Superman - Ride of Steel Makes its Final Flight as Six Flags America Bids Farewell

Posted on November 03, 2025 by Neil Cole

After more than two decades as one of the Mid-Atlantic's most recognizable thrill rides, Superman - Ride of Steel has taken its final run. The towering red-and-blue steel coaster, a fixture of Six Flags America since 2000, officially ceased operation on November 2, 2025, coinciding with the permanent closure of the theme park itself.

Originally opened on May 13, 2000, Superman - Ride of Steel stood as a symbol of the park's most daring era. Designed by the renowned engineer Werner Stengel and manufactured by Intamin, the coaster reached an imposing 208 feet and sent riders hurtling down a 205-foot drop at 73 miles per hour along more than a mile of track. Its smooth steel design and powerful airtime hills made it a staple attraction for coaster enthusiasts across the region, earning a loyal following for its blend of speed, height, and cinematic theming inspired by DC's iconic hero.

Six Flags America itself traced its history back to 1974, when it opened as The Wildlife Preserve before evolving through multiple identities - including Wild World and Adventure World - until joining the Six Flags family in 1999. Over its five decades of operation, the park served millions of visitors from the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas, offering a blend of thrill rides, family attractions, and seasonal events.

In May 2025, Six Flags Entertainment announced that Six Flags America, along with the adjacent Hurricane Harbor Maryland water park, would close permanently at the end of the season. The water park concluded operations on September 6, with the main park following two months later. The decision marked the end of an era for a destination long celebrated for its community ties and summertime traditions.

For many fans, Superman - Ride of Steel represented the heart of that legacy - a soaring centerpiece that defined the skyline and captured the spirit of excitement the park embodied. Its closing symbolizes more than the loss of a single attraction; it marks the conclusion of a chapter in regional amusement history.

While Six Flags has not disclosed the future of the coaster's structure, Superman - Ride of Steel will remain remembered as one of the defining hypercoasters of its time. Its towering silhouette, sweeping drops, and exhilarating speed ensured its place among the great American thrill rides of the early 21st century.

Six Flags America's final season closed not with spectacle, but with reflection - a quiet farewell to a park and a ride that, for a generation of visitors, represented the joy, thrill, and nostalgia of a summer well spent.