Roar
Roar was the shared name of two Great Coasters International wooden roller coasters operated at Six Flags parks in Maryland and California.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Roar was the trademarked name used for two related wooden roller coasters built by Great Coasters International (GCI) for Six Flags parks in the United States. Although the attractions shared a name, manufacturer, general layout concept, and operating specifications, they were separate installations: Roar at Six Flags America in Woodmore, Maryland, and Roar at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. The Maryland installation, identified by GCI as Roar (East), opened in 1998. The California installation, known as Roar (West), opened in 1999 as part of the period when Marine World was being incorporated into the Six Flags park network. The rides were examples of GCI's modern wooden-coaster approach. Rather than following a conventional out-and-back layout, Roar used a twister configuration with interwoven track sections and a chain lift hill. A distinctive feature was the Speed Shed, a covered track element intended to intensify the sensation of speed without functioning like a conventional enclosed tunnel. The standard ride profile included a 95-foot height, an 85-foot drop, and a maximum speed of approximately 50.5 miles per hour. Each attraction operated with two trains, with each train carrying up to 24 riders in six cars using lap bars and seat belts. The two installations were not identical. Roar (East) was the longer of the pair, extending approximately 3,468 feet along a sloping site at Six Flags America. Its terrain and station-side geometry contributed to longer drops and a somewhat longer ride time than the California version. The ride occupied the park's Chesapeake-themed area and used trains designed and maintained by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. Roar (West) measured approximately 3,291 feet and operated in the Sky animal-themed area of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Its two 12-car trains were Millennium Flyer trains, a design intended to preserve a wooden-coaster experience while providing a smoother, more steel-coaster-like ride sensation. The California attraction had a shorter original life. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom announced in July 2015 that Roar would close on August 16, at the end of its seventeenth operating season. Park president Don McCoy said the removal was intended to create space for future expansion. Six Flags subsequently announced that Rocky Mountain Construction would convert the structure into The Joker, a hybrid wood-steel roller coaster with three inversions. The Joker opened in 2016, meaning that the Roar name and original wooden configuration disappeared from the California park while substantial portions of the former ride site and structure were repurposed. The Maryland installation remained in service for many additional seasons. Six Flags announced in May 2025 that Six Flags America would close at the end of that season, with the final operating date set for November 2, 2025. The announcement did not specify a subsequent use or preservation plan for Roar. With the California installation already converted into The Joker and the Maryland park closed, Roar is now a defunct attraction brand rather than an operating roller-coaster product. Its significance lies in the paired deployment of a recognizable GCI wooden-coaster design and in the contrasting outcomes of its two installations: one was rebuilt into a new hybrid coaster, while the other ceased operation following the closure of its host park.
History
Roar was created as a paired wooden-roller-coaster concept for the Six Flags amusement-park system. Great Coasters International designed and built both installations, with the first opening at Six Flags America in 1998 and the second opening at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in 1999. The California opening coincided with the transition of the former Marine World property into the Six Flags-branded park network. Both rides used a modern GCI wooden-coaster format rather than a traditional straight out-and-back arrangement. Their twister layouts folded and crossed the track through a compact footprint, while a chain lift carried trains to the top of the course. The rides stood approximately 95 feet tall, descended through an approximately 85-foot drop, and reached about 50.5 miles per hour. The Speed Shed, a covered section of track, was intended to heighten the perceived speed while retaining the visual character of a wooden coaster. Trains carried 24 riders in six cars and used both lap bars and seat belts. The Maryland version, called Roar (East) by GCI, was the longer installation at about 3,468 feet. Its sloping site at Six Flags America produced longer drops and a somewhat longer ride time. It operated in the Chesapeake-themed section and used trains designed and maintained by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. The California version, Roar (West), measured about 3,291 feet and operated in the park's Sky animal-themed area. It used two 12-car Millennium Flyer trains, whose design was intended to deliver a smoother experience while retaining the character of a wooden coaster. Roar (West) closed on August 16, 2015, after Six Flags Discovery Kingdom announced that it would remove the ride to make room for future expansion. Six Flags later announced a major redevelopment of the attraction with Rocky Mountain Construction. The former wooden coaster was transformed into The Joker, a hybrid wood-steel ride with three inversions, which opened on May 28, 2016. This conversion ended Roar's existence as an operating attraction in California while giving the site a new ride identity and design. Roar (East) continued operating at Six Flags America for many years after the western installation closed. In May 2025, Six Flags announced that the entire Six Flags America park would close at the end of the season, on November 2, 2025. The announcement did not provide a disposition for Roar. Following the California conversion and the Maryland park closure, both original Roar installations are defunct. The name therefore represents a completed attraction pair rather than a current operating brand.
- 2025
Six Flags America closes
[1]Six Flags announces that Six Flags America will end operations on November 2, bringing the operating era of the Maryland Roar installation to a close.
- 2016
The Joker opens
[1]The converted California attraction opens as The Joker on May 28.
- 2015
California installation closes
[1]Six Flags Discovery Kingdom retires Roar (West) on August 16 after seventeen operating seasons.
- 2015
Conversion into The Joker announced
[1]Six Flags announces that Rocky Mountain Construction will transform the former California Roar into a hybrid wood-steel roller coaster.
- 1999
Roar (West) opens at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
[1]The second Roar installation opens at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, during the park's Six Flags-era development.
- 1998
Roar (East) opens at Six Flags America
[1]Great Coasters International's Maryland installation opens at Six Flags America in Woodmore, Maryland.
Products and positioning
A high-speed, modern wooden roller-coaster attraction characterized by a compact twister layout, a prominent Speed Shed element, and GCI's contemporary wooden-coaster ride design.
Wooden roller coaster · 1998
Roar (East)
The Maryland Roar installation opened at Six Flags America in 1998. Designed and built by Great Coasters International, it used a twister layout on a sloping site in the Chesapeake-themed section of the park. At approximately 3,468 feet, it was the longer of the two Roar coasters. The ride stood about 95 feet tall, featured an approximately 85-foot drop, and reached roughly 50.5 miles per hour. Its trains were designed and maintained by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. The attraction closed when Six Flags America ended operations after the 2025 season.
Wooden roller coaster · 1999
Roar (West)
The California Roar installation opened at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in 1999. It was approximately 3,291 feet long and operated in the park's Sky animal-themed area with two 12-car Millennium Flyer trains. Six Flags retired the ride in August 2015 after its seventeenth season to make room for future expansion. Rocky Mountain Construction then converted the structure into The Joker, a hybrid wood-steel coaster that opened in 2016.
Brand decisions
2025
Close Six Flags AmericaStrategyBackground
Six Flags announced the closure of the entire Six Flags America park at the end of the 2025 season.
Action taken
The park was scheduled to cease operations on November 2, 2025. The announcement did not specify a future plan for Roar (East).
Aftermath
The Maryland Roar installation no longer had an operating host park, leaving both original Roar installations defunct.
2015
Retire Roar (West) for park expansionStrategyBackground
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom decided to remove its California Roar installation after seventeen operating seasons. Park president Don McCoy described the removal as making room for future expansion.
Action taken
The attraction closed on August 16, 2015, and the site and structure were selected for redevelopment.
Aftermath
Six Flags announced that Rocky Mountain Construction would convert the former ride into The Joker, which opened in 2016.
2015
Transform the California ride into The JokerGeneration changeBackground
After retiring Roar (West), Six Flags chose redevelopment rather than simply abandoning the coaster site.
Action taken
Rocky Mountain Construction converted the wooden coaster into a hybrid wood-steel attraction with three inversions.
Aftermath
The Joker opened on May 28, 2016, replacing Roar as the attraction's public identity.
Recent events
Grub Street and New York Magazine team up on the Cookie Edit[2]
Reported:
Grub Street and New York Magazine teamed up with NY Forever on the Cookie Edit, a limited-edition box of cookies sourced from restaurants and bakeries across New York City's five boroughs. Boxes could be preordered starting April 5, with proceeds donated to ROAR.
Sources2 sources
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