For nearly two decades, X2 stood as one of the defining rides at Six Flags Magic Mountain, known throughout the coaster community for its rotating seats and disorienting inversions. That era has now officially ended. Following months of closure and a mounting legal battle tied to serious rider injuries, Six Flags has confirmed the ride will not return.
Here’s a full look at how a ride that once welcomed more than 16 million guests reached this point, and what the decision means going forward for the park.
Six Flags Leadership Makes the Call
The retirement was announced directly by Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding in a message to the Six Flags community. “After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2,” he wrote, acknowledging the coaster’s long history since its 2008 debut and the passionate fan base it built among enthusiasts over the years. He also thanked the team members responsible for operating and maintaining the ride throughout its run.
Oerding’s explanation for the closure focused on guest trust rather than any specific mechanical failure. “While X2 consistently passed a multitude of safety tests, we have decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”
After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2. Read Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President Brian Oerding’s blog post for more details: https://t.co/gtLWzbYnZm pic.twitter.com/L8HupTsFBQ
— Six Flags Magic Mountain (@SFMagicMountain) September 29, 2026
Two Injuries, Six Days Apart
The retirement traces back to a closure that began on the evening of July 12, shortly after a second serious rider injury occurred within a short span of time. According to a CNN investigation published August 27, the two riders were identified as Pamela Guillen, 40, and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25. Both women lost consciousness following their rides and required emergency brain surgery.
Guillen rode X2 on July 5 while at the park with her daughter and was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where surgeons discovered an acute subdural hematoma along with brain compression. Six days later, Greer-Wilkinson rode the same coaster and collapsed after exiting. She, too, underwent emergency surgery. CNN reported that three neurosurgeons who treated the women described their injuries as consistent with a traumatic rapid acceleration deceleration event experienced on the ride.
Legal Pressure Continues to Build
These two incidents sit within a larger and ongoing legal challenge facing Six Flags. Attorney Christopher Bulone, who represents plaintiffs in brain injury lawsuits against the company, told NewsNation that many guests don’t fully grasp the risks they’re taking on before boarding a ride like X2. “People do love roller coasters, but nobody really has any idea when they’re in line that one of the risks is potential brain bleed,” he said.
Bulone said Greer-Wilkinson remained on a ventilator following her surgeries. According to managing partner Gary Dordick, his firm, Dordick Law, has now been retained by more than 100 clients who say they suffered brain injuries connected to X2 within the past two years.
Bulone also addressed the broader responsibility he believes theme parks carry toward the people who visit them. “People have a right when they go to a park like this to assume that before they try to do anything to try to make money, they’re going to do whatever it takes, spend whatever it takes, to make sure that people are safe,” he said.
Separately, Six Flags previously settled a wrongful death lawsuit tied to the 2022 death of a 22 year old man who had ridden X2. The manufacturer of the ride’s vehicles, S&S Worldwide, has also been named as a defendant in the ongoing complaints.
A Ride Built for Extremes
Part of what made X2 so recognizable within the coaster community was its unusual design. Six Flags described the ride as featuring 360 degree rotating seats, head first drops, flips, twists, and two signature raven turns, with riders dropping 200 feet and reaching speeds up to 76 miles per hour. That combination of intensity and rotation set it apart from most other coasters on the market during its run.
A Rough Stretch for Magic Mountain as a Whole
The X2 situation arrives during a broader run of operational disruptions at the Valencia park this year. An August power outage delayed opening for both Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles, and severe weather forced a full day closure back in February. None of these incidents are connected to the X2 investigation directly, but together they reflect a genuinely difficult year for the park’s operations.
Guests with a Magic Mountain trip planned going forward should know X2 is no longer part of the park’s lineup. Six Flags has noted more broadly that attraction availability is subject to change without notice, making its app and official closure page worth checking ahead of any visit built around specific rides.
What do you make of Six Flags’ decision to permanently retire X2? Share your thoughts in the comments, and if you or someone you know has been affected by an incident at the park, please reach out to appropriate medical or legal professionals for support.
