Goliath (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)

Thrill Valley (1995—2002)

Goliath originally opened at Thrill Valley in Japan as Gambit in 1995. The ride operated at the park for about 7 years before closing on May 6, 2002. The ride was dismantled and transported to Six Flags New Orleans.

Six Flags New Orleans (2003—2007)

In 2002, Six Flags took over the lease of Jazzland and renamed the park to Six Flags New Orleans. After the take over, Six Flags announced major changes coming to the park included the arrival of Gambit, but now named Batman: The Ride. The roller coaster was built in one of the new area's Six Flags had constructed for the 2003 season after the acquisition, DC Comics Super Hero Adventures. The ride re-opened at Six Flags New Orleans on April 12, 2003.

On August 21, 2005 before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Six Flags closed the park as a safety precaution. Due to substantial flooding, many of the park's rides were damaged beyond repair causing the park to remain standing but not operating. In 2007, Six Flags moved Batman: The Ride to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, considering it to be the only salvageable ride due to its elevated station platform and corrosion-resistant support structure, which caused it to make it through Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas (2008—present)

In 2007, Batman: The Ride was dismantled and moved to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Before reconstructing the ride, the track was repainted and the roller coaster was renamed Goliath. It opened on April 18, 2008.

The roller coaster is also currently sponsored by Snickers.

Ride experience

After departing from the station, the train immediately begins to climb the 105-foot (32 m) chain lift hill. Once at the top, the train makes a sharp 80-foot (24 m) downward right turn into the roller coasters first element, a vertical loop, reaching a top speed of approximately 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). After exiting the loop, the train then goes through a zero-g roll before entering a second loop. The train then goes up a rightward helix before backing a downward left turn into a corkscrew. After a sharp left turn, the train enters another corkscrew. Upon exiting the corkscrew, the train makes a right turn into the brake run which leads directly back to the station where the current riders unload and the next load. One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes.

Track

Goliath has a track length of about 2,693 feet (821 m) and reaches a top height of 105-foot (32 m). The track colours of the roller coaster when it was known as Gambit at Thrill Valley are not known. When it was known as Batman: The Ride at Six Flags News Orleans the track featured black and orange track with grey supports. Today, at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the ride has blue track and yellow supports. Friction brakes are used to control the speed of the train at the end of the ride. The track was manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators located in Batavia, Ohio.

Also, Goliath is a clone of several other Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters (over half at Six Flags parks) with the only difference being that the track is "mirrored" from the other clones. Coincidentally, one of those clones is The Great White at the SeaWorld San Antonio amusement park which is also located in San Antonio, Texas.

Trains

Goliath operates with two generic steel and fiberglass trains with seven cars each. Each car seats four riders in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train. The supports for the seats are orange, the actual seats are black with a yellow over-the-shoulder restraint connected to each one, and the coverings for the wheels are orange, blue, and yellow.