Revolution
G16 · American Steel
G16 · № 104/150
Revolution
Six Flags Magic Mountain · US · Anton Schwarzkopf Vertical Loop Coaster (world's first modern/clothoid loop; designed by Werner Stengel)
“Schwarzkopf drew a civil salute in steel for the Valencia hills.”
UNOFFICIAL · NOT PARK-ENDORSED
Collect this card free →Fast facts
- Opened on May 8, 1976, as Great American Revolution. sixflags.com
- Manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf and designed by Werner Stengel. en.wikipedia.org
- The steel course rises 113 feet (34.4 metres). coasterpedia.net
- Its top speed is 55 mph (89 km/h). en.wikipedia.org
- The ride has one inversion: a modern vertical loop. en.wikipedia.org
- Its listed capacity is 1,400 riders per hour. en.wikipedia.org
- The reported 1976 construction cost was $2 million. latimes.com
The story of Revolution
In the bicentennial summer of 1976, visitors to Magic Mountain found a new piece of German steelwork on the Valencia hillside. Revolution opened as Great American Revolution, a proud name for a new American year and a new sort of looping coaster. sixflags.com· coaster101.com
Anton Schwarzkopf and Werner Stengel supplied the achievement: a clothoid-shaped vertical loop, gentler in its calculation than the old circular loops of another age. The result was recognized as the world’s first modern vertical looping roller coaster. coaster101.com· latimes.com
The ride’s early testing was exacting. Before opening, the train required a week of adjustment before it would complete the full circuit, a small workshop drama before the public procession began. coasterpedia.net· en.wikipedia.org
Revolution later passed through several names and alterations, and in 2002 received ACE Coaster Landmark recognition for its place in roller-coaster history. Its 2016 refurbishment brought new trains and lap-bar restraints for its fortieth anniversary season. coasterpedia.net· latimes.com
Sources
- sixflags.com Preferred source
- en.wikipedia.org Acceptable source
- coasterpedia.net Preferred source
- latimes.com Acceptable source
- coaster101.com Acceptable source
This background is AI-drafted from public sources and human-reviewed before publishing — approved 20 August 2026.