As Promised, The Joker Opens To Riders At Six Flags Great Adventure

JACKSON, NJ -- A day after a stuck car forced Six Flags Great Adventure to shut down its newest ride on media day, The Joker was back in operation and carrying park patrons on Friday, as the park had promised.

"The ride reopened at 12:20 p.m. today and the reviews have been great," said Kristin Siebeneicher, spokeswoman for Six Flags Great Adventure.

Described as the ultimate ride for thrill seekers, The Joker opened to coaster fanatics and Six Flags season pass holders on Friday and will open to the general public on Saturday, when the amusement park opens for the season.

On Thursday, during a media event that included coaster enthusiasts, however, The Joker was shut down for the day after two riders got stuck on the ride while swinging one of the cars, according to a report on NJ.com.

"We clearly don't want that to happen, so we swapped out that vehicle," park president John Fitzgerald told NJ.com on Thursday. "No one's safety was ever at risk." 

The Joker features 4D wing vehicles that seat up to eight people per vehicle that ride on either side of a twisting I-box track frame. Magnetic technology allows smooth head-over-heels free-fly flips while the ride moves along the track, and the seats allow riders to face each other as they're flipping along, the park said.

There is a 120-foot-tall, 90-degree hill that is ascended by an elevator-style, chain link lift, and two beyond 90-degree “raven” drops that give riders the sensation of free-falling, the park said.

Check out video of the ride here.