Review of the Record-Breaking Roller Coaster

For approximately 125 years, wooden roller coasters remained largely unchanged. However, in 2008, ride manufacturer Rocky Mountain Construction revolutionized the industry with the introduction of innovative track designs. This company produces exceptionally smooth wooden coasters capable of inversions and other features that were previously restricted to steel coasters.

Goliath at Six Flags Great America represents the second coaster that RMC has developed from the ground up, incorporating its distinctive “Topper Track.” It is an exceptional ride.

• Type of coaster: Modified wooden with inversions
• Height: 165 feet
• First drop: 180 feet
• Top speed: 72 mph
  • Goliath ranks among the top 10 fastest wooden roller coasters.
• Maximum vertical angle: 85 degrees
• Length: 3,100 feet
• Minimum height requirement: 48 inches
• Ride manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction

Hard to Top This Ride

With its amber-colored wooden framework and vibrant orange track (a signature color of RMC), Goliath is a striking feature on the midway. The track design is essential to Goliath’s performance.

Conventional wooden coasters utilize thin metal rail strips atop wooden stacks to form their tracks. Trains equipped with steel wheels roll along these metal strips. In contrast, Goliath employs a broader and thicker metal box that entirely covers its wooden structures (hence the term “Topper Track”).

RMC’s patented track allows Goliath’s wooden coaster-style trains to maintain an unusually smooth ride experience, even while traversing a challenging course layout that features inversion elements (which turn both the trains and their passengers upside down). Instead of traditional steel wheels, the ride’s trains utilize polyurethane wheels, a material typically found on steel coasters.

Upon its inaugural debut in 2014, Six Flags promoted this ride as the world’s fastest, tallest, and steepest wooden coaster. However, Lightning Rod at Dollywood, another RMC Topper coaster, which reaches speeds of 73 mph, subsequently claimed the title of the fastest coaster from Goliath. Additionally, Switchback at ZDT’s Amusement Park earned the steepest category by descending at 87 degrees. Nonetheless, Goliath retains the record as the tallest wooden coaster.

Upon ascending 165 feet and plummeting 180 feet at 85 degrees (almost vertical) into an underground tunnel, the coaster accelerates to 72 mph. Previously, the ill-fated Son of Beast at Kings Island held the records for height and speed (at 218 feet and 78 mph, respectively) for wooden coasters, albeit it notorious for being an exceedingly rough ride. In contrast, Goliath adeptly manages its steep, elongated drop and high speeds with grace.

While Son of Beast featured a singular loop, it achieved this by transforming the inverted section of the track into tubular steel. The wooden Topper track on Goliath remains constant throughout its two inversions.

Grace Under (G-Force) Pressure

Despite featuring moments of inversion, Goliath does not utilize over-the-shoulder restraints. Instead, its restraint system secures riders around the waist and just below the knee. The relatively low height requirement of 48 inches—approximately the height of a typical 9-year-old—may raise some concerns. This coaster offers a thrilling experience, particularly for the younger audience.

Although there are no over-the-shoulder restraints, riders should feel adequately secure throughout the duration of the ride. Nonetheless, the second inversion, referred to as a zero-G stall, can prove to be particularly intense. Hanging upside down for what seems like an eternity (though it lasts just a second or two) is both exhilarating and daunting, especially in the absence of an over-the-shoulder harness. The slow-motion inversion provides an impressive view from the midway.

Goliath navigates its two inversions with elegance. The entire ride is pleasantly smooth, without much of the jolting that characterizes typical wooden coasters (as seen in Great America’s Viper and the notably rough American Eagle). Still, the experience retains the essence of a wooden coaster. Whether the RMC coaster will remain smooth over time, or suffer from the common roughness issues that affect many wooden coasters, remains uncertain as the track system is still relatively new; however, it is likely to endure well.

Amid some minor irregularities, Goliath does not exhibit the buttery smoothness of another RMC coaster, Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. (Given that ride utilizes an all-steel “IBox” track and is classified as a hybrid wooden and steel coaster, this comparison may not be entirely appropriate.) With a length of 3,100 feet and a ride duration under two minutes, it is also relatively brief. While it offers a few notable airtime moments, the ride could benefit from additional out-of-your-seat experiences.

Overall, visitors will likely be quite impressed with Goliath. It arguably stands out as the finest coaster at Six Flags Great America. It is undeniably the best Goliath coaster in existence. (Six Flags operates multiple rides under the same name across its parks, including the notably rough Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain.) Its excellence positions it on GoTravelDaily’s list of the Top 10 Best Wooden Coasters, despite potential debate regarding whether RMC’s Topper track disqualifies it as a wooden coaster. Regardless of its classification, it is undeniably a remarkable ride.