SeaWorld Orlando’s Mako roller coaster is closed today, October 13, following Monday’s tragic incident involving Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia. Guests visiting SeaWorld Orlando have reported that Mako is not operating, and independent ride wait-time tracking website Queue-Times is also listing the attraction as closed.
The closure comes as theme parks across North America are taking precautions following the October 12 incident at Six Flags Over Georgia, which resulted in one death and several reported injuries. Goliath and Mako are both hyper coasters manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), a Swiss roller coaster manufacturer. Both attractions also utilize the manufacturer’s distinctive clamshell-style lap restraints, which secure riders across their thighs rather than using traditional over-the-shoulder restraints.
Behind the Splash reached out directly to SeaWorld Orlando’s Public Relations team regarding Mako’s status and received the following statement:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those involved in the tragic incident at Six Flags over Georgia.
The safety of our guests and team members is a top priority. Our safety staff and ride technicians strive to maintain and deliver attractions that our guests can enjoy with confidence. That work includes regular ride inspections and ongoing collaboration with ride manufacturers and other engineering and safety experts.”
While SeaWorld acknowledged the tragedy and emphasized its ongoing safety procedures, the statement did not specifically address why Mako is closed today or whether the closure is directly related to the incident at Six Flags Over Georgia. At this time, SeaWorld has not provided Behind the Splash with an anticipated reopening date.
Meanwhile, Six Flags has temporarily suspended operations on several similar roller coasters across its parks in the United States and Canada. Among the affected attractions are Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure, Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America, Diamondback and Orion at Kings Island, Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds, and Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland. Six Flags has described the closures as precautionary measures following the incident in Georgia.
The decision to close these attractions has drawn attention throughout the theme park industry, particularly because several of the affected coasters feature secondary seat belts in addition to their primary lap restraints. However, investigators have not established the cause of the Goliath incident, and there has been no official determination that a restraint malfunction was responsible.
Mako, which opened in 2016, is one of SeaWorld Orlando’s signature attractions, standing 200 feet tall and reaching speeds of up to 73 mph. Its similarities to Goliath make its operating status particularly noteworthy as the investigation continues, although there is currently no confirmed evidence suggesting that Mako has experienced any mechanical or safety-related issue.
The closures appear to be extending across much of the B&M hyper and giga coaster lineup in North America, particularly attractions utilizing the manufacturer’s clamshell-style restraint system. However, determining the full extent of the closures is complicated by the fact that not every theme park operates daily, especially during the fall season. Busch Gardens Williamsburg, for example, is closed October 13 and 14, meaning the operating status of Apollo’s Chariot, another B&M hyper coaster, remains unknown. It is possible that additional attractions will remain closed while operators review the circumstances surrounding the Goliath incident, although there has been no confirmation that B&M has directed parks to suspend operations or conduct specific inspections.
There is also no clear indication of how long these closures might last. For comparison, Universal Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers remained closed for 17 days following a fatal incident in September 2025, reopening on October 4 after technical and operational reviews. That incident involved a different coaster manufacturer and different circumstances, so the timeline isn’t necessarily an indication of what will happen with Mako or the other affected attractions. With the investigation into Goliath still in its early stages, any potential reopening dates remain uncertain.
For now, the reason behind Mako’s closure remains unconfirmed. Behind the Splash will continue monitoring the attraction’s status and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
Sources: SeaWorld Orlando Public Relations (direct statement to Behind the Splash), guest reports from SeaWorld Orlando, Queue-Times, and reporting from WSB-TV and Entertainment Weekly.
Special thanks to Esmael Cherif Berryane for photo of Mako’s closure notice.
