Universal Orlando Resort has officially closed a beloved roller coaster 15 years after it debuted. Founded in 1990, Universal Orlando Resort has always updated its offerings to match the biggest pop culture hits. Although some rides (like Jurᴀssic Park River Adventure) have had impressively long runs, others, even some visitor favorites, are fated to eventually make their final trip around the track.

Some high-profile closings at Universal Studios in Orlando are the 2012 shuttering of the Jaws attraction and the 2007 closure of Back to the Future: The Ride. Another major closing was the 2002 discontinuation of Kongfrontation, based on the 1976 King Kong movie.

Universal’s Rip Ride Rockit, a coaster notable for the fact that it allowed riders to choose the music they would hear on their ride, closed today after speeding through its final run (at 65 miles per hour) last night. On the coaster’s final day, staff handed out guitar picks to all riders.

In light of the send-off on August 17, many visitors jumped the long queue to celebrate the last memories of the popular ride. The wait times had already skyrocketed to 55 minutes as the park just opened before eventually climbing to nearly three hours later in the day. The express line was extending to the locker area, and even the single-rider line was reaching capacity closer to around noon, as witnessed by a ScreenRant representative.

At one point, the ride was halted due to the Florida weather. Despite the weather hiccup, the roller coaster was running again at night, when the last riders were able to go on before the gate closed permanently.

What Rip Ride Rockit’s Closure Means For Universal Orlando Resort

Rip Ride Rockit’s closure is yet another sign that Universal is investing in new rides and attractions to keep audiences visiting the park. Although endeavors like Universal Epic Universe highlight a commitment to creating entire new areas around Universal-owned intellectual property, the flagship park is also changing to modernize its offerings.

Even as Rip Ride Rockit thrilled audiences for one final day, Universal seemed to have begun construction on the as-yet-unannounced ride that will replace it. Although nothing has been announced, there is speculation that the new ride could be the Florida park’s version of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which is expected to open in the California location sometime next year.

Our Take On Rip Ride Rockit’s Closure

If Rip Ride Rockit is indeed to be replaced with a Fast & Furious attraction, Universal’s choice to close down the ride makes sense. As beloved as the coaster was, the fact that it wasn’t based on any preexisting IP means that it’s a logical choice for replacement with something boasting more name recognition.

On a bittersweet note, the coaster saw exceptionally high traffic on its final day, with even the single-rider queue hitting capacity by midday. As well as a replacement ride is sure to be done at the park (especially if it is Fast & Furious-related), Rip Ride Rockit was clearly a fan favorite and still stands out as conceptually unique and creative.

Whatever Universal does put in place of Rip Ride Rockit, hopefully, the park continues to ideate exciting and creative experiences for its visitors. As much as Fast & Furious makes at the box office, a spiritual successor to Rip Ride Rockit at some point down the line would surely win over a whole new generation of parkgoers.