Six Flags Over Texas is set to open its biggest attraction ever—Tormenta Rampaging Run—in 2026 for the park’s 65th anniversary, but the burning question remains: when will the record-breaking roller coaster actually open?
Ever since trackwork completed on the ride back in mid-March, the park has not provided any formal construction updates. Of course this milestone is but one step in the process, with crews installing various mechanical and electrical systems after the final piece of track was placed.
While the park has never announced an official opening date, it’s evident Tormenta is significantly behind schedule. Coaster enthusiast events occurring in May originally advertised exclusive ride time on Tormenta, but ultimately scrubbed it from itineraries as the event dates neared with Tormenta still sitting dormant. Park PR teams also informed us last year to expect an invite to the media event around April, which of course has not happened yet.
What is Tormenta’s Latest Status?
Despite being behind schedule, progress is being made. Visitors to the park this past weekend spotted a train installed in the maintenance shed near the station. Crews were also seen touching up paint from boom lifts at the beginning of May.
Tormenta Train installed in Maintenance Shed (photo courtesy Andrew Floyd)
Tormenta still has not had any test runs completed. Once testing begins, crews will cycle the ride thousands of times to take accelerometer readings and iron out any control system bugs to ensure the ride meets all requirements under all conditions. Even before completing its first test run, it’s likely the park will perform a controlled pull-through of a train, ensuring there are no track irregularities or clearance concerns.
Other Related Work
Tormenta will open in a reimagined Spain area, which also needs considerable work based on recent aerial footage showed rebar and forms set but concrete not-yet-poured for new walkways throughout the area. Tormenta’s entrance and queue line also needs to be constructed.
Spain area aerial view from May 4 (courtesy Triple Pines Studios)
More surprisingly, it also appears nothing has been completed for the new restaurant Cocina Abuela. This dining location is set to become the largest in the park, but the building’s concrete pad hasn’t even been poured yet. It seems likely the park would want the Spain area, with Tormenta and Cocina Abuela, to all open together in a grand event.
Much of the area beneath Tormenta is still dirt, which will need to be landscaped and fenced. The preferred parking lot which Tormenta extends into will also need to be reconfigured.
The Six Flags Railroad will need new track weaving through the new coaster and a new engine house constructed, though Tormenta’s opening isn’t necessarily impacted by this work.
Tormenta’s Opening Date
Based on the status of where everything appears to be, our best guess for when Tormenta will be unleashed on the public is late July or August. The park still needs to finish the coaster’s electromechanical systems, (probably) do a pull-through, and start performing thousands of test runs. New coasters often require 4-8 weeks of commissioning once testing begins. Meanwhile, the Spain area must be fully rebuilt, landscaped, themed, and tied into the park’s pathways. The new Cocina Abuela restaurant alone represents a significant construction effort. All of this makes an early‑summer debut unlikely.
Of course this guesstimate would unfortunately put Tormenta’s grand opening past the timeframe when thousands of international FIFA fans will be in town for a number of World Cup matches (between June 14 and July 14).
As construction continues across both the coaster and the surrounding Spain area, Tormenta Rampaging Run is clearly entering the final stretch — but still has a long checklist ahead. Once testing begins, progress should become far more visible, offering a clearer sense of when the ride will be ready for guests. For now, a late‑summer opening remains the most realistic target. Whenever it finally debuts, Tormenta is poised to redefine the skyline and mark a milestone moment for Six Flags Over Texas.
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