Shockwave

Shockwave was a steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. The structure reached a height of roughly 170 feet (52 meters) and guided the cars along a track through loops, a boomerang section, and two corkscrews.

The ride opened in 1988 and was considered the tallest and fastest looping roller coaster worldwide that year. Operations ended in 2002 after the coaster had carried guests for fourteen seasons.

The name referred to the sudden sensation riders felt while rushing through the seven inversions that forced bodies in rapid succession through different directions. Visitors came especially for the three vertical loops arranged one after another, which were still rare in this combination at the time.

The ride lasted roughly two minutes and carried twenty-eight people at a time in seven cars. The first major loop caused repeated maintenance work on the track bed due to stress.

After closure, the lift motor found a new use in another roller coaster at the same park. Sections of the track were also passed on to other locations and continued to operate there.

Location: Gurnee

GPS coordinates: 42.37120,-87.93430

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28