The Tower Is Back Over Jackson, and It Finishes Great Adventure's Boardwalk Rebuild

When did you last see a tower over Six Flags Great Adventure? Kingda Ka's tower came down in a controlled implosion on February 28, 2025, as PhillyVoice reported. For more than a year after that, anyone driving through Jackson saw an empty spot where the tower had stood.

That spot is filling in again. The new tower belongs to Bakunawa, which Six Flags bills as the world's tallest and fastest spinning launch coaster. It is also the centerpiece of a Boardwalk area the park has been rebuilding in stages, and the first stage opened this past June.

The Timeline From Implosion to Ride Cars

Here's how the site went from Kingda Ka to Bakunawa, in order:

News 12 New Jersey covered the July 28 reveal the day it happened. Once the name was public, construction moved on from steel. NJBIZ reported that the work turned to electrical systems, ride controls, mechanical installation, the queue and the other pieces needed before testing. NJBIZ also said Bakunawa will be the park's 15th roller coaster.

The latest step is the ride cars. Amusement Today reported that the park's own ride mechanics and electricians are building each car, at about one week per car. Each car is a chassis with a seat gondola on top. They'll make up two five-car trains, one green and one purple. Construction Manager Steven Kolczynski told the outlet, "Once assembly is complete, the next stop is putting the trains on the track."

Shoreline Pier Was the First Piece

Everything on that timeline points to one part of the park. Six Flags calls Bakunawa a signature feature of "the newly transformed Boardwalk midway area." If you went this summer, you've already been on part of it.

Shoreline Pier opened June 30, 2026, and these are the five rides Six Flags names for it:

• Barrels O' Fun
• Super Roundup
• Flying Scooters
• Wave Swinger
• Hypno Twister

The food leans on Jersey Shore boardwalk staples. Six Flags lists Sea Gulps on Shoreline Pier itself, and Garden State Fresh Cut Fries and Beach Bros Beverage Co. elsewhere on the Boardwalk. Jersey Shore Online's preview listed disco fries, corn dogs, funnel-cake sundaes, chocolate-dipped fruit and Rita's Italian Ice among the pier's offerings.

So the Boardwalk was built from the ground level up. Small family rides and food came first, and the tower comes last. Park President Mike Fehnel, who Six Flags Entertainment Corp. named to the job on April 22, 2026, told NJBIZ that Shoreline Pier and "the continued evolution of The Boardwalk" are part of "a long-term vision" that also includes work at Wild Safari, Hurricane Harbor New Jersey and Savannah Sunset Resort. The same report says the park put new track sections on El Toro this season and upgraded its Wi-Fi.

What 382 Feet Means for Your Household

The numbers on Six Flags' Bakunawa page explain why this tower stands out. The ride climbs 382 feet and reaches 100 mph. NJBIZ says that puts it among the five tallest roller coasters in the world.

The speed builds in three launches:

1. 0 to 60 mph
2. 60 to 80 mph, while riders are upside down
3. 80 to 100 mph

The track is 3,163 feet long and the full ride lasts 2 minutes, 17 seconds. Seats spin freely and have no floor. Six Flags says the spin changes from ride to ride, so no two trips feel the same. Each train carries 20 riders, sitting back to back in four-person coaches. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall.

NJBIZ lists the records Six Flags is claiming:

• fastest spinning coaster
• tallest spinning coaster
• fastest inversion, at 80 mph
• longest stall inversion
• first floorless spinning coaster
• first upside-down launch

The name comes from a sea serpent in Philippine mythology. The ride's story has the serpent climbing the tower to swallow the moon during an eclipse.

The Opening Date Still Depends on the Source

This is the one thing on the timeline that hasn't been settled. On July 28, News 12 reported a spring 2027 opening. The next day, NJBIZ said summer 2027. Six Flags' own Bakunawa page just says 2027.

The October train-assembly update didn't give a date either. It did spell out the order of the remaining work. Finish the cars, put the trains on the track, then test. Once testing starts, trains running on the track will be the clearest sign that opening is close. Until the park announces a day, plan on 2027 and nothing more specific.

The schedule has already moved once. Theme Park Insider reported in December 2024 that the new coaster was aimed at 2026. The named announcement this July moved it to 2027.

What the Park Runs Until Then

The park doesn't sit idle during construction. Here's what's on the calendar through the end of this year.

Fright Fest's last weekend. Six Flags lists Fright Fest on select nights from September 18 through November 1, 2026. That makes Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1 the season's final weekend. Check the event page for which nights the park is open.

Holiday in the Park in November. Six Flags says the event is "Returning THIS November," with three new themed lands, a tree-lighting show every night and live entertainment. Santa visits, cookie decorating and gingerbread-house building are on the list too. The park also says many thrill rides, coasters and kids' areas will stay open. Exact operating dates, hours and the show lineup haven't been announced yet, so check the Holiday in the Park page before you plan a night around it.

A 2027 pass that starts now. Six Flags is already selling 2027 Season Passes. A pass bought now covers unlimited visits and free parking for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027. That means Holiday in the Park this year and Bakunawa's first season next year. Terms are on the park's 2027 page.

For progress updates between now and opening, the 2027 page links to Six Flags' "Bakunawa Brief" video series. The first episode covers car assembly.

Bakunawa is the tallest piece of Great Adventure's Boardwalk rebuild, and it's the last one to open. If you have a home near the park or are thinking about selling one, Alexis Fraistat follows the Jackson market as closely as this coaster's construction. Get Your Free Home Valuation and find out where your home stands before the 2027 season starts.