The king has fallen.
Six Flags’ iconic Kingda Ka roller coaster — once ranked the tallest and fastest in the world — has been reduced to mere rubble in a caught-on-camera implosion.
Footage of the dramatic collapse showed the 456-foot-tall attraction crashing to the ground at the Jackson, New Jersey, theme park early Friday.
Several explosions could be seen going off at the base of the landmark ride just moments before the massive steel structure started to topple and went down in a cloud of smoke.
Large sections of the thrill-seeking ride were strewn across the park in the aftermath, aerial footage shows.
Local officials had blasted out social media posts warning residents to brace for “a series of rapid explosions” in the lead up.
“The noises may be startling, but please don’t be alarmed. Keep pets indoors if they are sensitive to loud sounds,” a post on the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office Facebook said. “If you or someone you know is affected by loud noises, take necessary precautions.”
Kingda Ka, which was built in 2005, had carried out well over 12 million rides in its lifetime prior to being eradicated.
Six Flags had announced late last year that the famed ride would be destroyed to make way for a new “multi-record-breaking launch coaster” set to open in 2026.
“We understand that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate our guests’ passion,” Brian Bacica, the park’s president, said at the time.
“These changes are an important part of our growth and dedication to delivering exceptional new experiences. We look forward to sharing more details next summer.”
