Beloved Illinois Roller Coaster Closing Soon for Major Overhaul

Six Flags Great America’s Raging Bull to Close for “Major Refresh”

A ride that has been a staple of Six Flags Great America is shutting down temporarily for what is being dubbed a "major refresh." The Raging Bull debuted in 1999 at the theme park and was billed as the world's first hyper-twister coaster, and was also the longest and tallest ride in the park at the time of its unveiling.

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A Short Break for a Longtime Fan Favorite

Since then, it's become part of the fabric of Six Flags Gurnee, but now it's going to take a little sabbatical, a glow up if you will. That's because after August 18, Raging Bull is taking some time off.

Ride Closure Lines Up With Seasonal Hours Change

The Raging Bull's "refresh" coincides with Six Flags' shift to weekend hours only through Labor Day, also starting on August 18. Fans were notified of Raging Bull's "full repaint" on Facebook, and that didn't stop some of the conspiracy theorists from coming out of the woodwork, saying:

Painting is done in the off-season. What aren't they telling us?

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Fans React With Humor to the Announcement

I'm sure it's nothing, but that made me chuckle. But these made me laugh the most:

Maybe work on the stairs up to the station. More intense than the ride.

&

Spice things up and paint it while riders are riding.

Wouldn't that be something?

Raging Bull Will Return Brighter and Bolder

Either way, Raging Bull will be back, brighter, bolder, and hopefully with stairs that don't feel like a second thrill ride. Until then, we'll have to wait for its big reveal and try not to imagine painters dangling over the track mid-loop.