Amusement park enthusiasts are mourning the loss of Kingda Ka, the world’s tallest roller coaster.

So is the New Jersey journey really coming to an end? The story took some twists and turns.

Usually riders don’t scream until the roller coaster reaches the top, but just after Six Flags Great Adventure attendees hit Kingda Ka Sunday evening, they were already screaming: “Long Live the King,” chanted riders as they prepared for takeoff.

A YouTube video shows what may be the last run of Kingda Ka in its two-decade history at the Jackson Township park, which has long maintained its status as the world’s highest thrill ride at 456 feet.

Rumors began swirling on social media this week that Cedar Fair Entertainment, which merged with Six Flags earlier this year, might drop the ride and that Sunday was the last day for the public to try it out, citing unnamed park staff. Riding the Ka.

Six Flags has not confirmed the coaster’s closure or commented on its future.

“We plan to share information about the ride and additional park news very soon,” a Six Flags spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. “We will be sure to keep you updated when this information becomes available.”

Roller coaster enthusiast and YouTuber “ElToroRyan” captured what Ka described as “the last public coaster” and loaded it onto the platform that evening.

The video had been viewed more than 125,000 times as of Tuesday morning and sparked an emotional response from some coaster die-hard fans, including calls to #SaveKingdaKa on Facebook. Users commemorated the steel structure by posting flashback photos from outside Kingda Ka’s stone entrance gates and messages such as “Rest in peace, Kingda Ka.”

The conflicting information hasn’t stopped speculation about Ka’s future, with some fans questioning whether the coaster is truly gone for good or whether Cedar Fair plans to rehabilitate and upgrade the ride or even move it to another location.

Kingda Ka has attracted riders from all over the world since its opening in 2005. In just 3.5 seconds, it propels riders to speeds of up to 120 mph, takes them up a 90-degree incline to the top, and then plummets down in a 270-degree spiral.

In addition to being the fastest roller coaster at its launch, Ka also attracted widespread media attention for its engineering prowess; The hydraulic launch system launches riders high above the Washington Monument and Egyptian pyramids before bringing them back to safety.

“This means a lot to tons of different people,” said Jason Balinskas, who described the energy during the ride’s so-called final outing as “electric” in a Facebook post on Monday.

Despite the coaster’s success, it is also known for its expensive maintenance and frequent repairs.

As the summer season ramped up in 2023, the state ordered the closure of Kingda Ka after operators reported “mechanical failure of a component of the launch system”; which resulted in the car failing to reach the top – or something else thrill seekers call it a “comeback”.

Users on the theme park blog “Coaster Force” suggested that if Cedar Fair does indeed close the ride, the cost of maintenance could be a contributing factor.

One user wrote: “I understand this is a very expensive ride to run and maintain, but you’d think such an iconic train would be worth saving.”