The rise and fall of X2
By: Mara Klein
The iconic Six Flags Magic Mountain attraction is closing after 24 years due to concerns of safety and incoming litigation from its alleged victims.
Six Flags Magic Mountain announced on September 29th that X2, the red-and-black roller coaster that has towered over the park in Valencia for 24 years, would close permanently. The coaster has taken riders through drops and twists and has given them an experience few other coasters offer: seats rotating independently of the track.
X2 has; being the first thing you see when driving up to the park before turning into the parking lot. It's the ride everyone runs to first thing in the morning before the line gets too long.
Closed since July 12, the announcement of its closure comes after multiple reported incidents involving riders suffering severe traumatic brain injuries.
“I was gonna go on it but then they closed it that day when i was gonna try it. I was just waiting for it to open but then they shut it down,” Yesenia Alvarez, a pediatric nursing major said. “Everybody was trying to get me on that one but I was always just scared.”
The story of X2 began in 2002. Originally called X, the ride opened to the public on January 12th, 2002, as the world's first fourth-dimension roller coaster designed by Arrow Dynamics. It introduced a new concept of roller coasters in which riders sat outside the track while their seats rotated 360° forward and back throughout the ride.
The design was ambitious, and the roller coaster experienced many mechanical problems soon after opening, temporarily closing it for modifications.
In 2007, Magic Mountain announced a major $10 million renovation. The ride received new trains, new colors, onboard audio and special effects. It reopened on May 24 2008, and they renamed it from X to X2.
X2 stands 175-feet tall and features a 215-foot drop that reaches speeds up to 76 mph. It has 3,610-feet of track, and riders go through the course while the seats rotate independently, creating an experience like no other.
In 2020, 22-year-old Christopher Hawley died after suffering a brain injury while riding on X2. His family subsequently filed a lawsuit against Six Flags Magic Mountain alleging that the coaster killed their son. In 2026, additional riders filed lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries with more than 100 people coming forward with injury claims. These allegations are ongoing, and the legal process continues; regardless the closure moves forward.
“I went to six flags in middle school. I feel like there should have been more precautions for the ride,” architecture major, Ariana Santos said. “There was an incident with one of my classmates where they got injured.”
Just like any roller coaster, there are warnings before you go on the ride about who should be allowed on it, as it may not be safe for everyone. X2 had consistently passed safety tests. Still, the company ultimately decided to retire it because of growing concerns about whether the ride is safe.
“It was a great ride. I never got whiplash like some of those people that got injured. It's just people who don't know how to read signs and actually take care of themselves when they go on the ride,” said Jose Valle, who is pursuing a vocational certificate to be a commercial electrician.
For Magic Mountain, X2’s retirement after nearly 24 years marks the end of a ride that helped build Six Flags' reputation for extreme attractions. However, its legacy at Magic Mountain and the memories it created for fans and visitors will surely last beyond its sudden retirement.
Comments