In the year and a half since the demolition of Kingda Ka, the skyline on New Jersey’s I-195 has felt a bit empty. The former Six Flags Great Adventure rollercoaster went from record-setting success to secret closure in the span of almost 20 years, and fans still mourn its absence. That leaves a pretty huge footprint for its successor, currently known as “Project Purple,” to live up to.
The measure of success in that challenge will not be known until next year. At the same time, Great Adventure’s brand new thrill ride is already looking quite impressive – in a way that could make even those who championed the ride its replacing proud.
Project Purple Sets A New Great Adventure Height Record
Set to open at some point in 2027, the incoming coaster continues to rise over the evolving Boardwalk section at Six Flags Great Adventure – with its deep purple reaching towards the sky. The successor to Kingda Ka, this mysterious multiple launch attraction now inherits that former thrill ride’s crown as the tallest point in the Jackson, New Jersey amusement park.
In the press release confirming this statistic, a statement from Six Flags Great Adventure’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Ryan Eldredge, offered the following details:
Project Purple is already making a statement. At 315 feet tall and still climbing, guests can watch history being built in real time. Every new piece of track and support brings us one step closer to unveiling a coaster that will redefine thrills not just for Great Adventure, but for the entire industry.
Of course it’s easy to make something like a gigacoaster sound exciting. Thankfully, we don’t merely have to take Six Flags’ word for it; as they also have a video showing off that towering structure in its impressive height:
That is going to hit way different when launching up the heights of Project Purple. The impending architectural wonder may still be pretty mysterious, but there are a couple of things that the world is already speculating on. These details come from both good old fashioned rumors, and an alleged FAA filing for this fast and furious flight into the New Jersey atmosphere.
Kingda Ka’s Shadowy Successor Has Potential Names, And A Rumored Max Height
Apparently a Reddit post claiming to have Six Flags Great Adventure’s FAA filing for Project Purple states that 2027’s new gigacoaster will only stand at 375 feet. For comparison, Kingda Ka’s total height was 456 feet tall, with Six Flags Qiddiya City in Qatar holding the record with the 534.8 foot tall Falcon’s Flight. As it stands, the new kid in Jackson will be significantly shorter, but still pretty thrilling.
As for the final name, that is also a big question mark. That hasn’t stopped industrious fans and publications like Theme Park Insider from seemingly narrowing it down to two candidates. On one hand, the oft-discussed “Phantom Spire” is still very much in play. However, TPI’s more recent reporting from this month alleges that the potential moniker “Gargantuan Vertical Vengeance” is on the table.
Personally, I think that sounds more like a tagline than a name. However, both are supposedly being considered for U.S. trademark approval; potentially as a shell game to keep us all guessing. With “additional milestones and details” set to break as construction moves forward, Project Purple’s future is just beginning to take shape.
So for now, we’ll all just have to sit tight as more tidbits await the all clear to dispatch from the station house. You can be sure that when they do, THS Theme Park News will be just the place to keep in mind when seeking the latest and greatest.
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