Nitro

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Nitro is a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey.

Last updated August 25, 2026

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Overview

Nitro is a steel hypercoaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. It was manufactured by the Swiss roller-coaster company Bolliger & Mabillard and opened to the public on April 7, 2001. The attraction was developed as a major investment for the park and was presented as a high-speed, airtime-focused coaster rather than an inversion-heavy ride. Construction began in 2000. Land preparation started in August, concrete footers were visible by September, and vertical construction began in December. The project occupied approximately six acres in a wooded area near Prospertown Lake and behind park maintenance buildings. On February 1, 2001, Six Flags Great Adventure announced the name Nitro and identified the ride as a hypercoaster. It became the third Bolliger & Mabillard coaster at the park, following Batman: The Ride and Medusa. The completed ride has a 230-foot lift hill and a 215-foot first drop at an angle of approximately 68 degrees. Its maximum speed is about 80 miles per hour. The 5,394-foot steel track uses a sequence of large hills, turns, and helixes designed to produce sustained speed and repeated moments of airtime. After leaving the station, riders climb the lift hill, descend the main drop, cross several large hills, pass through a hammerhead turn and an S-curve, and enter a 540-degree helix. A mid-course brake run precedes three additional camelback hills and the final brake run. Nitro operates with three open-air trains constructed with steel and fiberglass components. Each train has nine cars, with four riders seated across in a single row, giving a nominal capacity of 36 riders per train. Individual lap-bar restraints are used instead of over-the-shoulder restraints, a configuration associated with the ride's emphasis on unobstructed views and airtime. Since its opening, Nitro has received sustained recognition in the annual Golden Ticket Awards presented by Amusement Today. Its highest recorded placement in the cited ranking history was third among steel roller coasters. The attraction has also remained a notable part of Six Flags Great Adventure's large-coaster lineup because of its scale, speed, and B&M hypercoaster design. Nitro has experienced temporary operational interruptions. In 2014, a power outage stopped a train partway up the first lift hill. Riders were assisted from the train and guided down the lift-hill stairs, and no injuries were reported. In July 2021, the ride was temporarily closed after a guest reported that a lap bar appeared to have unfastened. Six Flags maintenance personnel inspected all three trains, found no safety concern relating to the reported condition, and the coaster reopened later that day. These incidents were temporary operating events rather than evidence in the cited material of a permanent closure or a change in the ride's design.

History

Nitro was conceived as a major new attraction for Six Flags Great Adventure ahead of the 2001 season. Site preparation began in August 2000 in a wooded section of the park near Prospertown Lake and behind maintenance buildings. Concrete footers were installed during September, while vertical construction began in December. The project covered approximately six acres and was sufficiently visible from parts of the park, including the patio of Captain Jack's restaurant. On February 1, 2001, Six Flags Great Adventure publicly confirmed the attraction's name, Nitro, and described it as a hypercoaster. The ride was manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and became the park's third coaster from that manufacturer. Its development was described as the park's largest single investment in 27 years at the time, underlining the attraction's importance to the park's expansion strategy. Construction was completed on schedule, allowing Nitro to open to the general public on April 7, 2001. A special promotional event followed on April 11. Former professional wrestler Mick Foley activated a detonator-themed presentation while fireworks were launched above the queue area and a train exited the station, reinforcing the attraction's explosive name and marketing theme. The ride's layout is built around height, speed, and repeated airtime. Riders leave the station, make a left U-turn, and climb a lift hill approximately 230 feet high. The first drop descends 215 feet at about 68 degrees and leads to a reported maximum speed of 80 miles per hour. The train then moves through a large hill, a left-diving turn, another airtime hill, a hammerhead turn, a camelback hill, an S-curve, and a 540-degree helix. After the mid-course brake run, three further camelback hills lead to the final brake run and station. Nitro's 5,394-foot steel track was manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia, Ohio. The attraction uses three open-air steel-and-fiberglass trains. Each train consists of nine cars with four riders per row, for 36 riders per train, and uses individual lap bars. The coaster has maintained a strong reputation in enthusiast and industry rankings. Its cited Golden Ticket Awards history includes repeated high placements among steel roller coasters, with a peak position of third. The ride's continued presence in those rankings helped establish it as one of Six Flags Great Adventure's signature large coasters. Operational interruptions have been documented. In summer 2014, a power outage stopped passengers on the first lift hill. Operators and park staff evacuated the riders without reported injuries. On July 11, 2021, a guest complaint concerning a lap bar led to a temporary shutdown. Six Flags maintenance staff inspected the three trains and the ride reopened after no safety issue connected to the report was found. The available reference material does not indicate that either event caused a permanent closure or a lasting redesign.

2021
Temporary restraint-related inspection
[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
A guest report concerning a lap bar led to a temporary closure and inspection of all three trains before reopening.
2014
Lift-hill evacuation after power outage
[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
A power failure stopped the ride on its first lift hill; passengers were evacuated without reported injuries.
2001
Nitro name and hypercoaster designation announced
[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
Six Flags Great Adventure confirmed the name Nitro on February 1 and identified the attraction as a Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster.
2001
Public opening
[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
Nitro opened to the public on April 7 at the start of the 2001 season.
2001
Opening celebration
[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
A special event on April 11 featured Mick Foley activating a detonator-themed presentation with fireworks as a Nitro train left the station.
2000
Site preparation begins
[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
Land preparation for the new coaster began in August, followed by foundation work and visible construction in the wooded area near Prospertown Lake.
2000
Vertical construction starts
[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
Vertical construction began in December as the six-acre hypercoaster project took shape.

Products and positioning

A large-scale, high-speed steel hypercoaster positioned around sustained airtime, a substantial first drop, open-air trains, and a sequence of non-inverting hills and turns.

Steel hypercoaster · 2001
Nitro
Nitro is a 5,394-foot Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster with a 230-foot lift hill, a 215-foot first drop, and a maximum speed of approximately 80 miles per hour. Its layout includes multiple camelback hills, a hammerhead turn, an S-curve, a 540-degree helix, a mid-course brake run, and three final hills. The attraction uses three open-air trains with nine cars each and individual lap-bar restraints.

Controversies

2021
Nitro PDF user database leaked online
A database containing Nitro PDF service users’ personal and account information was reported leaked online for free. The article says it contained more than 77 million records and reports that a stolen database had been authenticated using email addresses associated with Nitro accounts.
Source

2001Nitro opening promotion
United States
The attraction was promoted as an explosive new hypercoaster and received a special opening event featuring Mick Foley, a detonator-themed activation, and fireworks.
Outcome. Nitro opened to the public on April 7, 2001 and became a signature large coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Source

Brand decisions

2021
Temporary closure for restraint inspectionOther
Background
A guest reported that a lap bar appeared to have unfastened during operation.
Action taken
Six Flags temporarily suspended Nitro and had its maintenance team inspect all three trains.
Aftermath
The ride reopened after the inspection found no safety concern relating to the reported lap-bar situation.
Source
2000
Six Flags Great Adventure commissions a new hypercoasterProduct launch
Background
The park began preparing a large new attraction intended to expand its major-coaster lineup.
Action taken
The park proceeded with construction of Nitro, a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster covering approximately six acres.
Aftermath
The project was completed on schedule and opened for the 2001 season.
Source

Recent events

2021
Nitro temporarily closes after a lap-bar complaint[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
Regulation · Other
On July 11, a guest reported that a restraint lap bar had appeared to unfasten. Six Flags closed the coaster for several hours while its maintenance team inspected all three trains; the ride subsequently reopened.
2014
Nitro temporarily stops on the lift hill after a power outage[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
Other
A power outage left passengers stopped partway up the first lift hill. Park personnel evacuated riders using the lift-hill stairs, and no injuries were reported.
2001
Nitro opens to the public at Six Flags Great Adventure[1]Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)en.wikipedia.org
Product launch
The Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster opened at the beginning of the 2001 season on April 7.

Sources15 sources

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