Six Flags Magic Mountain has made it official. X2, the park's long running signature thrill ride, will not reopen after months of closure and growing legal scrutiny tied to serious rider injuries. The coaster has sat idle since July, and what began as an unexplained shutdown has now resulted in a formal, permanent retirement.
For anyone who's followed the situation unfolding at the Valencia, California park in recent months, or anyone with a Magic Mountain visit on the calendar, here's a full look at how this decision came together.
Park Leadership Explains the Decision Directly
The announcement came straight from Magic Mountain President Brian Oerding, who addressed the Six Flags community directly. “After almost 20 years, we have decided to permanently retire X2,” Oerding wrote. He pointed to the coaster's long history, noting it had welcomed more than 16 million guests since opening in 2008 and had built a genuinely devoted following among coaster enthusiasts over the years. Oerding also expressed gratitude toward the team members who kept the ride running throughout its nearly two decade operation.
He was straightforward about the reasoning driving the closure. “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,” Oerding 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
The Timeline Behind the Shutdown
X2 closed on the evening of July 12, roughly a day following a second rider's severe injury within a short window of time. A CNN investigation published August 27 identified the two women involved as Pamela Guillen, 40, and Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, 25. Both riders lost consciousness after their trips on X2 and required emergency surgery for brain hemorrhages.
According to CNN's reporting, Guillen rode the coaster on July 5 while visiting the park with her daughter and was transported by ambulance to a hospital, where surgeons identified an acute subdural hematoma with brain compression. Six days later, Greer-Wilkinson rode X2 and collapsed shortly after leaving the attraction, also undergoing emergency brain surgery. Three neurosurgeons who treated the women reportedly told CNN that the injuries appeared consistent with a traumatic rapid acceleration deceleration event experienced during the ride.
Legal Proceedings Have Continued to Expand
These two cases aren't isolated when it comes to legal action against Six Flags. Attorney Christopher Bulone, representing plaintiffs in ongoing brain injury lawsuits, spoke with NewsNation about risks he believes riders often don't fully grasp beforehand. “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,” Bulone told the outlet.
Bulone said one of his recent clients, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson, remained on a ventilator following her surgeries. His firm, Dordick Law, has reportedly been retained by more than 100 clients claiming brain injuries linked to X2 over the past two years, according to managing partner Gary Dordick.
Bulone also spoke more broadly about the expectations guests bring with them when visiting a theme park. “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.
Six Flags has also previously settled a wrongful death lawsuit connected to a 22 year old man who died in 2022 after riding X2. In addition to Six Flags, the ongoing legal complaints also name S&S Worldwide, the manufacturer of X2's ride vehicles.
What Made X2 One of Magic Mountain's Standout Attractions
X2 built its reputation as one of the park's most intense rides. Six Flags described the coaster's design as featuring 360 degree rotating seats, head first drops, flips, twists, and two signature raven turns, with the train dropping 200 feet and reaching speeds up to 76 miles per hour. That combination of speed and rotating seat design made it a favorite among dedicated thrill seekers throughout its run.
A Difficult Stretch Overall for the Park
X2's closure and now permanent retirement lands during an already eventful year for Magic Mountain. An August power outage delayed opening for both Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles, and inclement weather forced a full day park closure back in February. While unrelated to the X2 situation directly, these incidents together reflect a year with more operational disruption than usual at the park.
Guests planning future visits to Magic Mountain should know X2 is no longer part of the attraction lineup going forward. Six Flags has noted that ride availability can change without notice more broadly, making the park's app and official closure page worth checking before any visit centered around specific attractions.
What's your reaction to Six Flags permanently retiring 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 guidance.
