Harley Quinn Spinsanity: Invigorating Fun at Six Flags America
The Harley Quinn Spinsanity is great fun for the entire family. (Courtesy Six Flags America)
I’m always rooting for our local coaster park, Six Flags America, and lately they’ve been doing a great job of adding new attractions to the park to keep people coming back every season. Unfortunately that didn’t happen last year – Covid lockdowns kept the Italian ride manufacturer Zamperla from completing 2020’s big new ride, Harley Quinn Spinsanity. Work had to stop until travel restrictions were lifted, and by that point it was too late in the season to debut the ride, so it just sat there, unused… until now! Yesterday I attended the press event for the opening of Harley Quinn Spinsanity, and I think it was definitely worth the wait, because this ride is going to be a huge crowd-pleaser.
The day started out on a positive note, as I was directed to the employee entrance and was then driven through the park to the Gotham City section, where the ride is located. It’s always interesting to see the behind-the-scenes sections of an amusement park that guests don’t usually get to see, and driving through a park that you’re so used to walking around can be a bit of a surreal experience.
Once at Gotham City I was checked in and given a swag bag that contained some well-themed merch that I assume will be sold in the park: a Harley Quinn cape, Harley Quinn sunglasses, Harley Quinn socks, a Harley Quinn mask (which I wore on the ride), and a Six Flags America coozie that will definitely be getting a lot of use (or at least more use than the cape).
And then it was time to ride Harley Quinn Spinsanity. I honestly didn’t know what to expect – I knew that it swung and spun, so I was thinking it was going to be a mix of a Pirate Ship swinger and a Gravitron, and was legitimately concerned that combo would make me vomit. But it turns out the spinning is relatively slow, and is mainly there to ensure that everyone gets a different view on every swing. As a result there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Normally the ride can seat 40 people, but I had the whole thing to myself, which was quite a luxury. I’d been told that it reaches speeds of up to 70mph, but I don’t think you can quite fathom what that actually means until you’re swinging down from 15 stories in the air at 70mph, the wind screaming through your hair and gravity pulling at your body. It’s a wild mix of massive speed from the top to the bottom combined with weightlessness when you hit the apex. Combine that with a gorgeous view of the park and the whole thing is a rush that is over too soon and pretty much demands a re-ride. I felt zero ill effects and came off of it invigorated, so I think this really could be something that the whole family can ride, and I think it’s going to be a big hit for the park.
Before leaving, Joanna White, Food and Beverage Director, showed me some of the new food that’s being served at the park this year, including a cheesesteak-topped pretzel twist (which can be made vegetarian by just topping it with peppers and onions), a fish po-boy, a gourmet footlong hotdog, and chocolate-covered cannolis. I got to try one of the cannolis, and it was absolutely decadent. Not sure I’d be able to eat more than one, but these would be great for a family to split on the car ride home. Joanna also showed me a wild new drink called “Fly Girl” that contains vodka, sangria, and margarita mix, garnished with gummy bears and rock candy! This is served at the new Steelworks Pub directly across from the ride, and I can tell you from experience that they pour a stiff drink there. It’s definitely my new go-to spot in the park for an adult beverage.
Harley Quinn Spinsanity opened to the public on 5/14/2021 and I highly recommend taking a trip to Six Flags America to experience it firsthand. And if history is any indication, they usually have a killer Memorial Day sale on Season Passes and Memberships, so be sure to keep an eye on their website for that in a few weeks. I’ll be using mine to return on a Friday or Saturday night to experience Spinsanity in the dark, since it looks like it has an extensive lighting package which I’m sure will make riding it after sundown a totally different experience!
Leonard Kinsey is the owner of Bamboo Forest Publishing, and the bestselling author of “The Dark Side of Disney”, the Anarchist Cookbook of Disney travel guides. He has lived in Baltimore for over 15 years, and enjoys drinking craft beer in unique places, eating nachos and pizza, listening to 80s hair metal, and arguing about Star Trek minutia, often all at the same time. Watch out ladies!