You’re standing on the edge of the water at Six Flags Over Georgia, looking at a tangled mess of blue steel track. It looks intimidating. It also looks a little... dated.
If you’ve spent any time in enthusiast circles, you’ve heard the horror stories. People used to call this ride a "head-banging machine." Back when it was known as the Ninja, it had a reputation for being one of the most brutal experiences in the park. You’d get off with a headache and a vow to never touch it again.
But things changed in 2016. The Blue Hawk roller coaster isn’t the same ride your parents complained about in the 90s.
The Weird, Relocated History of the Blue Hawk
Blue Hawk didn't even start in Georgia. Honestly, it’s a bit of a nomad. It originally opened in 1989 as Kamikaze at a place called Dinosaur Beach in Wildwood, New Jersey.
It only stayed there for three seasons before Six Flags bought it and hauled it down to Austell. When it debuted at Six Flags Over Georgia in 1992 as the Ninja, it was actually the tallest coaster in the park. Can you imagine that? In a world of Goliath and Dare Devil Dive, it’s hard to picture this Vekoma looper being the "big bad" of the park.
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For decades, the Ninja was the ride you only rode if the line for Batman: The Ride was over two hours. The old Arrow-style over-the-shoulder restraints were thick, hard, and perfectly positioned to box your ears during every transition.
The 2016 Transformation
Six Flags finally listened to the complaints. They didn’t scrap the ride, which is what many fans expected. Instead, they gave it a massive overhaul.
The park held a public vote to rename it. The options were American Eagle, Air Commander, and Blue Hawk. Obviously, we know which one won. They repainted the track a sharp military blue and, most importantly, replaced the trains.
The new trains features soft vest restraints. This changed everything. It didn’t magically make the track smooth—Vekoma's 1980s engineering is still very much present—but it removed the "boxing match" element. Now, when the coaster jerks, your head doesn't hit anything. It's a game-changer for your neck.
Breaking Down the Layout: 5 Inversions of Chaos
The Blue Hawk roller coaster is a "custom MK-1200" model. That sounds fancy, but it basically means it’s a standard looping coaster with a few unique tweaks for the Georgia terrain.
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- The Lift Hill: It’s 122 feet tall. It’s a slow crawl, giving you plenty of time to look at the lake.
- The Butterfly: This is the signature move. It’s two vertical loops connected by a weird, twisting transition. It’s intense. If you’re going to grey out, it’ll happen here.
- The Reverse Sidewinder: A loop-screw hybrid that feels a bit janky but delivers solid G-forces.
- The Double Corkscrew: Classic coaster stuff. It’s the final "punch" before the brakes.
The ride clocks in at 52 mph. That might not sound fast compared to modern hyper-coasters, but because the track is so close to the water and the supports are so dense, it feels much faster.
Is it actually "smooth" now?
Kinda. Sorta. Not really.
Look, a coat of paint doesn't fix old welds. The ride still has "jolt points"—specific spots on the track where the wheels don't quite transition perfectly. You’ll feel a shimmy in the valleys of the loops.
But the vest restraints make those jolts tolerable. Instead of a "stay away" ride, it’s become a "solid filler" ride. It’s reliable. It rarely has a line longer than 15 minutes.
Pro Tips for Riding Blue Hawk
If you want the best experience, don't just sit anywhere.
Sit in the front row. In most coasters, the back gives you the best airtime, but on older Vekoma loopers like Blue Hawk, the front row offers the smoothest tracking. You can see the jolts coming and brace your core.
Also, watch out for the "head-choppers." Because of the way the supports are designed, it often feels like you’re going to lose a limb when you fly under the track sections. It’s a great psychological thrill that modern, wide-clearance coasters often lack.
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Why You Shouldn't Skip It
In a park filled with world-class attractions, why waste time on a 30-year-old looper?
Because it’s a piece of history that actually works now. It’s one of the few places where you can experience a "Butterfly" inversion without flying to France (the only other one is on Goudurix at Parc Astérix).
It’s intense, it’s beautiful over the water, and it’s a great way to bridge the gap between "kiddie" coasters and the absolute monsters like Goliath.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Visit
- Check the Wait Times: Use the Six Flags app. If Blue Hawk is more than 20 minutes, skip it and come back later. It almost always drops to a walk-on by mid-afternoon.
- Brace Your Core: On the Butterfly inversion, keep your back against the seat and your core tight. This prevents that "jelly" feeling in your spine.
- Ride at Sunset: The view of the sun hitting the water while you’re hanging upside down in the corkscrews is honestly one of the best sights in the park.
- Check the Restraints: Ensure the vest is snug but not crushing. The "vest" part can sometimes tighten during the ride (a common Vekoma trait), so leave a tiny bit of breathing room if the ride op allows it.
The Blue Hawk roller coaster isn't the best ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. It’s not even in the top three. But it is a survivor. It’s a ride that went from being a park-wide joke to a respectable, high-intensity looper that deserves at least one cycle during your trip.