Six Flags Rescues Elite Steel Coaster From Shuttered Georgia Park

ArieForce One, a custom-built steel coaster manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), is being salvaged from the permanently shuttered Fun Spot America Atlanta park in Fayetteville, Georgia. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has announced the acquisition of the acclaimed ride, which is scheduled to be rebuilt and reopened at an undisclosed Six Flags property during the 2028 or 2029 operating season. The coaster originally opened in March 2023 as part of an ambitious expansion by Florida-based Fun Spot America, which had acquired the Fayetteville property in 2017.

The relocation of major modern steel roller coasters has emerged as a high-value capital strategy for major theme park operators. Following the landmark $8 billion merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair, which closed in July 2024, the newly consolidated Six Flags Entertainment Corporation operates dozens of properties across North America. While relocating large-scale rides is a complex and expensive engineering process, it allows operators to optimize assets across their portfolios. Six Flags has confirmed that it will retain the “ArieForce One” name when the ride is rebuilt, preserving the branding originally chosen to honor the Arie family legacy.

Engineered by Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction, a manufacturer renowned for its innovative steel I-Box track design, ArieForce One was custom-built as a ground-up steel coaster. The ride stands 154 feet tall, features a steep 146-foot first drop at an 83-degree angle, and reaches speeds of up to 64 mph. Over its 3,400 feet of track, riders experience four inversions, including a unique “arcade roll” and a 120-foot-long zero-gravity stall, which is recognized as the largest element of its kind in the world.

Despite a $13 million investment in the world-class ride, the regional park faced intense competition, particularly from Six Flags Over Georgia located in nearby Austell. Fun Spot America permanently closed its Atlanta-area location in August 2026, though the family-owned company continues to operate its flagship parks in Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida. John Arie Jr., chief executive officer of Fun Spot America, expressed satisfaction that the signature ride would continue to operate under the stewardship of a major operator.

Mark Pauls, chief operating officer of Six Flags, emphasized the ride’s global reputation within the amusement industry. Pauls stated that from the moment the coaster closed, the company recognized its significance to the enthusiast community and international travelers, adding that the acquisition reflects Six Flags’ commitment to delivering world-class thrills across its portfolio. Moving a steel coaster of this scale is a multi-million-dollar logistical challenge.

Technicians must carefully dismantle massive steel support columns and track segments, catalog thousands of individual components, and transport them across state lines. Once at its new location, engineers must pour entirely new concrete foundations customized to the topography of the receiving park before reassembling the structure. This extensive network provides the corporate infrastructure needed to absorb and relocate major rides to high-traffic regional markets where they can generate maximum return on investment.

According to Arie, seeing the ride preserved and relocated to a new home under Six Flags ensures that future generations will still have the opportunity to experience it. Six Flags has not yet finalized which of its properties will receive the coaster, stating that both the destination and the construction timeline will be announced at a later date. He noted that the original goal of building ArieForce One was to create a landmark attraction that would put the park on the map for global coaster enthusiasts.