Credit: JoshuaXx, FlickrFor generations of thrill seekers in the Mid-Atlantic, Kings Dominion has been a rite of passage. The Doswell, Virginia, park has been entertaining guests since 1975, and today it’s part of the Six Flags family following the company’s merger with Cedar Fair.
Among its long lineup of coasters, few have the history of Grizzly. The wooden coaster opened on March 27, 1982, and its double-figure-eight layout is based closely on a classic: the long-gone Wildcat at Cincinnati’s Coney Island. Riders sit two across in cars held in place by lap bars, and the ride got a major refurbishment after Labor Day 2022 before returning in 2023.
Every ride on a coaster like Grizzly comes down to trust. Guests climb in, pull down the restraint, and count on it being properly secured before the train leaves the station.
That trust is front and center right now, after a video from a popular coaster YouTuber put Grizzly, and Six Flags, under a new spotlight.
What the Video Showed
On Monday, Marc Engel, who runs the popular YouTube channel CoasterDash, posted a vlog that included a ride on Grizzly with a companion. According to Entertainment Weekly, which viewed the video in its original form, the restraints in their car appeared to be in a nearly fully upright position.
ParkFans.net did get a copy of the footage and shared it on X: “A thoosie YouTuber with over 80k subs, CoasterDash, just posted a video in which he promotes riding
@SixFlags’s/ @KingsDominionVA’s wooden coaster, Grizzly, in a WILDLY and OBVIOUSLY dangerous manner. Original video is still live on his YouTube channel, but 🖼️ & 📽️ just in case:”
A thoosie YouTuber with over 80k subs, CoasterDash, just posted a video in which he promotes riding @SixFlags’s/@KingsDominionVA’s wooden coaster, Grizzly, in a WILDLY and OBVIOUSLY dangerous manner. Original video is still live on his YouTube channel, but 🖼️ & 📽️ just in case: https://t.co/Pu6BStRZGV
— ParkFans.net (@ParkFansNetwork) November 10, 2026
Before the ride, Engel said, “I am super excited to get back on this coaster.” The camera then panned down to show both lap bars in the car sitting nearly fully open above their fastened seatbelts. “Guys, are we serious? Why?” he said.
His ride partner responded, “Shout-out to the ride op!”
Afterward, Engel called it the “best ride I’ve ever had on Grizzly,” adding that “the ride operators gave us the most room I’ve ever had on any coaster in my life.” His companion added, “this is not even a useful review, because this is such a unique experience on this ride.”
That portion of the video was later seemingly removed from the full-length vlog. Entertainment Weekly said it reached out to Engel for comment.
Six Flags Says It’s Reviewing the Footage
Six Flags responded in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority,” a public relations manager for the company said.
The company also addressed the timing of the video. Six Flags said it is “aware of the video circulating online that we believe was filmed in August 2026 and are conducting a thorough review.” That would place the ride before the October 12 death at Six Flags Over Georgia, even though the vlog was posted about a month afterward.
As of now, that short statement is the only public response from Six Flags that we’ve seen. The company hasn’t shared any findings from its review.
It’s also worth noting that Grizzly is not one of the coasters Six Flags closed following the Georgia incident.
Why This Video Landed So Hard
The timing explains a lot of the reaction. On October 12, a man died after falling from Goliath, the 200-foot-tall roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia that opened in 2006. In their preliminary findings, Cobb County police said he was ejected from his seat.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected,” Six Flags said at the time.
In the aftermath, according to Entertainment Weekly, Six Flags closed 10 coasters across its parks. Along with Goliath in Georgia, they included:
- Diamondback and Orion at Kings Island in Ohio
- Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America near Chicago
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds near Charlotte, North Carolina
- Behemoth and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto
Magic Mountain’s Goliath, built by the now-defunct manufacturer Giovanola, has since reopened. The others are Bolliger & Mabillard models. SeaWorld Orlando also temporarily closed its B&M hypercoaster, Mako, “out of an abundance of caution,” before reopening it.
Six Flags has also said it will add secondary restraints, seatbelts used alongside the coaster’s main restraints, on rides similar to Goliath.
A Tense Season for Ride Safety
The Georgia incident wasn’t the only safety story Six Flags was facing. It followed three individual lawsuits filed against the company, amid more than 100 alleged brain injuries linked to X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The park has since announced that X2 will close after 22 years of operation.
Magic Mountain president Brian Oerding said the coaster “consistently passed a multitude of safety tests,” but that the park “decided to close the ride because we believe it’s the right thing to do. Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously.”
For perspective, serious incidents remain uncommon. A 2024 report co-authored by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions and the National Safety Council found fewer than two reported injuries per million rides.
Speak Up Before the Train Leaves
Six Flags’ review is still ongoing, and we’ll share any findings if the company releases them. In the meantime, the video is a good reminder for every coaster fan: if your restraint ever feels loose or doesn’t seem right, tell a ride operator before the train leaves the station. Speaking up is always the right call.
We’d like to hear from you. Has the news out of Six Flags this fall changed how you feel about riding coasters? Do you pay closer attention to your restraints now? Share your thoughts in the comments, and please keep the conversation respectful, especially with a family grieving after the loss in Georgia.
