Long Lines In Austell As Six Flags Over Georgia Retires Cyclone

AUSTELL, GA -- Long lines formed Sunday for one last ride on one of Six Flags Over Georgia's most iconic thrillers: the Cyclone. The Austell amusement park announced a few weeks ago that it was retiring the wooden roller coaster from service, creating a frenzy among diehard fans.

"THIS IS IT. The FINAL DAY to ride the Georgia Cyclone. FOREVER," the amusement park posted on Facebook Sunday morning. (To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the South Cobb Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

The Georgia Cyclone, regarded as one of the top wooden roller coasters in the world, is just under 100 feet tall and reaches speeds of 50 miles per hour. "The classic coaster has given nearly 8.7 million rides since opening in 1990," the company says on its website.

Throngs of people came out to bid farewell to the ride that had become synonymous with their childhood. For some, it was simply a good ride, for others it was good riddance.

“I won’t be too sad to see it go,” park-goer Mark Hammond told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But I had to say goodbye."

Image via Six Flags Over Georgia