Recently, rumors have been circulating that Six Flags Over Texas' 1987 Aquaman Splashdown, formerly known as Splash Water Falls, has seen it's last days. The ride was just removed from the park's website and mobile app, and surveyors have been seen checking out the land that the ride sits on. Additionally, the ride's splashdown area remains drained, despite the park's three other water rides already opening for the season. No boats are in the ride's maintenance bay or in the trough or station. These signs are a clear indicator of the rides potential demise, and though not confirmed by the park, we wouldn't be surprised if it was removed sometime this upcoming season. BUT WHAT'S NEXT...? Being located on the park's main midway, Aquaman Splashdown is sitting on some valuable land. Near Aquaman is the Justice League: Battle For Metropolis dark ride and Pandemonium roller coaster. Both of these are new, modern, and exciting rides that have both been added in recent years (Pandemonium in 2008 and Justice League: Battle For Metropolis in 2015). The Aquaman Splashdown on the other hand looks quite dated, being that it was added 32 years ago. By removing the ride, Six Flags Over Texas can add another high energy attraction that makes their main midway even more exciting. We have two ideas in mind, so let's take a look. OPTION 1: Mack Rides Power Splash In the past few years, Mack Rides has finally found its place in the U.S. market with the additions of Manta at Sea World San Diego, Slinky Dog Dash at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City, and the upcoming Copperhead Strike at Carowinds. With Mack Rides being my personal favorite coaster manufacture, this possibility excites me. Why It's Likely: A Mack Rides Power Splash is a likely candidate for Aquaman's replacement for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the park sent out a survey this past January asking guests to rank their interest in a ride like this. The survey questioned our likelihood of visiting the park to ride it and whether or not this is something we'd like to see added. Additionally, because Aquaman Splashdown already has a splashdown pool, it would be easier for construction crews to install the ride. Why It's NOT Likely: Although the idea sounds great on paper, there are a couple of logistical errors that could make the construction of this ride more difficult than it's worth. For one, the footprint of the Mack Power Splashes are huge. 160 meters long to be exact. Aquaman's horizontal footprint is only 125 meters which means that 35 meters of land would need to be developed for this ride. This could lead to the removal of one or more rides. Possible removals could include Daffy Duck Bucket Blasters (seems odd to remove a water ride for another water ride) and Marvin The Martin Space Rockets. Both of these rides are only 5 years old, so we're not exactly sure that the park wants to already remove them. Mack Power Splashes also cost about $9,500,000 to build, which for a water ride at a regional park is quite expensive. At that price, the park could get a decent sized coaster from manufactures such as S&S, Vekoma, or RMC. Last but not least, a Mack Power Splash would have a limited operating run. Although Texas can be quite hot, the ride still wouldn't be able to operate during the winter Holiday In The Park season and during the first month or two of the spring season. OPTION 2: RMC Raptor Track Coaster Everyone that knows Six Flags knows that it loves installing cloned rides. If it works at one park, it'll work at all parks... right? While cloned rides are typically frowned upon, this one might be an exception. For those of you who have ridden Wonder Woman at Six Flags Fiesta Texas or Railblazer at California's Great America, you know that RMC's Raptor Track coasters are BEASTS! Although they're not the biggest rides in the world, they pack a punch in their compact layouts and are extremely popular with guests. Why It's Likely: RMC Raptor Coasters are extremely cheap to build for their size. They attract lots of new guests and are great additions to any park's coaster lineup. They are also incredibly compact which is great for parks like Six Flags Over Texas that don't have much land to work with. The park has gone 2 years without a coaster, and 8 years without a major one, so the park is long overdue for something new and exciting. Why It's NOT Likely: Just like with the Mack Power Splash, space is an issue with the RMC Raptor Coaster. Although Six Flags Fiesta Texas fit Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster into the land home to their shoot the chutes attraction, they had more space around the ride to push out a bit and expand. Aquaman Splashdown the other hand has railroad tracks on one side and the parks main midway to the other. HOWEVER, if the park went with a custom layout (which I'd hope for anyways), they could easily make it work. What do you think about Aquaman's removal? Is it just another false rumor or could this one come true? Let us know down in the comments below! If you enjoyed this breaking park update, be sure to share it with your friends and family so that we can put our more posts like this. Thank you so much for visiting OverTexasThrills.com and have a wonderful spring break!
14 Comments
Dave
3/13/2019 03:17:07 pm
I could also see a multi-loop/multi-inversion coaster from S&S. Maxx Force and Steel Curtain use the same trains and track design. I think a shorter version of Steel Curtain would work here and would fill a hole in the ride lineup.
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RJ
3/13/2019 03:34:26 pm
I'd love a S&S coaster at sfot! The one at Knotts Berry Farm was my favorite thing at the park. They're so fun yet so ridiculous you have to laugh when you're riding it.
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Austin c
3/14/2019 05:24:38 am
As cool as it would be to get a new ride I don't want it to be a raptor now this is just my opinion on it I'm in the middle of Texas so theres like a 15 to 20 min difference time wise for me to go to over texas or fiesta Texas and they keep copying each other they both have a s&s free spin pandemonium sky screamer batman clone they had boomerang coasters and now this season pendulum rides I think they should keep the parks different so each park has its own unique experience if they just keep copying then there just gonna become the same park's with just a few differences instead of being it's own.
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Jim
3/14/2019 11:04:06 pm
Hey, everyone.
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Jeff
4/15/2019 08:37:17 am
All of the branding and logos (and the Aquaman statue) have been removed from the ride. It is not opening again unfortunately.
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Jim
4/15/2019 01:54:15 pm
Hi, Jeff. I heard. :/ It's a shame. I saw a You Tube video where it showed those things you mentioned being removed. It figures they'd remove it the year I was planning to go. If they build an Aquaman-themed power splash coaster in it's place, I'm ok with that. But do they even have the room for something like that?
tony
4/27/2019 02:41:18 pm
they are put a water ride there mack power water ride
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Jim
4/29/2019 03:11:39 pm
Tony,
naomi shaw
6/30/2019 01:35:40 pm
i’ll really miss this ride i’ve had so many good times on this ride
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Cherise
4/23/2022 01:50:49 am
I love this ride my mother passed in 2014 and all I remember is standing in line to get on this with her and then after getting extra wet by standing on the bridge holding onto the bars my children won’t ever get to experience these memories like I did breaks my heart splashdown was always the first ride we went to
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Key would property. Still agreement opportunity onto smile wall. Fill experience let talk conference mouth.
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10/29/2022 03:22:00 am
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