A couple of weeks ago I saw the news that Fun Spot America in Atlanta would be closing on Sunday, August 2, 2026. For the last few years I have been itching to visit this park to experience ArieForce One. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the coaster and wanted to try it for myself. I was curious to see where it would rank on my list of favorite coasters, especially compared to its fellow Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) coasters in my Top 10. Could it outshine my Number 1, Steel Vengeance? I haven’t rode that since 2018, so perhaps? Wildcat’s Revenge? I have that as my Number 2 and I love that ride no matter the row. It’s a feisty kitty! Then there is Iron Gwazi, which I rode for the first time last year. While I did enjoy it (mostly in the back row), I expected more.
All those thoughts came over me again as I sat there looking at my phone reading the terrible news. Now I’ll never get a chance to find out. With only a few weeks left before the park’s closure and two recent vacations with both Sam and Jen, there was no way I could find a way to get myself down there too. Or could I?
Being off on Mondays I contemplated the idea of flying down for the day and flying home either that same night, or the next morning before work. I priced it out still thinking that this was a far fetched plan. I sat on the idea and then decided I’m going to ask my boss if he’d let me off on a Tuesday to make this a reality. Then I could toss in Six Flags Over Georgia (SFOG) too so the price of the flight, rental car, etc. would feel more warranted.
He said yes!
I went home that night, booked the flight, and was so excited to finally make this happen, although I wish it was under better circumstances.
Riding a Roller Coaster of Emotions
When my plane landed at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2026, my heart sank. For the entire week leading up to this trip I had saw rain and thunderstorms in the forecast for both Monday and Tuesday. I hoped that forecast wouldn’t play out, but from the looks of things, it was going to be bad. There was so much rain coming down as our plane made its way to the terminal. I didn’t know if the park would be open. Still on the plane, I was already glad that I decided to make this a two day trip just in case. If I had try again on Tuesday, so be it.
After getting off my plane, riding the two trains at the Atlanta airport to get my rental car, the rain slowed down and blue skies were overhead. A rush of relief came over me. I was only 25 minutes away from the park. It looked like I was going to get my rides in after all. So naturally when I was 4 minutes away from the park, clouds, rain, and lightning said, “Nope!” Talk about a roller coaster… a roller coaster of emotions!
Not knowing if I’d get to ride once again, I grabbed my camera and figured I’d at least get some photos of the park. I couldn’t go home without those too. And even though I saw a bunch of people leaving the park, it was still open.
Riding a Roller Coaster of Steel (3 Technically)
For 45 minutes I walked through the park, especially along ArieForce One, taking tons of pictures. With none of the rides running, they were all trainless shots, but I figured I’d use my downtime wisely just in case my fortunes would change. Plus, the coaster still looked striking with its bright white support structure and red and blue rails regardless. It’s easily one of the most visually appealing RMC coasters I’ve seen.
Since the ride was not running, I wasn’t sure if the station would be roped off. As I approached, I saw that it wasn’t. I made my way in and asked if it was okay for me to be there and if so, if I could take some photos. The staff told me to go ahead and even moved out of the way so I would have a wide open view to capture everything unobstructed.
This is when it happened.
The female ride op got a message. She then turned to me and said that the ride was reopening and I could ride after maintenance came by to clear everything. I couldn’t run to get my wristband any faster than I did! Even though I hadn’t taken photos of the other coasters yet, I wasn’t about to pass up rides on ArieForce if it was indeed about to reopen.
ArieForce One
With only me and one other person in the station as they prepped to reopen, I lined up for a back row ride. If that storm was going to return, I was going to make sure I got at least one ride in the back. That’s when I met Peter. Peter asked if he could ride in the back with me since we were both single riders. I said sure. And with that, we were headed out into the pre-lift and I was about to see what ArieForce One was all about.
Long story short, I ended up getting in a few rides with Peter before another storm passed by and rides shut down once more. At that point I had a few rides under my belt and felt like I could start making some comparisons in my head. Was it Steel Vengeance levels of good? No. Wildcat’s Revenge. Also no, but close. I did like it better than Iron Gwazi, however.
I really enjoyed all the different elements and nothing about the coaster felt repetitive. This RMC just felt different than all the others I’ve experienced to date. Little did I know that after this second storm was over and once that train began dispatching either full or nearly full trains, that my opinions would change.
All in all I ended up getting 21 total rides on ArieForce by the time the park closed at 10 p.m. and most of those came during the evening and night. What a difference it made too. The train was blazing through the course with the airtime hitting stronger and stronger with every ride. Earlier in the day I found all the commentary about the quad-down ending being painful to be so overblown. Later on, however, I understood. My legs were starting to feel it more and more, but I sure didn’t let it stop me.
Sea Serpent
Also needing the two other credits at the park, Peter and I walked over for a quick ride on Sea Serpent mid-day. It was a one and done and I joked with Peter that I now have the Fun Spot Sea Serpent competition. I rode the one at Fun Spot Orlando and Kissimmee last year and finally jumped on this one.
Aside from being the best of the three based on riding smoother than the other two, there isn’t much to really say here. I mean, I feel like it was more photogenic too since I finished up my photos during this short break from ArieForce.
Hurricane
It looked like Peter and I would not be completing the park’s coaster credits as Hurricane did not reopen after the storm. We kept peeking over from the ArieForce One station to see if we could see the trains moving throughout the evening, but never did. We figured it was staying closed. Being the credit whore I am, I figured I could head back over on Tuesday after I left SFOG to see if it was open and buy a single ride on it. But low and behold, I wouldn’t have to.
Peter and I decided to head out a few minutes early to see if Hurricane happened to reopen before the park closed. It was 9:55 p.m. and as we made our way over, we saw the closed sign taken down. We ran over and asked one of the ride ops if it was open. He said it was. No one else was there, so we got into that station super quick, ultimately getting in two rides before the park closed.
I had heard how horrible this ride is for years, but I actually enjoyed it. Peter did too. The airtime was surprising. And yes, the tight turns did pack a punch. They made me laugh more than cry out in pain, though. And just like the Hurricane at the Kissimmee location, I had a blast riding this one a few times.
Final Ride Counts
ArieForce One (21)
Hurricane (1)
Sea Sepent (1)
Made Some New Friends Too
Although was a solo trip, I ended up meeting several fellow enthusiasts who I got talked to and rode with throughout the day. I’ve already mentioned Peter, who was my main ride partner. We hit it off immediately and had a blast riding in each and every row. It didn’t matter if we were in the front, back, or in the middle, we found ourselves having a great time every time.
Peter and I also met Keith and Alex of Atlantic Coasters on TikTok ,between rides. It was my Loch Ness Monster and Peter’s Voyage shirts which caught Keith’s eye and started our conversation. Coaster shirts from other parks are an easy way to spot a fellow thoosie.
And speaking of shirts, another enthusiast also took notice of them. Her name is Chelsea, and she was marathoning ArieForce One like her life depended on it. I don’t think too many trains departed without her on it. And every ride I saw on her on, she looked like she was at peace and loving life. She was in her element.
After a brief pause in operations, Chelsea asked Peter if he’d like a Voyage bracelet that she made. She had a bag full of them. He accepted it and thanked her. She turned to me and said that she didn’t have a Loch Ness Monster one, but asked me if I liked Alpengeist. If she only knew! I told her I do and that it is my favorite invert. She handed me one with beads in the coaster’s icy blue and white color scheme and I put it right on, and thanked her. Talk about a kind gesture!
So not only did I end up riding one of my now all-time favorite coasters 21 times, but I also made a few new friends. And best of all, it sounds like a few of them have plans to be at SFOG on Tuesday too. Maybe we’d meet up again?
My New #2 Coaster, Which Makes its Closure Hurt Even More
When all was said and done I now have a new Number 2 favorite in ArieForce One. The ride is just so good. And since I have plans to get back to Cedar Point in September, I guess I will see if Steel Vengeance still holds onto its Number 1 spot. It certainly has a new challenger.
Unlike Steel Vengeance though, it is unlikely that I will get the chance to ride ArieForce One again. Aside from someone buying the Fun Spot property and reopening it, the ride being relocated to another park, or the slim chance that it could be cloned and built to whatever specs it needs to be at another park, its days are numbered. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed that one of those futures comes to pass. What do you think will happen? Did you get a chance to ride this awesome coaster?
Fun Spot Atlanta Photo Gallery - July 13, 2026
If you would like to use any of the images in the gallery above for your commercial and/or non-commercial projects, feel free to do so. I ask that you credit We Were Inverted whenever they’re used. I also ask that you do not alter the image or remove the watermarks. If you need any images/video resized or without the watermarks, please contact me directly.
CREW MANIFEST
The following flight crew members attended this park, & earned the respective credits below:
Patrick
CAG
New Credit(s): ArieForce One, Sea Serpent, Hurricane