Thrill seekers will have one less option when it comes to roller coasters to ride. That’s because Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has announced its decision to “permanently retire” the popular X2 roller coaster.
The ride has been a standout for theme park guests since it opened in 2008. However, recent concerns raised by people who say they were injured on the ride may have led the park to reassess X2’s place at Six Flags. Some of these people spoke with CNN about their experience for an August 2026 story, claiming they required emergency brain surgery after riding the coaster.
On Sept. 29, the park shared an announcement on its blog and official Facebook page, revealing its decision to close the ride. While the statement on the park’s website didn’t cite these concerns as part of its decision, it did mention an emphasis on safety.
Of course, this news may not come as a surprise to park visitors, since ABC News reports that X2 has been closed since July 12. However, many fans of the ride are left wondering if there will be another “X” added to the collection, or if Six Flags will let X2 serve as the end of the coaster’s legacy.
The Park’s President Announced the Closure
Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding wrote the statement that announced the ride’s retirement. “Since X2 opened in 2008, it has welcomed more than 16 million guests and earned a passionate following among ride enthusiasts,” the statement said. “We recognize the special place X2 holds in the coaster community, and we are grateful to our team members who operated and maintained it throughout its run.”
The statement then went on to talk about the ride’s safety record, saying that it had consistently passed “a multitude” of safety tests over the years. “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously,” the statement continued.
Several People Filed Lawsuits Against the Company
X2’s retirement comes after CNN shared the stories of some of the people who sued the company after saying they experienced brain bleeds and injuries on the ride. For example, Pamela Guillen said that her last memory of a July Six Flags trip involved feeling confused after exiting the ride.
ABC News says that she claimed that her very next memory came two weeks later when she woke up after weeks after undergoing emergency brain surgery. “I was in a coma,” she recalled. “I spent almost a month at the hospital.”
People Were Sad About the News on Facebook
Legal troubles aside, X2 had a devout following, according to commenters on the Facebook announcement about its closure. “Does that mean X3 is gonna be a thing? Or is it curtains for the X coaster legacy,” one commenter wrote.
Another commenter shared that they were happy they got a chance to ride the coaster before it closed. “I rode this ride a couple of times, and I am glad I did,” they wrote. “X2 was one of the best rides Magic Mountain had. I wonder what they are going to replace it with.”
Questions about what comes next were all over Facebook after the announcement, but as of now, it doesn’t seem like anyone has shared what the future holds for the X2’s spot. Although one commenter speculated that the theme park may hold off on adding any new rides anytime soon.
“I doubt any coaster is coming soon. A lot of settlements to pay out,” they theorized.