Shock Wave: A Thrill Standing The Test Of Time Honored

(Arlington, Texas)  One of my favorite things to do in the world is ride roller coasters. Hopping in a coaster train, pulling down the lap bar, ascending the lift hill, then holding my hands up as the train gains speed going down the hill, taking me on the ride of a lifetime is priceless.

From traditional camel-back wooden coasters, to steel coasters with loops, to now hybrid coasters featuring a wooden structure and steel track with several inversions, nothing will beat that adrenaline rush that a roller coaster gives.

There are so many different types of coasters and launch style coasters these days that are producing more thrills than ever.

READ MORE --> Six Flags Over Texas to build a 300' dive coaster for 2026

While there are faster and more technologically advanced coasters, there are those coasters that remain timeless and have been around for decades, standing the test of time and providing thrills for riders for years.

Since I was 7 years old, I've been a coaster enthusiast. After getting my first taste of coasters at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, I've enjoyed them all. This park is and has been home to some phenomenal roller coasters throughout the years.

Unfortunately, some of them have been retired throughout the years, while others are receiving praise.

Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas receives huge recognition

Shock Wave is one of the most iconic coasters at Six Flags Over Texas. The double-looping coaster with the green track and blue supports sits along I-30. I remember when I was 8 years old, first riding Shock Wave when its track was white when it opened to the public. I was a bit terrified to ride, but I survived and ended up loving it and riding it over and over again.

Shock Wave opened at Six Flags on April 22, 1978. At the time, it was the tallest coaster in the world, standing at 116 feet and sending riders along a 3500-foot track that featured its now iconic double loops.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, American Coaster Enthusiasts designated Shock Wave an 'ACE ROLLER COASTER LANDMARK', the second such distinction for the park.

This is an honor that a coaster of this stature and legacy deserves. Last March, Six Flags Over Texas held a celebration marking the 50,000,000th rider - that's 50 million riders since the coaster opened in 1978. This was a celebration that I was honored to be a part of.

Six Flags Over Texas has 2 landmark coasters

Six Flags Over Texas has two landmark coasters in its impressive coaster line-up. Six Flags Over Texas earned its first ACE ROLLER COASTER LANDMARK from American Coaster Enthusiasts in 2006 when the park celebrated the 40th anniversary of Runaway Mine Train, which is the oldest roller coaster in the park.  Check out its impressive history. While my daughter isn't a coaster fanatic like I am, this is one of her favorite rides at the park.

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Six Flags Over Texas will continue to push the envelope of bringing thrilling new rides and roller coasters to life. The park is currently constructing a new 'dive coaster' in the Spain section of the park for the 2026 season. It is said it's going to be a 'record-breaking' roller coaster.

I will be looking forward to riding this coaster when it opens, but Shock Wave will always have a place, and I am glad this coaster is still around and will be for years to come.