PETA condemns Six Flags' planned roller coaster: "Leave the bulls out of it"
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling on Six Flags Over Texas to reconsider its new Tormenta Rampaging Run roller coaster, saying the ride glorifies animal cruelty.
Inspired by Spain's Running of the Bulls, the ride will feature sharp turns, airtime moments, multiple inversions, and a 95-degree beyond-vertical drop. It's being designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, a Swiss coaster manufacturer known for high-thrill attractions.
"People go to Six Flags for fun and thrills, not to glorify the torment of bulls who are lanced, stabbed, and have their spines hacked apart in the bullring," said Colleen O'Brien, PETA's senior vice president. "PETA urges Six Flags to stick to the Spanish meaning of 'Tormenta,' a storm, and leave the bulls out of it."
In response, Six Flags said the ride's backstory is fictional and not about bullfighting.
"The bull is the hero of our story, and the ride honors his strength and speed," said Wilma Rivera, regional manager of public relations for Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor Arlington.
Ride to open in 2026
The coaster is set to open in 2026 as part of the park's 65th anniversary celebration. At 309 feet tall, it will be the world's first to combine the height of a giga coaster with the vertical drop of a dive coaster, according to park officials.
The ride will anchor a new Spain-themed land called Rancho de la Tormenta, which also includes a Spanish/Latin American restaurant, Cocina Abuela, and an immersive village.