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SIX FLAGS FIESTA TEXAS
San Antonio, Texas
Six Flags Theme Parks
Park News - (7/31/18) Something interesting is up at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, as a reader sent in a picture of a new sign placed inside the park that says, "PUBLIC NOTICE ZONING HEARING APPLICATION NO: 3000818 SCHEDULED DATE: AUGUST 30, 2018" along with a phone number to call for more information: 210-697-5478.
You know I had to call, where you get to listen to a highly dramatized recording inviting you to attend the Zoning Hearing about a major change coming to the park in 2019, claiming that the change will be "OUT OF THIS WORLD!" This last line has made some wonder if the park is planing some kind of massive Sci-Fi themed expansion, but there is no telling just yet.
Speaking of August 30th... I'm hearing that is the date when we can expect Six Flags to announce all of their 2019 project for every park in the chain.
(7/21/18) Six Flags Fiesta Texas reopened the Grand Carousel the other day to passholder after the lengthy restoration was completed and the ride relocated to the Spassburg area of the park from the former Rockville location.
Now if only we knew what was going on with that new Pirate themed dark ride the park promised was on the way...
(6/20/18) Looks like something went wrong with Iron Rattler's lift hill on Sunday, as the train was seen sitting half-way up the lifthill from Sunday through Tuesday according to on-site reports. The good news is I checked with Six Flags who confirmed that it did reopen by the end of Tuesday after repairs were made. Bravo for the quick repair!
(2/24/18) As expected, Six Flags top brass are keeping a close eye on how Six Flags Magic Mountain is performing right now as the park begins it's first ever full year of daily options. If Magic Mountain strike gold and proves that they too can compete with the other Southern California theme parks who also are open daily throughout the year, the next part to benefit from an extended calendar is thought to be Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
While I'm not sure if the San Antonio area is ready for a 365-day operation schedule just yet, the park schedule could at least expand into true year-round operations on weekends and holidays as Magic Mountain did before going daily.
(2/10/18) Six Flags Fiesta Texas will launch a brand new music festival at the park starting on March 3rd called Botanica that will run from 10am to 11pm. Rides and Music... what's not to like? Follow the link to the official event website to see the details and concert lineup.
(1/24/18) Pictures taken during an off-season tour of Six Flags Fiesta Texas, including a tour of the Wonder Woman: Golden Lasso Coaster site, were posted to SFFT Source this week.
(12/27/17) Oh no! Six Flags Fiesta Texas has announced that they will be closing down the Scooby-Doo Ghostblasters dark ride at the end of Jan. 7th, 2018... the last day of the park's Holiday In The Park. The good news is that the location "will become the future home to the latest dark ride innovation later in 2018." So at least we will have some kind of new dark ride experience coming to replace it sometime in 2018... but now I'm curious what this will be. Anyone know more?
2018 - Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster - (5/12/18) Last night Six Flags Fiesta Texas was kind enough to invite Screamscape out as part of a special preview night for their new Wonder Woman: Golden Lasso coaster, the first "Raptor" style coaster to be built from Rocky Mountain Construction, known for their previous ground-breaking work in transforming the park's own Iron Rattler a few years ago along with The New Texas Giant at their nearby sister park to the north. We sent Taryn out to take the park's latest creation for a test spin... or three or four and report back, so take it away Taryn.
Thoughts on Wonder Woman: Golden Lasso Coaster —
Six Flags Fiesta Texas already has a beautiful landscape in their corner. It always reminds me of a Road Runner/Wild E. Coyote cartoon. The addition of Wonder Woman: Golden Lasso Coaster, especially neighboring up with Superman: Krypton Coaster, adds to the element of surprise of what else they can hide back in these canyons and mesas. The compactness of the ride was a bit shocking. Given the tightness of the park, I would have to say it’s a perfect fit.
The entrance and ride queue are simple and polished. A large Wonder Woman statue welcomes you at both the entrance and the extended queue area. Both marble, both very goddess-like. As it should be. Large billboards in the queue explain the history of Wonder Woman’s past, present, and future. The normal Six Flags TVs are sprinkled throughout as well. I read that there was also supposed to be the crashed plane of Steve Trevor. The water element is still there but the plane has yet to make it. My one and only complaint, which may be fixed in the future, is lack of shade. One small area with covering is about it. And if you have been in this park, you know you are nestled in between these canyons which basically points the sun right on top of you. A “ant under a microscope” vibe, as an example. It’s Texas. Hot is just what we do.
Now, onto the ride.
3 trains. 8 seats per train. Riders sit one behind the other. The unique load in/out process is really wonderful. I wish some other coasters could take this into consideration! The train never stops moving. As old riders are getting off, the new ones are getting on. As a restraint goes up, the next one is coming down. 50-53 seconds per load in, give or take. If you bump this to a three train operation all the time, it will eat up capacity. They were alternating between two and three trains this evening, with an obviously smaller crowd, but I did think it was great to see them all functioning.
There have already been widespread opinions about the restraints. As a 5’2, normal sized gal, I had zero issues. My feet didn’t even touch the floor of the train once locked in. This makes me feel like they are giving longer and wider riders lots of room to be cozy. I saw all shapes and sizes tonight and heard zero complaints. I can see that maybe the shoulder harness could rub, especially with a Texas-style sunburn, but as quick as the ride is, I don’t see it becoming an issue.
I don’t do the “jaw drop” look very often. Especially on coasters. But going up this lift hill, no one next to you, and looking to your right to see this 90-degree plummet on one tiny piece of coaster track, well, the jaw drop was there. Even your most experienced park-goer might look the same way. You’re so used to two tracks and a seat buddy! It’s just a totally new ride experience. Once that drop hits, you do not stop until your restraint is back up and your walking down the exit. This ride just keeps going. They were saying top speed was 52 mph but I can 100% say it feels at least 75+. I’m not sure if it’s the compactness or the Raptor Track, but all the air and space around you sure makes you feel like flying. And since that’s one of Wonder Woman’s main superpowers, maybe that’s exactly what they were going for.
All and all, the coaster is smooth, surprising, beautiful, and will be a welcome addition to Fiesta Texas or any other park that has limited space but wants a home run, capacity machine. Outstanding job from both Six Flags and RMC.
(5/4/18) While the world eagerly awaits the opening of the Wonder Woman: Golden Lasso coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, one thing we haven’t heard much about so far is the restraint system and how accommodating it will be. RMC, while known for making some really wild and out of control coasters, was not known for having the most comfortable or accommodating restraint system for larger guests, both in height as well as size. The good news is that the RMC’s Raptor coaster system allowed for the creation of an entirely new restraint system. While reaching out to Six Flags about this issue I was told that they worked long and hard on this issue with RMC to come up with a “really accommodating and comfortable restraint”. So far it has been reported as being successful, with over 300 “larger” sized test riders able to fit in just fine.
(4/26/18) Six Flags Fiesta Texas released a full POV video of Wonder Woman: Golden Lasso Coaster to their Facebook page the other day which you can enjoy below. While the grand opening ceremony for the new coaster is now set for Saturday, May 12, Screamscape has heard that the coaster may quietly soft open for periods of time this weekend as part of a "Technical Rehearsal".
(4/6/18) While the test and adjust phase on Wonder Woman at Six Flags Fiesta Texas is ongoing, a reader stopped by and send in a few pictures from the site, showing off that there is still a bit of work left to get done on the queue and surrounding area as well.
(3/12/18) A video from SFFT Source has posted a new video from Six Flags Fiesta Texas showing off footage from a Wonder Woman Golden Lasso construction tour that includes a look at one of the trains making a test run. Check it out below!
As a bonus, they also confirmed that the new dark ride coming to replace the old Scooby Doo ride is going to be called Pirates of the Deep Sea. Essentially the ride will retain the same layout as before, but the cars will be rethemed as boats and you'll be armed with a "pirate blaster", that sounds like it may look like a more traditional pirate style flintlock pistol. Instead of this being a Blacklight style dark ride as before, it will instead use traditional theatrical lighting instead.
(3/8/18) Sounds like Six Flags Fiesta Texas is having some teething problems with their new Wonder Woman coaster, the first ever Raptor coaster from RMC. According to the local news the opening of the coaster has been pushed back again, and wont be ready by mid-March, but instead they are looking to open it sometime later this spring, definately sometime after Spring Break is over. Of course with an all new system like this, some delays are be to expected. I'd also imagine that the delays here could also delay the opening of the ride's mirror-image twin set to open at California's Great America (Cedar Fair).
(3/1/18) A little unfortunate news, Six Flags Fiesta Texas has confirmed that Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster will NOT be ready to open in time for the Botanica Music Festival event. An exact date isn't set, but they say it is expected to be ready sometime in mid-March.
(2/9/18) Six Flags Fiesta Texas posted some amazing aerial drone-cam footage of the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster construction site that you don’t want to miss. Check it out below!
(1/21/18) While nothing is certain, I'm told that Six Flags Fiesta Texas is hoping that their new Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster may be ready to launch for guests during the park's season opening weekend, Feb. 24 - 25. No promises, as testing still has to take place, but if it is possible, they are said to be working towards that goal, or to open it soon after.
(1/18/18) The highest piece of track on the Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster was installed the other day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. A quick video showing it was posted to Facebook.
(12/13/17) A great collection of new Wonder Woman Golden Lasso coaster construction photos have been posted to SFFT Source this week. Follow the link to check them out.
(12/1/17) A great collection of new construction photos of the Wonder Woman coaster were sent in by our friends at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, as the supports and now big sections of golden track are now in place.
(11/15/17) Our friends at Six Flags Fiesta Texas have sent us a few new images showing off concept art of how some of the themeing for the new attraction area will look, as well as a new shot of the construction site, which is now stuffed with tall red supports awaiting track pieces.
(11/9/17) Great news from Six Flags Fiesta Texas has just arrived, as Wonder Woman construction has now gone vertical. Check out two new pictures of the site sent in from Six Flags just a few hours ago.
(11/6/17) An interesting video showing off a close up view of the prototype Raptor track system set up at the RMC HQ was posted this week. Below that is more of the same tour, but this time taken inside the RMC facility buildings where they create just about everything for these coasters in-house. This should give those fans eagerly awaiting Wonder Woman and Railblazer some fun insight into what they will experience in 2018.
(10/6/17) Six Flags Fiesta Texas has sent out a picture showing off the first truckload of supports for the new Wonder Woman coaster arriving at the park.
(9/27/17) Special thanks to Six Flags Fiesta Texas for sending us four new pictures of their Wonder Woman coaster under construction at the plant.
(9/20/17) While this new picture is about a week old, it shows off the progress of the demolition being done to Power Surge at about the end of the first week. I imagine by now there is a good chance that the rest of the ride could be gone.
(9/14/17) Six Flags Fiesta Texas sent us a great picture taken on Sept. 6th (a week ago) showing off the start of demolition on the park's Power Surge ride. According to the description, the total demolition of Power Surge was only expected to take one week, so if anyone goes by, I'd love to see a picture taken this week to see what's left, if anything.
(8/7/17) According to new details Screamscape has obtained from Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the new Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster will feature a "3 train moving station" operation system in order to keep the line for the new coaster moving more quickly. Six Flags Fiesta Texas actually seems to have been are the forefront of the "moving station" initiative for the company, as this will be the 6th such system installed on a ride at the park to date. The five other attraction currently using "moving station" systems include Thunder Rapids, Scooby Doo, Pandemonium, Bugs White Water Rapids and the Gully Washer rapids ride.
The park has also sent us a new infographic showing off the coaster's layout and features in detail.
(8/3/17) In an interesting development, Six Flags Fiesta Texas seems to have broken ranks with the rest of the chain with a plan to announce their new 2018 attraction TODAY. While the park sent out word that a major announcement would be made inside the park at the entrance to the closed Power Surge ride today at 2pm, it appears as if USA Today were given an exclusive on the story and has already leaked the project as of this morning.
As rumored on Screamscape, Fiesta Texas is getting the world’s first RMC Raptor Coaster which will be themed as the “Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster”, taking over the former site of the Power Surge water ride, not far from the Superman coaster. The new RMC Raptor style coaster will use a single-rail system that is just 15.5 inches wide, which is expected to provide an extremely smooth ride by eliminating entirely the bumping of a traditional coaster caused by slight variations in the width between the two rails. The single rail system will also allow for some pretty slick and extreme acrobatic maneuvers.
The biggest problem with the ride is that the trains will only hold eight riders at a time, but hopefully they can try to compensate for this with faster loading and multi-train operation. Wonder Woman will have a 113 foot lift hill followed by a 100 foot tall 90º vertical drop, buzz through three inversions at a top speed of 52 mph. According to the article, the queue will feature some Greek style architecture along with a crashed airplane to go along with the comic book origins of Wonder Woman.
Oh… and as to why Six Flags Fiesta Texas is announcing their new ride today instead of waiting until August 31st like the rest of the chain? If I had to guess, the rumors of a second Raptor coaster project going to the competition (Railblazer at California’s Great America) which is set to announce their own ride on August 16th was just cause for Six Flags to make Fiesta Texas’ announcement a few weeks early.
Check out the animated video below, because this looks to be one heck of a ride! Congrats to everyone at RMC and Six Flags!
 Mid To Late 2018 - Pirates of the Deep Sea - (8/29/18) We have some new pictures to share this week showing off bits and pieces of the new Pirates of the Deep Sea dark ride attraction, still under construction. Some of it is themeing that was delivered to the park in the past few days, other shows off some work taking place inside, though much of it looks more like the queue than the ride itself. I'm told more details about this attraction will be revealed on August 30th, along with the park's 2019 plans.
(8/10/18) Screamscape was sent some sneak-peek images of the new Pirates of the Deep Sea dark ride under construction at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. As I understand it, the plan is still to open the ride sometime later this season. The images show off some of the themeing being installed and I'm told the new dark ride experience has been designed by Six Flags' own creative department. " Are you ready to sail through a mysterious storm and prepare for an EPIC battle?"
Thanks to Six Flags Fiesta Texas for the preview photos... and speaking of which, check out the title of that lone book on the shelf. "The Hidden Target". Just a hunch, but I'd look for that on the ride and see if you can score some huge bonus points for hitting it.
(3/12/18) Six Flags Fiesta Texas confirmed that the new dark ride coming to replace the old Scooby Doo ride is going to be called Pirates of the Deep Sea. Essentially the ride will retain the same layout as before, but the cars will be rethemed as boats and you'll be armed with a "pirate blaster", that sounds like it may look like a more traditional pirate style flintlock pistol. Instead of this being a Blacklight style dark ride as before, it will instead use traditional theatrical lighting instead.
(12/29/17) According to the official word from Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the new dark ride attraction that will replace Scooby-Doo is planned to be up and running by Memorial Day Weekend. While an official name has not been dropped, they did say that “A new epic battle begins Memorial Day Weekend 2018! The new dark ride is a custom design / theme for Six Flags Fiesta Texas.” Six Flags was also kind to include a teaser image showing off what appears to be some sort of Pirate ship battle at sea. So all said and done, this looks to be a pretty dramatic upgrade to the park’s dark ride experience. I can’t wait to find out more.
(12/27/17) Oh no! Six Flags Fiesta Texas has announced that they will be closing down the Scooby-Doo Ghostblasters dark ride at the end of Jan. 7th, 2018... the last day of the park's Holiday In The Park. The good news is that the location "will become the future home to the latest dark ride innovation later in 2018." So at least we will have some kind of new dark ride experience coming to replace it sometime in 2018... but now I'm curious what this will be. Anyone know more?
2019 - The Joker Wild Card - (9/4/18) A quick update for those wondering why the Whirligig (swings) were still shown in animated form in the video for Joker Wild Card. Apparently the ride will be staying but will be transformed into the Gotham City Crime Wave. I'm not sure if they may try to move it as well, or keep it in the same spot.
(8/30/18) Six Flags Fiesta Texas will add The Joker Wild Card, one of the world's tallest swinging pendulum rides, to the park's lineup in 2019. The new ride will stand a record-breaking 17-stories tall and swing riders up to 75mph.
(8/29/18) A series of teaser posts on Facebook by the Six Flags Fiesta Texas Park President are interesting, detailing four things in the park that will be removed for the 2019 season. Some are mild, such as a basketball 3-point shooter game and another midway game, while the other two are actually rides that are apparently leaving, or as he labels the posts, “Gone!! #SFFT2019”. The removed rides posted are The Twister (Huss Top Spin) and Whirligig (Zierer Wave Swinger). Both rides are also located in the Spassburg section of the park across the pathway from each other near Superman, and I believe the two games that are leaving are also in the area next to these same attractions. This gives us a pretty good sized area for what could be a very large new ride, though I wouldn’t expect a new coaster so soon.
Other news released on Tuesday night mentions that Rockville stays and the Hustler ride will stay and get a renovation and a makeover).
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