Help save Kingda Ka coaster cars with Roller Coaster Museum

The goal of the fan-based capital campaign launched by the world’s most extensive collection of historic amusement ride vehicles and memorabilia is to save and preserve cars from Kingda Ka, Nighthawk from Carowinds in North Carolina, La Vibora from Six Flags Over Texas, and Time Warp from Canada’s Wonderland.

“Without the tireless work of the museum’s volunteers, who have been working to preserve these attractions for over six months, there is a good chance they would be lost forever,” said Jeff Novotny, president of the NRCMA. “By directly involving park and ride fans, we can now all work together to preserve the historic legacies that each of these vehicles represent.”

Here’s why these coaster cars are worth saving:

• Kingda Ka (designed by Intamin) – Kingda Ka debuted at Six Flags Great Adventure as the tallest, fastest coaster in the world, accelerating riders from 0 to 128 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds. When it was retired in late 2024, it was still the tallest and second-fastest roller coaster on Earth.
• Nighthawk (built by Vekoma) – In 2000, Stealth at Paramount’s Great America was the world’s first flying roller coaster. In 2004, it was moved to Carowinds and renamed Nighthawk, where it continued to take riders through 2,766 feet of track at speeds up to 51 miles per hour.
• La Vibora: Originally opened in 1984 at Six Flags Magic Mountain, La Vibora was one of only a few “trackless” coasters ever built. It moved to Six Flags Over Texas in 1986 and was the last Intamin-designed “Swiss Bob” coaster in operation.
• Time Warp: Featuring a unique spiral lift and tight turns along its 1,283 feet of track, Time Warp at Canada’s Wonderland was one of just a handful of Zamperla-built “Volare” coasters to be installed around the world.

Fans can click here to participate in the fundraising efforts to preserve their favorite rides. Donors who contribute $100 or more will have their name/company name posted at the exhibit of their choice.

“Back to the Museum”

Roller coaster fans can see these (and many other) historic coaster cars from Six Flags, Cedar Point, Europa Park, Disneyland, Idlewild, and more at “Back to the Museum,” a preview event for theme park enthusiasts on July 26, 2025, at the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives. Attendees will also be among the first to own an all-new, exclusive retail item from the museum. 

Tickets for “Back to the Museum” are $20 per person; $15 per person for American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) members. Registration is now open here.