Construction underway for new Six Flags ride as park prepares to open next week – NBC Chicago

As the weather continues to warm up and the days get longer, adrenaline-seeking thrill-seekers are just over a week away from being able to head to one of the country’s premier theme parks. Midwest.

Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is scheduled to open for the season on Saturday, April 20, operating weekends only before transitioning to daily operations at the end of May.

Although the park has 15 thrilling roller coasters, many enthusiasts will likely be drawn to the park’s only new attraction, a swinging pendulum ride known as “Sky Striker.”

Excited all offseason about the park, construction on this massive attraction is now underway and the park is expected to open in just over a week.

The new attraction will be located in the “County Fair” section of the park, near the historic American Eagle roller coaster, while replacing the land formerly occupied by “Dare Devil Dive,” a free-fall attraction that required an additional fee to ride .

Although the apparently late start to the work may have some enthusiasts wondering if the ride will be ready for opening day next week, the park said in a Facebook post that the ride remains on schedule.

“See for yourself on April 20!” says the message.

In addition to the all-new Sky Striker, thrill-seekers will have plenty to discover at one of the country’s most comprehensive theme parks.

The park’s signature roller coasters include MaxxForce, which opened in 2019 and features a compressed air launch that propels riders from 0 to 78 miles per hour in just 1.8 seconds and Raging Bull, the flagship hypercoaster of the 25-year-old park which remains the tallest ride. the kind in the park.

2024 also marks the 10th anniversary of the park’s record-breaking Goliath wooden roller coaster opening. Boasting a drop of 180 feet and a speed of 72 miles per hour, Goliath holds the records for longest drop on a wooden roller coaster and fastest wooden roller coaster, respectively.

Guests will be able to soak up the first sensations of the season on Saturday, April 20, from 10:30 a.m.