Poltergeist (roller coaster)

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title: "Poltergeist (roller coaster)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["roller-coasters-operated-by-six-flags", "roller-coasters-manufactured-by-dynamic-structures", "steel-roller-coasters", "roller-coasters-in-texas", "six-flags-fiesta-texas", "roller-coasters-opened-in-1999", "1999-establishments-in-texas"] description: "Roller coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas" topic_path: "general/roller-coasters-operated-by-six-flags" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poltergeist_(roller_coaster)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Roller coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox roller coaster"]

Field	Value
name	Poltergeist
logo	Poltergeist (roller coaster) logo, 2021.png
logodimensions	200
image	Poltergeist.jpg
imagedimensions
caption	View of the compact coaster layout
location	Six Flags Fiesta Texas
section	Rockville
coordinates
status	Operating
opened
soft_opened
year	1999
closed
previousattraction	Seaside Golf
type	Steel
type2	Launched
manufacturer	Premier Rides
designer	Werner Stengel
model	LIM Coaster
lift	LIM Launch
height_ft	78.8
length_ft	2705
speed_mph	60
inversions	4
duration	1:15
acceleration_from	0
acceleration_mph	60
acceleration_in	3.5
gforce	4.5
restriction_in	54
trains	2
carspertrain	6
rowspercar	2
ridersperrow	2
virtual_queue_name	Fast Lane
virtual_queue_image	Cedar_Fair_Fast_Lane_availability_icon.svg
virtual_queue_status	available
single_rider
website
rcdb_number	528
::

| name = Poltergeist | previousnames = | logo = Poltergeist (roller coaster) logo, 2021.png | logodimensions = 200 | image = Poltergeist.jpg | imagedimensions = | caption = View of the compact coaster layout | location = Six Flags Fiesta Texas | section = Rockville | coordinates = | status = Operating | opened = | soft_opened = | year = 1999 | closed = | cost = | previousattraction = Seaside Golf | replacement = | type = Steel | type2 = Launched | manufacturer = Premier Rides | designer = Werner Stengel | model = LIM Coaster | track = | lift = LIM Launch | height_ft = 78.8 | drop_ft = | length_ft = 2705 | speed_mph = 60 | inversions = 4 | duration = 1:15 | angle = | capacity = | acceleration_from = 0 | acceleration_mph = 60 | acceleration_in = 3.5 | gforce = 4.5 | restriction_in = 54 | trains = 2 | carspertrain = 6 | rowspercar = 2 | ridersperrow = 2 |virtual_queue_name=Fast Lane |virtual_queue_image=Cedar_Fair_Fast_Lane_availability_icon.svg |virtual_queue_status=available | single_rider = | theme = | website = | rcdb_number = 528 | custom_label_1 = | custom_value_1 = Poltergeist is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas. Designed by Werner Stengel and manufactured by Premier Rides, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 28, 1999. Its track was fabricated by Dynamic Structures and Intermountain Lift, Inc.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Poltergeist_2.jpg" caption="The original entrance archway."] ::

On October 8, 1998, Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced a $30 million expansion on new rides. There would be three major rides set to open that year, which were Poltergeist, Boomerang and Scream. Poltergeist would be built by Premier Rides and be an LIM launch coaster. The ride would replace Seaside Golf, a miniature golf course that opened with the park in 1992.

Poltergeist officially opened on May 28, 1999.

The attraction closed temporarily in 2021 for refurbishment, which included a new color scheme, upgraded queue line, and repainted station. The track was repainted a light green, while the supports were repainted a darker green-gray. New elements were added to the queue, such as an archway, refreshed railings, garage scenery, a hedge maze, an expanded indoor queue area, planters and other themed structures. Moreover, a ghostly statue was added on top of the station. The trains were also repainted. Poltergeist reopened on September 3, 2021.

Ride Layout

Poltergeist is located in the Rockville section of the park.

After boarding Poltergeist, riders are launched through a narrow launch tunnel into a "spaghetti bowl" of track which contains a cobra roll, a sidewinder, and many twists and turns. This coaster doesn't feature a mid-course brake run like other clones including Flight of Fear at Kings Island and Kings Dominion, or rings like the now-defunct Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America. After that riders spiral downward and to the left and after more twists and turns they pass through a corkscrew before arriving at the ride's final brake run.

Premier Rides built several of these LIM Catapult roller coasters from 1996 to 1999, although, of those, only the two Flight of Fear rides are indoors. The other outdoor LIM Catapult coaster in the United States was Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America; that opened in 1999 and closed in 2025. In addition, a LIM Catapult coaster called Mad Cobra operated at Suzuka Circuit in Japan from 1998 to 2003; Mad Cobra was moved to China and reopened at Discoveryland in 2006. The five Premier LIM catapult coasters share a similar layout and have the same technical specifications.

Poltergeist uses a LIM launching system instead of a traditional lift hill to propel riders into its first inversions. Initially, the ride had over-the-shoulder restraints, but due to numerous reports of pain and discomfort, these were replaced in 2002 with more traditional individual ratcheting lapbars.

Ride Elements

• Cobra Roll
• Sidewinder
• Corkscrew

Similar rides

Poltergeist opened in the same year as the now-defunct The Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America (1999), three years after the world's first LIM-launched coasters, Flight of Fear, opened at Kings Island (1996) and Kings Dominion (1996).

In other media

Poltergeist is also featured in Barnes & Noble's Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines.

References

References

1. "Dynamic Structures Ltd.". Empire Industries Ltd..
2. (July 30, 2011). "Amusement". Intermountain Lift, Inc..
3. "Six Flags Festa Texas Announces $30 Million Expansion". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
4. "Poltergeist Six Flags Fiesta Texas - SFFT Source".
5. {{cite RCDB
6. "Poltergeist Refresh (Update 1)".
7. "Poltergeist Refresh (Update 2)".
8. "Poltergeist Refresh (Update 3), Sundance Theatre Demolition".
9. {{Cite RCDB
10. {{Cite RCDB
11. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0760776156 Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines] on [[Amazon.com]]

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::