Six Flags Will Debut It's First 'Dual-launch Straddle Coaster' in 2026 — Here's Everything to Know



NEED TO KNOW

  • Six Flags New England is opening its first dual-launch straddle coaster in 2026
  • Per the park’s website, the new ride is “unlike traditional roller coasters,” offering two thrilling launches and “11 moments of airtime”
  • The coaster was originally set to open in 2025, but the park pushed its debut to this year, noting their “commitment to quality, comfort and reliability” 

Six Flags is preparing to debut yet another thrilling roller coaster at one of its parks this year.

The Quantum Accelerator is a new “family-friendly thrill ride” set to open later in 2026 at Six Flags New England, marking the Agawam, Mass., park’s first dual-launch straddle coaster.

According to the park’s website, the new ride is “unlike traditional roller coasters,” as it starts off by launching riders from 0 to 30 miles per hour rather than beginning with the usual uphill climb. 

Once riders are halfway through the ride, they will then be launched at an even faster speed of 45 miles per hour for the remaining time on the coaster. In addition to the two launches, the ride promises a number of exciting “twists and turns” as well as “11 moments of airtime.”

Key art for Six Flags New England’s Quantum Accelerator coaster.

Six Flags New England


Another way the upcoming roller coaster takes a non-traditional approach is the seat orientation. 

“Instead of sitting in a traditional seat, you straddle it and grab handlebars on comfortable coaster cars designed as steampunk-themed hover bikes. This unique feature allows you to lean forward and accelerate into the adventure,” the website states. 

The exciting new coaster also comes with a creative backstory, drawing inspiration from the fictional character Professor Screamore who keeps his “bizarre inventions” hidden in the tiny wild west town of Crackaxle Canyon.

As the “eccentric inventor” has always had an interest in time travel, his latest invention, the Quantum Accelerator, offers “speeds with twists, turns, and lots of ups and downs with airtime, and promises to launch riders into “yesterday and tomorrow.”

The Quantum Accelerator was initially set to open at the Massachusetts park in the summer of 2025, per local news outlet WWLP, the park announced in July that they would be pushing back the opening date to 2026. 

“When it comes to debuting world-class attractions for our guests, we won’t rush the process. Therefore, we are moving the debut of Quantum Accelerator to 2026,” the park wrote in a July 1 Instagram post. “This reflects our commitment to quality, comfort and reliability. We appreciate your patience and understanding.”

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While the park has yet to reveal the exact date the new ride will open this year, they confirmed in a March 2025 Instagram post that construction was officially complete and they were “gearing up for testing and final preparations” at the time.  

Six Flags New England officially opens for the season on Saturday, April 11. 



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