The wait is almost over for the reimagined Montezooma’s Revenge now that Knott’s Berry Farm has set a reopening date for the oft-delayed ride after years of waiting and wondering when the historic roller coaster would return.
Knott’s Berry Farm has sent invitations for a media preview on July 20 of the new Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress roller coaster, with a public grand opening expected to follow.
ALSO SEE: Knott’s Berry Farm tests Montezooma launch coaster at full speed
The Buena Park theme park has spent four years transforming the 1978 Montezooma’s Revenge into a multi-launch coaster with an Aztec treasure hunter theme and a train designed to look like a mythical stone creature.
The redesigned Montezooma coaster train will depart from a rethemed station that has been reimagined as an architectural cousin of the Mayan stone temple housing the Jaguar coaster next door. Montezooma riders will pass through a fanged-toothed portal with smoke and lighting effects, according to a teaser video.
ALSO SEE: 24 live bands coming to Knott’s Summer Nights
A new station and queue experience will take riders through the exploration camp of Montezuma’s hidden Aztec fortress filled with boobytraps and the remains of treasure hunters.
Netherlands-based ride renovator Kumbak has been working on the Montezooma renovation. Kumbak has previously teamed with European theme parks Efteling, Walibi and Bakken.
Montezooma’s Revenge has sat partially disassembled since 2022 when Knott’s announced plans to update the historic flywheel launch coaster with a new randomized launch sequence.
The new version of the coaster is expected to rotate through three randomized multi-launch sequences with a fourth launch profile taking place on every 100th ride, according to Screamscape.
Montezooma’s Revenge was originally built by Germany-based roller coaster manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf based on plans developed by renowned coaster designer Werner Stengel.
ALSO SEE: Six Flags Magic Mountain celebrates Revolution’s 50th during America’s 250th
The 1978 Schwarzkopf flywheel-launch shuttle loop coaster has been designated a historic landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts as the last operating ride of its kind in the United States and the longest standing in its original location.