A Sneak Peek: Experiencing the Reopened Six Flags Magic Mountain

Residing in the entertainment hub of the world certainly has its advantages.

For those who grew up in Southern California, there are at least four major theme parks within an hour's drive in any direction: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland, and Knott's Berry Farm.

As California begins to lift its COVID-19 restrictions, one of the first parks to welcome visitors back is Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Situated in Valencia, just an hour north of the Los Angeles area, Six Flags Magic Mountain offers an exhilarating escape from city life, featuring over 100 attractions, including 19 thrilling roller coasters.

Locals often refer to it simply as "Magic Mountain" or just "Magic."

When Six Flags Magic Mountain announced its reopening in early April, I was eager to visit.

Entry and Check-In

Spanning 260 acres, Magic Mountain is renowned as the "Thrill Capital of the World."

Due to its extensive grounds, the parking area has been utilized as a Los Angeles County Department of Health Mega Point of Dispensing (POD) for COVID-19 vaccinations since January.

The park reopened on April 1, exclusively for members. I visited on April 3, the first day it welcomed the general public. However, capacity restrictions were still in place as per California state guidelines, allowing only California residents to purchase tickets, with the total number of guests limited to three households.

Upon my arrival, I noticed two lines: one leading to the park and another heading towards the vaccination site.

As I reached the entrance, I was required to pay $25 for a parking permit.

I was directed to the parking lot and guided to a parking space, with the vaccination stations located just across the lot.

After parking, I proceeded to the entrance, where staff checked tickets and then directed me to a covered area for contactless thermal imaging to check my temperature. Much like at some airports, I walked through without any problems.

Next, I passed through touchless bag checks and metal detectors before arriving at the final gate, where staff scanned my ticket.

A park reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic

As soon as I entered the park, friendly staff in blue uniforms warmly welcomed me.

Normally, this park would be bustling with visitors on a Saturday. However, due to COVID-19 guidelines, theme parks in Los Angeles County are currently limited to 15% capacity. This will increase to 25% on April 5, as the county transitions to California's orange tier reopening plan.

The crowds were quite limited, making it feel as though I had the whole park to myself along with my friends.

The effects of COVID-19 on Six Flags are evident and cannot be overlooked.

Numerous signs were posted throughout the park reminding guests to "Do the six": wear masks, wash hands, cover coughs, maintain distance, sanitize frequently, and most importantly, have fun.

There were designated "mask break zones," but I was required to wear my mask at all times otherwise.

Hand sanitizers were readily available throughout the park.

Everything emphasized a contactless experience.

Cash was not accepted here; the park only took card or mobile payments. If you had cash, you could exchange it for a prepaid Visa debit card at a designated ATM.

Numerous posters and signs encouraged guests to pre-order their meals via the Six Flags app and schedule a pickup time. Unfortunately, not all dining options were integrated into this system. I found it easier to seek out the places with the shortest lines instead of relying on the app.

The quest for open rides

Even though there was a wide range of rides available, only a handful were operational.

You could download the Six Flags app to see which attractions were open and the estimated wait times, but I found it to be quite inaccurate. Your best option is to head directly to the rides to check for yourself.

Many of the rides I was eager to experience were either closed or out of service at the time, particularly the water rides: Jet Stream, Tidal Wave, and Roaring Rapids. A water ride would have been refreshing in the 80-degree heat.

I began my adventure by exploring the park counterclockwise from my entry point, searching for the first available ride.

The first ride I encountered was Goliath.

Since it was early in the day, the wait time for this attraction was under 15 minutes. The ride was not at full capacity, with only a few riders in each car.

This roller coaster boasts a staggering 255-foot drop at a speed of 85 mph.

For safety reasons, filming on any rides was prohibited, so enjoy this official video showcasing the experience of riding Goliath.

The video can't fully capture the experience, as you can't truly feel the over 4.5 G's impacting your body. I lost count of how many times I screamed behind my mask—at one point, I even worried it might fly off my face.

Next, drawn by the thrill, I tried out the rides that were classified as "Maximum Six Flags Thrills": Riddler's Revenge, Tatsu, and West Coast Riders.

My favorite among them was West Coast Riders, known as the "world's first single track quadruple launch racing coaster." It’s one of the newest attractions, having just opened last year. Although it had the longest wait of my day, it was definitely worth it for its four inversions, including three zero-G rolls and a zero-G stall.

This ride was situated in a newly designed LA-themed section of the park known as The Underground.

In summary

I hadn't visited Magic Mountain in over twenty years. I recall it as a spot where my friends and I would hang out during middle school, high school, and college. It seems that not much has changed since then.

Many of the park-goers this weekend reminded me of those carefree days of simply enjoying the rides—though now, it’s all set against the backdrop of COVID-19.

In many ways, the reopened Magic Mountain provided an experience that the pre-pandemic park lacked: ample space and time.

Magic Mountain is already an expansive park to navigate, and with the reduced capacity, it felt even more spacious. This truly facilitated safe social distancing.

Regarding time, the lower visitor numbers meant I could truly relax and savor the outdoors without feeling rushed to move on to the next ride or attraction.

Although the park wasn't operating at full capacity in terms of rides, it still offered a brief escape for thrills, even if just for a day.

Image courtesy of Leezel Tanglao/Dinogo