All illustrations: courtesy Six Flags Fiesta Texas. View full-sized image.
Cleverly announced on May 30 at 8:18 p.m., just as a rare blue full moon rose over the park, Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) finally answered so many questions to its various teases over the past months. New for 2027 will be the park’s largest investment ever: Werewolf Gorge. It will be the longest roller coaster of the park’s 12.
The site clearing and enthusiasts’ tours over the past year have indicated that the next signature attraction would be big. It was never confirmed that it would be an actual coaster, but ACE members were hoping it would be. The in-park and social media teases kept indicating “full moon” references, so a werewolf theme seemed like a logical reveal.
But if it was going to be a coaster … what type? Fiesta Texas already has a coaster arsenal in the double digits. But with that said, there were still many things it could be. The park has so many missing checkboxes on its list — hyper, indoor, standing, flying and (gasp!) woodie — it can build several coasters without duplicating itself. But with numerous high-thrill machines already in place, the direction for Werewolf Gorge was a family launch coaster.
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Enter the Texas-sized superlatives. Manufactured by Vekoma, it could have been “Big Bear Quarry.” But Werewolf Gorge will distinguish itself from all the others, starting with the marketing tagline: World’s Longest Family Launch Coaster. The 39-inch height requirement to ride and lack of inversions cuts a wide swath for ridership. It should be immensely popular across the boards, but the wolf comes with the goods. Four launches, a backward rollback, an astonishing 32 moments of weightlessness, near-miss elements and 4,120 feet of track make for an exciting ride. Of note, the total track traveled is greater than the track length, owing to the swing launch.
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As comparisons with its sibling at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee) will be inevitable, observers should know Six Flags designed three 16-seat trains to be slightly shorter than those for Big Bear Mountain. This allows for tighter turns and more dynamic elements.
According to the announcement, the ride is set to last longer than two and a half minutes, which is rather amazing without lift hills. ACEers will be checking on that, along with counting the moments of airtime to see if the park’s report is true. But it all sounds incredibly fantastic. Onboard audio and lighting on the train will also enhance the experience.
Jasper Bunyan is on the lookout for tourists.
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Six Flags Fiesta Texas had great success with the thematic storyline of Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger a few years ago. Werewolf Gorge also seems to be very story driven. A new character of Jasper Bunyan, who operates a roadside attraction in Crackaxle Canyon, is looking for tourists. Guests stroll through oddities in the Museum of Cryptids and Werewolf Museum as they queue for the ride. Theming takes place along the ride with encounters with wolves and … whatever may be waiting in the gorge. Using the park’s quarry terrain, Werewolf Gorge features an elevation difference of 85 feet.
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The top speed is 45 mph, and the largest drop is stated to be 40 feet, all keeping within the family realm. But will the action-packed experience be pushing the needle? ACE can’t wait to find out!
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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