Universal Studio Florida’s Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster is preparing for its final descent. The musical steel coaster will be permanently closing Monday, Aug. 18 — just one day shy of its 16th birthday.
The exciting ride
This coaster made its debut on Aug. 19, 2009, and was noted for its 90° ascent and looping track. The ride reached speeds of 65 mph and completed its 3,800-ft course in 1 minute, 39 seconds.
As the name implies, the rockin’ ride had a musical component. Riders were able to select one of 30 tracks to listen to, ranging from ZZ Top to Fergie. While the coaster may be going away — its playlist is forever. Universal has even shared it on Spotify.
If you’re not ready for the fun to end, you can still take one last ride if you visit Universal this weekend. Though the official closing date is Monday, Aug. 18, the final day to ride the coaster is Sunday, Aug. 17.
What’s next?
Universal confirmed that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit will close to make way for a new attraction, but the park has not released any further details. This has been confirmed by building permits filed with the City of Orlando.
Theme park enthusiasts have used the permits to speculate the potential replacement attraction. While nothing is confirmed yet, we do know that parkgoers won’t need to wait too long until there’s a new thrill to experience.
