The "X-Treme Park" would not be what it is today without one of its colossal creations, one that has snuck into pop culture and was known as one of the greatest wooden creations in its glory days. Let's flash back from this year to a time when the park was simply Magic Mountain; back when Looney Tunes were not the mascots, but the Wizard and his trolls Beep, Bloop, and Boop were. In all of its glory of double white tracks and red rails, one of the few coasters made by International Amusement Devices provided a great Kodak moment as guests approached the park.

It was a picturesque sunny summer day in California on June 29th, 1978 when Colossus opened to the public as the world’s tallest and fastest coaster in a tie with another dual-tracked coaster, Cedar Point’s Gemini. Thrill seekers gasped at the structure and called it “the greatest coaster of all time!” With that title said and done, it became a pop culture icon after appearing in the movie National Lampoon’s Vacation and in the opening sequence for the nineties sitcom Step by Step.

However, the ride was toned down from its original glory after having its fair share of modifications. The first happened in the first season of its operation. During the winter months, Colossus was modified to lessen the severity of the forces on the ride before the 1979 season. The second modification was to replace the original International Amusement Devices trains with new Philadelphia Toboggan Company trains. Trains were switched yet again in 1987 to the current Morgan trains. In 1991, the ride was tamed yet again when the insane double-dip element that provided significant airtime was flattened to make room for a block section in order to increase capacity.

Colossus also had its fair share of traditions, since 1984, during the park's Fright Fest Halloween events, trains would be turned around backwards. Along with experiencing Colossus backwards, giant spiders, yes, spiders, literally “climb” on Colossus’ supports. After the Halloween event, the trains would go back to their normal forward runs. But once in a while, the trains will be turned around backwards during Spring Break.

Soon-to-be-riders of this 1978 park classic choose their side to race the other train by boarding the Morgan train’s six cars carrying a total of twenty-four people. After boarding, riders drop out of the station and head through a turnaround leading to the 125-foot-tall lift carrying them to the top of the colossal first drop. After cresting the top of the lift hill, the colossal wooden coaster makes a mad dash at over sixty miles per hour going down the 115-foot drop as the trains, side by side, begin their colossal race. After the giant drop, the trains rise back up from the drop and into a turnaround as one train gains more distance ahead of the other on the inner track. Passengers then go down another colossal drop up another hill with some pops of airtime and then up another turnaround, yet again the inner track train gets ahead of the other. After that, passengers end up on one of Colossus’ unusual, yet missed elements of the ride that was removed by Six Flags. After the second turnaround, riders then go up one hill and the drop would be unusual-looking due to that fact that it is a block section. But when ridden back in that sunny June day of 1978, it would have been an intense double-dip element with some insane airtime. After that section, riders go around another long turnaround as one side gains more distance ahead of the other train. Following the third and last turnaround, the ride goes for more airtime on two more hills, then follows the brake run into the station.

After having a fair share of cameo appearances on television and movies, Colossus still thrills riders today. Though most enthusiasts consider the ride pale in comparison to the nearby Goliath, it still provides a fun ride for enthusiasts and in memories of its earlier years, one of the most insane rides on the planet. If you want to race and go on a classic wooden coaster, try Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain, a ride that is extreme in nostalgia and racing, and fun for everyone.