Entertainment

For San Antonio families, theme park fans and visitors planning a Texas getaway in 2027, something big is beginning to take shape against the familiar limestone walls of Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

The San Antonio amusement park has officially broken ground on Werewolf Gorge, a sprawling new roller coaster that Six Flags says will become the world’s longest family launch coaster when it opens during Fiesta Texas’ 35th anniversary season in 2027.

Stretching 4,120 feet, the new attraction will also become the longest roller coaster ever built at Six Flags Fiesta Texasand represents the largest investment in a single attraction in the park’s history.

For a city where tourism supports hotels, restaurants, shops, entertainment venues and thousands of local workers, the project carries significance beyond another addition to the Six Flags skyline. Visit San Antonio reported in May 2026 that the city’s tourism industry generates approximately $23.4 billion in economic impact and supports more than 150,000 jobs, making major destination investments particularly meaningful to the broader local economy. 

Werewolf Gorge Brings a New Kind of Family Coaster to San Antonio

Werewolf Gorge is being designed to sit somewhere between a traditional family ride and a larger thrill coaster, giving parents, children and multi-generational groups an attraction they can experience together.

The ride will feature four launches, speeds of more than 40 mph, a midcourse rollback, onboard audio, extensive storytelling elements and dramatic elevation changes throughout its 4,120-foot course.

Six Flags currently lists the coaster as reaching speeds of up to 45 mph and featuring 32 airtime moments as riders travel through the fictional remains of an abandoned silver mine. 

“This groundbreaking represents much more than the start of construction,” said Robert Bustle, park manager of Six Flags Fiesta Texas. “Werewolf Gorge is the largest single-attraction investment in our park’s history and a significant investment in the future of tourism in Texas. This record-breaking coaster will deliver an experience families can’t find anywhere else while reinforcing Six Flags Fiesta Texas as a destination for visitors from across the United States and beyond.”

Construction began following a ceremonial groundbreaking attended by local officials, community leaders, project partners and Six Flags leadership. Against the park’s recognizable quarry wall, attendees marked the occasion with branded hard hats, pickaxes and a countdown officially launching the construction phase.

A Texas Legend Becomes the Ride’s Story

Rather than relying only on speed and track length, Werewolf Gorge is being developed as a story-driven attraction rooted in the kind of legends and folklore long associated with Texas.

The experience places riders on what begins as a sightseeing journey into a mysterious quarry before the trip turns into an encounter with a centuries-old werewolf legend.

Six Flags’ backstory centers on the fictional Silver Strike Mining Company, which operated in the gorge during the late 19th century before strange events — including reported wolf sightings, disappearing miners and mysterious howls — began surrounding the mine.

Riders will race through rugged terrain, banking turns and changing elevations while experiencing near-miss encounters with towering creatures as the story unfolds through onboard audio and physical surroundings.

The combination gives Six Flags Fiesta Texas another attraction built around more than traditional coaster statistics, incorporating immersive entertainment into the ride itself.

A Record-Breaking Investment During Fiesta Texas’ 35th Anniversary

Werewolf Gorge arrives at a notable moment for the San Antonio park.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2027, giving the new coaster a centerpiece role during the milestone season.

Over the decades, the quarry setting has become part of Fiesta Texas’ identity, helping distinguish the property from more traditional amusement parks. Werewolf Gorge will make that landscape part of its storytelling, using the terrain and quarry setting to create the fictional world surrounding the attraction.

When completed, the coaster is expected to include:

• 4,120 feet of track, which Six Flags says will establish a world record for the longest family launch coaster
• Four separate launches
• A dynamic swingback launch sequence
• Speeds exceeding 40 mph
• The longest roller coaster layout in Six Flags Fiesta Texas history
• Onboard audio and immersive storytelling
• A ride experience intended for multiple generations to enjoy together

For local families who have built their own memories around trips to Fiesta Texas, the anniversary and new attraction represent another chapter in a park that has been part of San Antonio’s entertainment landscape for more than three decades.

Why the New Six Flags Coaster Matters to San Antonio Tourism

Large-scale attractions have an impact that can extend well beyond a theme park’s gates.

San Antonio welcomes nearly 40 million visitors annually, according to Visit San Antonio, with tourism remaining one of the region’s leading industries. Those visitors spend money at local hotels, restaurants, retailers, attractions and other businesses throughout the city. (Visit San Antonio)

A world-record attraction gives coaster enthusiasts and returning visitors another reason to put San Antonio on their travel calendars — and potentially another reason to stay longer once they arrive.

“Projects like Werewolf Gorge help keep San Antonio at the forefront of the tourism industry,” said District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Gonzalez. “This investment strengthens our city’s position as a premier destination while bringing global attention to our community through a world-record-breaking attraction.”

That tourism connection is particularly relevant for a city where destination attractions such as Fiesta Texas compete alongside the River Walk, historic sites, cultural destinations and other major family attractions for travelers’ time.

The park itself continues to operate as more than a summertime destination. Its annual calendar includes seasonal events such as Fright Fest, Oktoberfest, Kids Tricks and Treats and Holiday in the Park, helping draw visitors during multiple parts of the year. 

When Will Werewolf Gorge Open at Six Flags Fiesta Texas?

Werewolf Gorge is scheduled to open at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2027, during the park’s 35th anniversary season. Six Flags has not yet announced a specific opening date.

Construction is now underway, and the groundbreaking represents one of the first visible milestones before the record-breaking coaster begins carrying riders through its fictional Texas quarry.

In the meantime, Six Flags is already promoting its 2027 Gold Pass as part of its Biggest Sale of the Year, which runs through Sept. 7. Current park information lists the pass as including visits through the remainder of 2026 and throughout 2027, parking and access to participating regional parks, subject to the company’s terms and conditions.

Passholders are also expected to be among the first guests to experience Werewolf Gorge after it opens.

For longtime San Antonio residents, the project may be especially interesting to watch develop. Fiesta Texas’ quarry walls have served as a backdrop for family outings, school breaks, summer traditions and holiday visits for generations. Now, one of the biggest investments in the park’s history is being built directly into that evolving story.

As work continues toward the 2027 opening, My Neighborhood News will continue following Werewolf Gorge and other new attractions, developments and investments shaping San Antonio and the surrounding community.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.