Six Flags Great America, in stately Gurnee IL, has just cut the ribbon on its latest roller coaster, and it is a doozy. It’s called Goliath, which is a name befitting its size and statistics.
It has the highest vertical drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world, at 180 feet. That drop enables it to reach a top speed of 72 miles per hour, which is the fastest of any wooden coaster. And, perhaps most notably, the 180-foot drop is the sharpest of its kind, as it sends riders hurtling downward into seeming-oblivion at an 85-degree angle.
Here’s a front-seat test video Six Flags released recently. It might not be safe for work, depending on how likely you are to shout obscenities at the monitor while watching:
The ride actually looks rather smooth…once you get past that scream-inducing first drop. You hardly even notice the two complete inversions that follow it. And, of course, the video doesn’t demonstrate the zero gravity effects passengers are going to feel.
Of course, Six Flags is no stranger to record-setting wooden coasters. Its American Eagle, which debuted in 1981, had the longest drop and fastest speed at the time.
Gurnee is a quick drive north of Chicago on I-94. Get there early this summer; Goliath’s lines are sure to be long.
