Six Flags Magic Mountain has officially confirmed what longtime parkgoers have quietly feared: Superman: Escape from Krypton is gone for good. The towering launch coaster, once a crown jewel of the park’s arsenal, has been permanently closed—ending nearly three decades of thrills, breakdowns, and legend.
A Blast of History
Debuting in 1997, Superman was designed to be outrageous: a 100-mph, magnetic-launch rocket blasting riders straight up a 415-foot tower before freefalling back to Earth. It was Six Flags’ answer to the “coaster wars” of the late ’90s and early 2000s, when parks competed to outdo each other with speed, height, and sheer audacity.
For those who caught it on a good day, the ride delivered one of the most extreme sensations in coaster history: instant acceleration, pure vertical climb, and a weightless pause near the top. For many, it was unforgettable. For others, it was unreachable—because Superman was just as famous for being closed as it was for being open.
Over on r/sixflags, fans shared memories and frustrations in equal measure:
- “Went there once in ’97 just to ride it… broke while we were in line and never reopened that day. Gutted.”
- “I rode it six times in a row with my 10-year-old last year. Super fun! Sad to see it go.”
- “Every time I went, it was closed.”
Some blamed the Cedar Fair–Six Flags merger, calling it cost-cutting at the expense of nostalgia. Others insisted the writing had been on the wall for years. Parts were hard to find, downtime was brutal, and it simply wasn’t pulling crowds through the gates. As one poster put it bluntly: “This ride was a nightmare and no parts—it was gonna close merger or not.”
The Bigger Picture
The closure sparks a broader debate in coaster circles. Are we losing an era of wild, one-trick-pony launch coasters in favor of safer, more family-friendly designs?
One commenter lamented: “The coaster industry of the 2020s seriously sucks. We’re going backward.”
Another countered: “VelociCoaster, Iron Gwazi, Pantheon… the quantity of high-quality coasters is going up, not down.”
Both points have merit. Extreme rides like Superman, Kingda Ka, and Top Thrill Dragster (in its original form) are increasingly rare, their complexity and maintenance costs outpacing their value. But the new generation—hybrids, multi-launchers, inversion-heavy thrill machines—are offering variety, reliability, and broader appeal.
What Stays, What’s Next
Fans of the adjacent Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom can breathe easy—for now. The drop tower, bolted to Superman’s iconic tower, will remain in operation. As one Redditor joked:
“Lex Luthor Drop ride: NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Six Flags: Oh, it’s staying.
Lex Luthor Drop ride: YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!”
As for the future? Rumors swirl about what might replace Superman, with some speculating that the entire top-of-the-mountain area—including Viper, Ninja, and the long-closed observation tower—could be in line for a sweeping redevelopment. For now, Six Flags Magic Mountain still holds the title of “most coasters in one park,” but every closure makes that margin slimmer.
End of an Era
Superman: Escape from Krypton was never the most reliable, but it was undeniably iconic. For those who managed to ride it—whether once in the ’90s, or six times back-to-back last year—it leaves behind a legacy of speed, spectacle, and pure audacity.
The Man of Steel may fly no more, but his shadow will loom large over Magic Mountain’s skyline for years to come.
What the crap