Goliath (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)

Goliath is a inverted roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss manufacture and Werner Stengel, Goliath has thrilled visitors as way back to 1995 in Japan.The roller coaster that is located at the front of the park that towers the entrance, rises to a height of and reaches top speeds of through multiple inversions.HistoryGoliath originally opened in 1995 at Thrill Valley, a former theme park in Japan. The roller coaster operated as Gambit until the ride closed on May 6, 2002, along with the park. Six Flags at that time bought several rides from the closed park and transported them to several of their parks. Gambit was one of the rides and went to Six Flags' newest acquired theme park in eastern New Orleans. With Six Flags commitment to enhance the former Jazzland amusement park, they expanded the park with an area where Goliath would be placed themed to DC Comics. To fit with the theme and surrounding attractions, Goliath was named Batman: The Ride and the roller coaster opened on April 12, 2003.Hurricane Katrina entered the Gulf of Mexico and was heading towards Louisiana. For precaution, Six Flags closed down the New Orleans theme park during mid-season to prepare for the storm. Due to substantial flooding, many of the park's rides were damaged beyond repair causing the park to remain closed until the floods retrieved. Many of the park rides were destroyed as the park's drainage system failed and were submerged in water for a long period of time, long after the hurricane. Anything found in the park still in good use was removed and moved to other parks in the company as Six Flags had no plans on reopening the theme park. Batman: The Ride survived, mainly because of its elevated station and corrosion-resistant support structure, which caused it to make it through Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed.