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While it had dominated the skyline for months, including during the ACE Spring Conference, Tormenta: Rampaging Run officially opened at Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington) on July 9, following several days of previews.
The park claims six world records for the ride — most for a dive coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) — but Tormenta goes beyond that. It is also the tallest coaster in the Lone Star State and features the tallest roller coaster inversion in all of North America, followed by the world’s largest vertical loop.
The ride officially opened to cheers — Texas-sized cheers. The crowds loved it. Having seen it rise from the ground up starting last fall, anticipation had built and the crowds were definitely ready, no matter how high temperatures climbed during its opening.
Starting with the coaster stats, it is simply … big. At 309 feet, the lift climbs into the sky and offers a fantastic view of the park as well as the Dallas skyline 15 miles away. As guests take in the view, chants of “Tormenta! Tormenta!” are heard as the train positions itself. The first drop — now at an almost-required 95-degree angle — is the signature moment. Several riders and industry professionals commented that the train isn’t held as far over the precipice as on other dive coasters. How factual this is remains to be investigated, but what it means to the back row is more dramatic yank.
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The world’s largest Immelmann (218 feet) is the first of Tormenta’s inversions. And it almost feels as if one is soaring through it forever. From there it plunges directly into the world’s largest loop (179 feet). Following is what appeared to have the potential to be a moment of snap, but this pigtail of an Immelmann is probably the smoothest of the attraction’s five inversions.
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A block brake lets riders catch their breath before another steep drop. The dive is followed by … yep, another Immelmann. This leads into the final inversion, a cutback. When the attraction was announced in 2025, Six Flags said the ride features four inversions, but it’s clearly five. The final maneuver is certainly an upside-down moment. A curve onto the brake run brings riders back to where they started.
Plain and simple, it is a big, powerful ride that the audience loves.
But what about enthusiasts? The consensus is that the ride is good. It’s massive and fast, and the back two rows can be considered quite intense. The front row is the smoothest and, of course, has the view. Hardy enthusiasts might prefer the yank over the drops and the rumble of intensity from the back row.
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While the ride is very good and very loved, coaster fans with a lot of dive coasters under their belts might have wished for something beyond … just big. It’s enough for the average guest, but the layout is simply a string of inversions. Something snappy close to the ground, a speed bump, thematic headchoppers, a tunnel or splash down could have added just a bit of cool factor to appease enthusiasts who might look for more. But for the public, it is massive and a test of courage.
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But Tormenta: Rampaging Run does something else. The new attraction totally reimagines the Spain area of the park. It maximizes the space previously occupied by La Vibora, a Larson loop (El Diablo) and a swinging ship. Space still remains for a new restaurant. But the area looks fresh, including the refurbished teacup ride adjacent to Tormenta’s entrance. Leaning into a storyline, “torment” is Spanish for “storm,” and a fierce bull was given this name as the village’s protector, symbolizing strength and courage for Ranchero de la Tormenta.
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From a visual standpoint, the area is bright and colorful with a large bull statue front and center. Since Spain is one of the six “flags” for which the park (and chain) was named, it is nice to see the company diving back into its roots.
Tormenta is the ninth B&M dive coaster in North America and the 14th roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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