlights of Bakunawa are the six records it aims to achieve in the spinning category. Three of these records have already disclosed objective metrics, while the other three depend on pioneering achievements, two of which are considered major attractions of the project. An important difference is the launch with the completely inverted train, something unprecedented among existing roller coasters, and the absence of a floor, which allows the cars to spin unpredictably, ensuring a 'unique' experience for each passenger.
Although Six Flags Great Adventure has not confirmed the exact date, the expectation is that the roller coaster will be fully operational in 2027, a period when such launches typically occur during the North American summer.
The Six Flags chain is known for developing attractions that aim to be the tallest, fastest, or longest on the planet, or leaders in their respective categories. As a recent example, Six Flags Over Texas inaugurated Tormenta Rampaging Run in July of this year, which set six world records among dive roller coasters. In general terms, the Falcons Flight attraction at Six Flags Qiddyia City, in Saudi Arabia, is cited as one of the roller coasters with the most expressive records, having been inaugurated at the end of 2025 and setting records for height (195 meters), speed (250 km/h), and distance (4.3 km).