Key Points
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Roller coaster influencer CoasterDash filmed himself riding Grizzly at the Six Flags-owned Kings Dominion.
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Six Flags responded in a statement to Entertainment Weekly after footage showed the vlogger and a ride partner riding the coaster with dangerously loose restraints.
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“Shout-out to the ride op,” the vlogger’s riding partner exclaimed as the restraints appeared to be in an almost fully open position.
“We are reviewing the footage to better understand what occurred and determine whether any further action is warranted. Based on our records, no injuries or guest complaints were reported in connection with the ride experience,” the statement continues. “Six Flags maintains rigorous ride safety procedures, and our ride operators are trained to ensure all safety requirements are met before a ride is dispatched. Safety is a partnership, and we also expect all guests to follow posted safety guidelines and the instructions of our team members at all times.”
EARLIER: After a theme park influencer posted (and later appeared to edit out) video of himself and a companion riding a Six Flags-owned roller coaster in Virginia with what appeared to be dangerously loose restraints one month after a man died after falling out of a 200-foot-tall roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, the amusement park chain has responded.
Social media personality Marc Engel, who posts to his popular YouTube channel CoasterDash, shared a video Monday of himself and a partner laughing while riding the 44-year-old Grizzly wooden roller coaster at the Kings Dominion park in Doswell, Va., with what appeared to be restraints in a nearly fully upright position. The portion in question was later seemingly deleted from the full-length vlog, though it was viewed by EWin its original form.
In an exclusive statement to EW, a public relations manager for Six Flags explains, “The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority” and that, internally, “we are aware of the video circulating online that we believe was filmed in August 2026 [Editor’s note: Prior to the Oct. 12 Six Flags Over Georgia death] and are conducting a thorough review.”
In the video, Engel exclaimed, “I am super excited to get back on this coaster,” before the camera panned down to show that both restraint bars in his vehicle were nearly fully open atop their fastened seatbelts. He exclaimed, “Guys, are we serious? Why?”
His ride partner then quipped, “Shout-out to the ride op!”
After the ride, Engel told the camera that it was the “best ride I’ve ever had on Grizzly,” and explained that “the ride operators gave us the most room I’ve ever had on any coaster in my life.” Engel’s companion also remarked that “this is not even a useful review, because this is such a unique experience on this ride.”
EWhas reached out to Engel for comment.
The CoasterDash channel’s latest video released roughly one month after a man died at Six Flags Over Georgia upon falling out of the aforementioned Goliath roller coaster, which opened in 2006.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected,” read a statement from Six Flags, released shortly after the Goliath incident in October.
EW later learned that the chain closed 10 coasters in its international portfolio of parks. The parks and roller coasters impacted include hypercoaster models (rides that reach heights of over 200 feet) at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio (Diamondback and Orion); Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif. (Goliath); Six Flags Great America near Chicago (Raging Bull); Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. (Nitro); Carowinds just outside Charlotte, N.C. (Fury 325 and Thunder Striker), and Canada’s Wonderland, just north of Toronto (Behemoth and Leviathan).
Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain eventually reopened to the public, and was the only closed coaster that was built by defunct manufacturer Giovanola, while the other nine were products of Bolliger & Mabillard, a notable Swiss company.
EW also exclusively learned at the time that SeaWorld Orlando closed its B&M hypercoaster model, Mako, “out of an abundance of caution” following the Six Flags incident, though that ride also later reopened.
The Six Flags Over Georgia incident also followed the filing of three individual lawsuits against Six Flags amid over 100 alleged brain injuries stemming from Six Flags Magic Mountain’s X2 roller coaster, which the park recently announced would close after 22 years of operation.
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Magic Mountain’s president, Brian Oerding, wrote of the coaster’s closure that it “consistently passed a multitude of safety tests,” but that the park “decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do. Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.” He also pointed to the Six Flags ride safety guide.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
