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Jersey Devil Coaster
Jersey Devil Coaster
Jersey Devil Coaster
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Jersey Devil Coaster
Six Flags Great Adventure
LocationSix Flags Great Adventure
Park sectionThe Pine Barrens
Coordinates40°08′16″N 74°26′26″W / 40.1377°N 74.4405°W / 40.1377; -74.4405
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateJune 9, 2021
Opening dateJune 13, 2021
ReplacedRoad Runner Railway
General statistics
TypeSteel – Single-rail
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction
DesignerAlan Schilke
ModelRaptor Track
Track layoutCustom
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height130 ft (40 m)
Drop122 ft (37 m)
Length3,000 ft (910 m)
Speed58 mph (93 km/h)
Inversions3
Max vertical angle87°
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains4 trains with 12 cars. Riders are arranged 1 across in a single row for a total of 12 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Jersey Devil Coaster at RCDB

The Jersey Devil Coaster is a single-rail roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. The roller coaster was built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC). It is themed to the Jersey Devil, a mythical creature rumored to live in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.[1] The roller coaster is 3,000 feet (910 m) long and contains a 130-foot (40 m)-tall lift hill and three inversions. The Jersey Devil Coaster uses four trains, each containing 12 seats, which achieve a maximum speed of 58 miles per hour (93 km/h).

Announced in 2019, the ride was originally scheduled for completion in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, it was delayed by one year, opening to the public on June 13, 2021.[2]

History

[edit]
A depiction of the Jersey Devil from where the ride obtains its namesake (from the board game Fearsome Wilderness)

On August 29, 2019, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that the Jersey Devil Coaster would be constructed for the park's 2020 season,[3][4] replacing the former Looney Tunes Seaport area of the park.[5] USA Today listed Jersey Devil Coaster as one of the 10 most anticipated new roller coasters for the 2020 season.[6]

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Six Flags suspended all operations on March 13, 2020.[7] The following month, Six Flags announced that, to reduce its financial losses during the pandemic, it would defer numerous capital projects that had been scheduled for its parks during the 2020 season.[8] Although Six Flags Great Adventure resumed operations on July 3, 2020,[9][10] the park announced in June that the opening of the Jersey Devil Coaster had been delayed to the 2021 season.[11][12] Many parts for the roller coaster were delayed because of manufacturing slowdowns caused by the pandemic.[13]

The park resumed construction on the coaster in late December 2020.[14] The following month, on January 25, 2021, the final piece of track was installed at a topping out ceremony.[15][16] The roller coaster's chain lift, ride controls, and trains had yet to be installed at the time, and Six Flags also had to obtain permits from New Jersey government officials.[13][15] Six Flags Great Adventure conducted its first test runs in late May 2021, simulating the weights of passengers using water-filled dummies.[17] The ride was formally opened to the public on June 13, 2021,[2][18] following a preview event for the media on June 10.[19][20] It was the park's first new roller coaster since the Joker, which had opened five years prior.[1]

Characteristics

[edit]

The roller coaster is 3,000 feet (910 m) long and achieves a maximum speed of 58 miles per hour (93 km/h).[18] The ride uses RMC's single-rail I-beam Raptor Track, manufactured by TCN & Co. of Marlton, New Jersey.[15] The track is painted orange-yellow.[21][18] According to Michael Reitz, an engineer for Six Flags, the Raptor Track is sturdier than conventional roller coaster track; as such, the ride requires relatively few supports.[22] The Jersey Devil Coaster contains three inversions: a dive loop (described as a raven drop), zero-g stall, and zero-g roll.[13][22]

The Jersey Devil Coaster uses four trains, each containing 12 rows, with one passenger per row.[15][18] Riders sit on low seats in a single-file arrangement, placing their legs on either side of the track.[21] The trains are painted red[18] and are themed to a devil.[13][20] The front car of each train contains a depiction of the Jersey Devil's head;[22] the devil represents the train's 13th "passenger", evoking the negative connotations of the number 13.[22][1] Other references to the number 13 include the ride's 13-story height, its formal opening date, and the fact that the Jersey Devil Coaster was the 13th coaster in operation at Six Flags Great Adventure.[1]

The entrance to the Jersey Devil Coaster's station is through a themed portal.[22] There is a large statue of the Jersey Devil within the queue line;[21][22] this statue had been built for the El Diablo ride at the same park, which operated between 2015 and 2017.[23] The statue depicts a red demon with red eyes and horns, squatting atop a boulder.[24] In addition, the queue line contains signboards describing the Jersey Devil's backstory.[22]

Ride experience

[edit]

After going up the 130-foot (40 m) tall lift hill, the train goes down a 87° drop.[5][15] This leads into a dive loop and then an airtime hill with 180° stall. The train next goes up into a turnaround, which drops down into a zero-G roll. After a mid-course brake run, the train travels over a few airtime hills, before fully braking at the end and turning around to go back into the station.[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

When the roller coaster opened, Jeremy Schneider of NJ.com wrote: "It's safe to say the Jersey Devil Coaster is among the park's best. [...] The uniqueness of the layout, the utter smoothness of the ride and the Jersey of it all make this ride worth the inevitable long line."[21] A reporter for CNN wrote: "This coaster doesn't linger at the top at all... Within seconds of the [first] drop, you're already back up the next hill and being thrown into a mind-bending series of inversions, twists and more hills as the single track snakes in and out of itself."[18] A writer for Attractions Magazine said that, rather than being the tallest, fastest, or most intense roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure, "the Jersey Devil offers a perfect balance between incredibly exciting moments and fun twists, turns, and hills."[22]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jersey Devil Coaster

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Jersey Devil Coaster is a steel at in , manufactured by and opened on June 13, 2021. It features a 130-foot , an 87-degree first drop, three inversions including a dive loop and zero-G roll, and reaches a top speed of 58 mph along its 3,056-foot track, making it the world's tallest, fastest, and longest single-rail coaster upon its debut. Named after the legendary creature from folklore, the ride is situated in the park's wilderness area and emphasizes intense airtime moments with multiple hills that induce weightlessness, alongside forceful positive and negative g-forces. Riders board single-rail trains seating 12 riders inline in a single file, with a 48-inch height requirement, and experience a layout that includes a 180-degree stall and rapid pacing designed for thrill-seekers. The coaster's custom Raptor Track system allows for smooth navigation through its inversions and terrain-hugging elements, contributing to its reputation as a standout addition to the park's collection of over a dozen roller coasters.

History

Announcement and development

On August 29, 2019, announced the Jersey Devil Coaster as the world's tallest, fastest, and longest , set to debut in the 2020 season. The ride was positioned as a cutting-edge attraction designed to deliver enhanced thrills through its innovative single-rail configuration, which allows for greater capacity and more dynamic movements compared to traditional multi-rail coasters. The coaster was designed and manufactured by (RMC), utilizing their proprietary Raptor Track technology, which features a single steel rail with inline seating for riders. This partnership aimed to push the boundaries of roller coaster engineering, emphasizing smooth transitions and intense aerial maneuvers. The site for the Jersey Devil Coaster was selected in the park's section, along the lakefront near attractions like Congo Rapids and Safari Kids, to integrate seamlessly with the natural landscape. Conceptually, the ride drew inspiration from the legendary cryptid of New Jersey's folklore, a winged creature said to haunt the region's forests, creating an immersive experience tied to local mythology. However, the delayed the planned 2020 opening.

Construction and opening

Construction of the Jersey Devil Coaster began in late 2019 following its announcement earlier that year, with the first concrete footers poured in . Site preparation and foundation work progressed through the fall, setting the stage for structural assembly. Track installation commenced in early , starting with key elements like the dive loop and initial supports erected in , though progress was steady until external factors intervened. The significantly impacted the project, leading to widespread park closures and construction halts across the industry in spring 2020. Supply chain disruptions and labor shortages further delayed fabrication and delivery of components from manufacturer , pushing the anticipated 2020 debut to the following year. Work resumed in December 2020 after a pause, with the final track piece installed on January 25, 2021, marking the completion of the layout. The ride, originally slated for a summer 2020 opening, was rescheduled to June 13, 2021, to allow for safe resumption amid ongoing health protocols. Testing began in May 2021, involving multiple train runs to verify performance and safety systems, including final adjustments to controls and brakes. Soft openings occurred on June 9, 2021, limited to members and media for initial feedback, followed by a media day on June 10 to showcase the ride's integration into the park's operations. These phases ensured compliance with state inspections before public access. The official took place on June 13, 2021, debuting the coaster as a centerpiece attraction at , with early riders noting smooth operations and seamless park flow during the inaugural runs. In the first season, minor operational tweaks were implemented, including brief closures in for manufacturer-mandated inspections and adjustments to enhance reliability. These ensured optimal queue management and dispatch efficiency as attendance grew.

Design and characteristics

Technical specifications

The Jersey Devil Coaster features a 130-foot (40 m) tall lift hill, which ascends at a steep before descending into the ride's signature elements. The track spans 3,056 feet (931 m) in total length and includes a first drop at an 87-degree , contributing to its intense profile as the tallest, fastest, and longest single-rail coaster upon opening. In terms of performance, the coaster reaches a top speed of 58 mph (93 km/h) and has a ride duration of approximately 1 minute 15 seconds. It operates using a single-rail steel track system manufactured by , powered by the chain lift for initial ascent. The ride system accommodates four trains, each designed for 12 riders seated inline in a single file with legs straddling the rail for an immersive experience. is ensured through individual lap bar restraints that secure riders at the waist, alongside a minimum height requirement of 48 inches (122 cm). The setup supports a theoretical capacity of around 900 riders per hour, depending on operational dispatch intervals.
SpecificationDetails
Lift hill height130 ft (40 m)
Track length3,056 ft (931 m)
First drop angle87 degrees
Top speed58 mph (93 km/h)
Ride duration1:15
Number of trains4
Riders per train12 (single file)
Restraint typeIndividual lap bars
Height requirement48 in (122 cm)
Hourly capacity~900 riders
Lift/launch type
Track material (single rail)

Track layout and elements

The Jersey Devil Coaster features a single-rail Raptor Track design manufactured by , spanning 3,056 feet in length and utilizing the park's terrain for close proximity to trees and earth contours, enabling tighter turns than traditional dual-rail coasters. The ride begins with a 130-foot chain that ascends through densely wooded areas of the , building for the subsequent descent. At the summit, the track plunges into a near-vertical first drop measuring 130 feet at an 87-degree angle, propelling trains to a top speed of 58 mph via gravity alone. Following the drop, the layout incorporates three inversions in sequence: a dive loop—also referred to as a raven drop—that inverts riders while diving toward the ground, followed by a zero-g stall where passengers hang suspended upside down in a 180-degree inverted position, and concluding with a zero-g roll that rotates the train 360 degrees while maintaining a neutral gravity sensation. Between the dive loop and zero-g stall lies an airtime hill designed to produce , and a 180-degree turnaround precedes the zero-g roll to reorient the track. The circuit emphasizes airtime experiences with multiple hills dispersed throughout, including additional ones in the finale after the final inversion, creating 12 distinct moments of floater airtime without any launches or propulsion systems. The single-rail configuration facilitates sharp banking and terrain-hugging maneuvers, culminating in a block brake run that returns trains to the station after one complete circuit lasting approximately 1 minute and 15 seconds.

Theming

Inspiration from the Jersey Devil legend

The Jersey Devil legend originates from 18th-century in New Jersey's , centered on Jane Leeds, a woman from Leeds Point who was expecting her 13th child in 1735. According to the tale, exasperated by her large family and the hardships of life in the isolated region, Leeds cursed the unborn child, declaring it would be a devil; upon birth, the infant initially appeared human but quickly transformed into a monstrous, winged creature with hooved feet before flying out a window and vanishing into the surrounding wilderness. The creature is commonly depicted as a bipedal, kangaroo-like being with leathery wings, a - or horse-like head featuring horns and glowing red eyes, cloven hooves, small clawed arms, and a forked tail, often emitting blood-curdling screams that echo through the pines. Sightings of this entity have been reported sporadically since the , with a notable surge during a 1909 panic across , where thousands claimed encounters or discovered its distinctive tracks, leading to widespread hysteria and school closures. Embedded in New Jersey's cultural fabric, the Jersey Devil has inspired numerous books, films, songs, and artworks, serving as a symbol of the state's mysterious heritage and popularly dubbed its "state demon" despite lacking official designation. For the Jersey Devil Coaster at , the provides the core thematic inspiration, framing the ride as an encounter with the creature haunting the and evoking the dark, forested isolation of its mythical home through a of devilish pursuit.

Integration in queue and station

The queue for the Jersey Devil Coaster is designed as a winding path through a faux recreation of the , the mythical creature's purported habitat in southern , to evoke immersion in the . This layout maintains thematic continuity with the park's Pine Barrens section, where the ride is situated along a mist-shrouded lakefront. Theming elements throughout the queue draw directly from the Jersey Devil legend, including storyboards depicting the creature's lore. A prominent of the Jersey Devil, repurposed from a previous attraction, stands at the queue entrance as a focal point for photos and initial immersion. The station architecture adopts a rustic wooden aesthetic reminiscent of a 19th-century trapper's outpost in the barrens, featuring carved silhouettes of the Devil on structural beams and subdued, flickering lighting to sustain the foreboding mood. Audio-visual effects include speakers delivering a narrated backstory of the legend, interspersed with subtle that builds tension as riders approach the loading area. The queue management employs themed switchbacks—curving paths mimicking forest trails—that efficiently handle crowds while preserving the immersive environment without abrupt interruptions.

Ride experience

Pre-show and loading

Upon exiting the themed queue, riders enter the loading station, which is designed with a continuous motion system to facilitate efficient operations. The station features a moving platform where the train slowly advances, allowing disembarking guests to exit via an ADA-compliant ramp while new riders board without halting the entire vehicle. Boarding occurs in a single-file manner, with guests directed behind the operator's booth to access the open-air trains. Each train consists of 12 cars, each seating one rider in an individual row, and is uniquely styled to evoke the Jersey Devil "eating" the track with its serpentine form and claw-like elements. Staff guide riders to assigned seats, as seat selection is not available except for solo riders who may fill gaps more easily. Once seated, riders secure shoulder-mounted harness restraints, which are checked by ride operators for proper fit and . This incorporates standard safety briefings, emphasizing height requirements of 48 inches minimum and health restrictions outlined in the park's guidelines. The continuous loading method enables high throughput, with each rider exiting and the next boarding the same car sequentially. Trains are dispatched forward into the ride experience after final checks, transitioning riders from the station's illuminated environment toward the darkened theming. In the event of an emergency, evacuation follows ' standardized protocols, utilizing the station's ramp and platform layout for orderly guest removal while maintaining the themed area's accessibility.

Course progression

Riders begin their journey on the Jersey Devil Coaster with a tension-building ascent up the 130-foot chain lift hill, offering views of the surrounding before the first major thrill unfolds. The ride then plunges into an 87-degree drop shrouded in the dark woods, accelerating to a top speed of 58 mph and immediately transitioning into a dive loop that sends riders diving toward the ground with intense forces. This initial sequence evokes a sensation of rapid disorientation as the single-rail track hugs the terrain, whipping through the foliage with the rush of wind and faint sounds of rustling pines. Following the dive loop and an airtime hill, riders encounter a zero-g stall, where the train comes to an upside-down halt for several seconds, providing inverted views of the treetops and a momentary weightless pause that heightens anticipation. The progression continues with a zero-g roll, flipping riders smoothly through 360 degrees while maintaining a floating sensation, then into a series of airtime hills that deliver ejector-like lifts off the seat, mimicking the erratic flight of the mythical creature. These elements build a rhythmic pacing of inversion and , interspersed with quick pulls through the wooded landscape, where visual glimpses of themed branches create an immersive, shadowy atmosphere, before reaching the mid-course brake run for a brief slowdown. Post-brakes, the coaster surges into two more airtime hills—raven dives—that amplify the ejector sensations with sharp crests and valleys, evoking bursts of airborne freedom. The sequence culminates in a 270-degree , where sustained lateral banking compresses riders into their seats with building centrifugal pull, leading to the final magnetic brakes that decelerate the smoothly back to the station, leaving a lingering adrenaline echo. Throughout, the coaster's layout emphasizes a escalating pace from the explosive launch into sustained aerial maneuvers, all while the encroaching woods amplify auditory cues like whooshing air and creaking branches.

Reception

Critical reviews

Upon its opening in 2021, the Jersey Devil Coaster garnered positive initial media coverage for its innovative single-rail design, which delivers exceptional smoothness and intense thrills without overwhelming forces. Theme park journalist Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider lauded it as a "devil of a ride" that excels in airtime moments and inversions, describing the experience as exhilarating yet accessible, with the zero-g roll and stall standing out for their graceful execution. He highlighted its status as a more refined evolution of Rocky Mountain Construction's Raptor track model, calling it a game-changer for single-rail coasters due to its compact layout packing substantial intensity. Enthusiast communities have ranked the coaster highly among RMC creations, often placing it in the top tier for its forceful airtime and re-rideability, though some note minor roughness in the inversions after repeated rides. Reviews on Captain Coaster, aggregating over 530 user submissions, give it an average rating of 4.6 out of 5, with frequent commendations for the potent first drop and lateral ejector effects that provide strong, sustained thrills. A first-time visitor review from Coaster101 positioned it as the park's second-best coaster, praising its smooth operation and the way it balances speed with weightless hills in a short footprint. Common praises center on the immersive theming drawn from Jersey Devil folklore, which amplifies the scares through atmospheric queue elements and enhances the overall sense of dread during the ride. However, critics have pointed to lengthy queues during peak seasons as a drawback, with wait times occasionally exceeding an hour due to the ride's popularity and unique loading process. The single-rail seating, while innovative, has been critiqued for awkward boarding, particularly for less agile riders. By 2025, the coaster has maintained strong popularity with few reported maintenance disruptions, continuing to draw repeat visitors for its reliable performance and evolving operations, such as the of a second train to improve throughput. Recent enthusiast feedback notes that while it remains thrilling, some perceive it as having aged with increased roughness over time. In comparative analyses, the Jersey Devil Coaster stands out among single-rail models like at , with reviewers favoring its more comprehensive layout, superior airtime distribution, and overall polish as a later-generation Raptor design.

Records and awards

Upon its opening on June 13, 2021, the Jersey Devil Coaster established world records as the tallest at 130 feet (40 meters), the fastest at 58 (93 kilometers per hour), and the longest at 3,056 feet (931 meters). These achievements highlighted the innovative Raptor Track system developed by (RMC), which enabled tighter maneuvers and enhanced rider immersion through single-file seating. It held the height and length records until 2022, when Wonder Woman Flight of Courage at Six Flags Magic Mountain surpassed it at 131 feet (40 meters) tall and 3,300 feet (1,006 meters) long. As of 2025, the Jersey Devil Coaster shares the speed record of 58 mph (93 km/h) with Wonder Woman Flight of Courage. Its pioneering status in the RMC Raptor lineup has influenced the broader adoption of single-rail technology, spurring additional installations such as Wonder Woman Flight of Courage at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2022 and contributing to a surge in similar coasters from both RMC and . The ride has received industry recognition through Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards.

References

  1. https://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/attractions/jersey-devil-coaster
  2. https://rockymtnconstruction.com/roller-coaster/jersey-devil/
  3. https://help.sixflags.com/greatadventure/attractions/jersey-devil-coaster
  4. https://coasterpedia.net/wiki/Jersey_Devil_Coaster
  5. https://www.app.com/story/life/2019/08/29/six-flags-great-adventure-record-breaking-jersey-devil-coaster/2144442001/
  6. https://rcdb.com/17658.htm
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjG94YR9lF4
  8. https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/01/see-six-flags-complete-worlds-tallest-fastest-roller-coaster-of-its-kind-opens-this-year.html
  9. https://www.phillyvoice.com/jersey-devil-coaster-june-six-flags-great-adventure-nj/
  10. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210610005212/en/Six-Flags-Great-Adventure-Announces-Opening-of-Triple-World-Record-Shattering-Jersey-Devil-Coaster
  11. https://www.themeparksandentertainment.com/2021/07/jersey-devil-coaster-closed-for.html
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  14. https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201908/6975/
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  16. https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/
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  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY8LAFtbYA8
  28. https://captaincoaster.com/en/coasters/3286/jersey-devil-coaster-six-flags-great-adventure
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  30. https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/202106/8278/
  31. https://www.coaster101.com/2021/10/16/six-flags-great-adventures-coasters-ranked-by-a-first-time-visitor/
  32. https://www.coaster101.com/2022/08/29/six-flags-great-adventure-thrill-a-thon-2022-recap/
  33. https://www.facebook.com/groups/rollercoasterclub2014/posts/24454387260877217/
  34. https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2021/06/i-rode-six-flags-new-record-smashing-jersey-devil-coaster-and-its-terrifyingly-epic.html
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  36. https://people.com/travel/the-worlds-tallest-longest-and-fastest-single-rail-roller-coaster-will-open-this-year-in-n-j/
  37. https://www.app.com/story/life/2021/01/27/six-flags-great-adventure-jersey-devil-coaster/4275005001/
  38. https://rcdb.com/19515.htm
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  40. https://rockymtnconstruction.com/steel-coasters/
  41. https://amusementtoday.com/issues/2021/2021GTA/
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