Blue Hawk

Blue Hawk is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Georgia in Mableton, Georgia, United States. The ride was manufactured by Vekoma and has operated under several identities during its history. It was first installed in 1989 at Hunt's Pier, an amusement park in Wildwood, New Jersey, where it opened as Kamikaze. Six Flags later acquired the attraction and moved it to Six Flags Over Georgia, where it opened to the public on March 1, 1992, under the name Ninja. At Six Flags Over Georgia, the coaster was placed in the park's Cotton States section, near the location previously associated with Z-Force before that attraction was removed after the 1990 season. Ninja became one of the park's major steel coasters and was the tallest roller coaster at the park when it opened there. Its layout uses a 122-foot lift hill and a series of inversion elements, including a butterfly, a reverse sidewinder, and a double corkscrew. The ride uses two trains with a nominal capacity of 28 riders each, with four riders across two rows in each of seven cars. Over time, Ninja developed a reputation among some riders for a rough experience, and attendance was not strong enough to prevent questions about the attraction's future. In 2016, Six Flags announced a substantial renovation rather than removing the coaster. The work included inspection and repair of the track, repainting the track blue and the supports gray, and replacing the trains. The new trains used vest-style restraints in place of the previous over-the-shoulder harnesses, with the stated aim of improving comfort and ride smoothness. The renovation also involved a new identity and theme. Park guests were asked to select the attraction's new name from three candidates: American Eagle, Air Commander, and Blue Hawk. More than 6,000 votes were reported, and Blue Hawk was selected. The renovated attraction adopted an American military-inspired presentation and reopened to guests on June 9, 2016. As Blue Hawk, the ride retained the original coaster's core layout while presenting it as a refurbished attraction rather than an entirely new installation. Riders leave the station, make a short descent and turn toward the lift hill, then climb approximately 122 feet before entering the sequence of drops, turns, and inversions. After the final corkscrew, the train returns through the brake run and station approach. The attraction also has a small connection to popular culture: before its renovation and renaming, the coaster appeared as the fictional Velociraptor at Walley World in the 2015 film Vacation. Blue Hawk is best understood as the current brand identity of a relocated and repeatedly re-themed amusement ride, rather than as a standalone corporate or consumer-products brand. Its history reflects common practices in the amusement industry, including the relocation of existing rides, mechanical refurbishment, rider-comfort upgrades, public participation in naming, and the use of themed presentation to reposition an aging attraction.

The attraction now known as Blue Hawk began operating in 1989 at Hunt's Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey. It was manufactured by Vekoma and installed under the name Kamikaze. The coaster was subsequently acquired by Six Flags and relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia in Mableton, Georgia. Its new operators renamed it Ninja, and it opened to the public at the Georgia park on March 1, 1992. Ninja was installed in the park's Cotton States section, in an area roughly associated with the former location of Z-Force, which had been removed after the 1990 season. At the time of its opening, Ninja was the tallest roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Its design was centered on a sequence of drops, banked turns, and inversions, making it one of the park's prominent thrill attractions. The coaster later faced criticism from riders who considered the experience rough, while attendance was described as low. Instead of removing the attraction, Six Flags pursued a major refurbishment in 2016. The track was inspected and repaired where necessary, and the ride received new trains equipped with softer vest-style restraints rather than the earlier over-the-shoulder harnesses. The track was painted blue and the supports gray, giving the attraction a visibly different appearance. The refurbishment was accompanied by a public naming exercise. Six Flags asked park guests to vote among American Eagle, Air Commander, and Blue Hawk. More than 6,000 votes were cast, with Blue Hawk receiving the winning choice. The ride was also given an American military-inspired theme. Following the renovation, it reopened on June 9, 2016. Blue Hawk's physical layout includes a 122-foot lift hill and several inversion elements. After leaving the station, the train climbs the lift hill before entering a butterfly element, a wide-radius turn, a reverse sidewinder, and a double corkscrew. The train then reaches the brake run and returns to the station. The attraction operates with two 28-passenger trains, each consisting of seven cars with four seats per car. Before the 2016 refurbishment, the coaster appeared in the 2015 film Vacation as the fictional Velociraptor at Walley World. This appearance used the ride's earlier identity and predates its Blue Hawk branding. The attraction's documented history therefore spans three principal names—Kamikaze, Ninja, and Blue Hawk—and illustrates its evolution through relocation, rebranding, mechanical work, and thematic repositioning.

• 2016

  Renovation and public renaming

  [1]Blue Hawk (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Six Flags refurbishes the track, replaces the trains, updates the restraints, and invites guests to select a new name.

• 2016

  Blue Hawk reopens

  [1]Blue Hawk (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The renovated and re-themed ride reopens on June 9 as Blue Hawk.

• 2015

  Appearance in Vacation

  [1]Blue Hawk (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Before its renovation, the attraction appears as the fictional Velociraptor at Walley World in the film Vacation.

• 1992

  Relocation to Six Flags Over Georgia

  [1]Blue Hawk (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Six Flags relocates the coaster to Six Flags Over Georgia, renames it Ninja, and opens it to the public on March 1.

• 1989

  Kamikaze opens at Hunt's Pier

  [1]Blue Hawk (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The Vekoma steel coaster opens at Hunt's Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey, under the name Kamikaze.

A renovated, military-themed steel roller coaster positioned as a refreshed inversion ride at Six Flags Over Georgia.

• Steel roller coaster · 2016

  Blue Hawk

  Blue Hawk is a Vekoma steel roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Its layout includes a 122-foot lift hill, a butterfly inversion, a reverse sidewinder, and a double corkscrew. The ride uses two 28-passenger trains with seven cars each and vest-style restraints introduced during the 2016 refurbishment.

• 2016Blue Hawk public naming vote

  United States

  Six Flags invited guests to choose the attraction's new name from American Eagle, Air Commander, and Blue Hawk during the 2016 renovation.

  Outcome. Blue Hawk won after more than 6,000 votes and became the ride's new name.

  Source

• 2016

  Refurbishment of Ninja into Blue HawkGeneration change

  Background

  The former Ninja had received rider complaints about roughness and was associated with low attendance.

  Action taken

  Six Flags inspected and repaired the track, repainted the structure, replaced the trains, installed vest-style restraints, and relaunched the attraction under the Blue Hawk name.

  Aftermath

  The renovated coaster reopened on June 9, 2016, with an American military-themed presentation.

  Source

1. 1Blue Hawk (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org