Steel Toro (RMC Conversion)

Constraints

One of my most recent and exciting projects is Steel Toro, an RMC conversion of the iconic El Toro ride at Six Flags Great Adventure. As my home park and home to one of my favorite coasters, El Toro, which opened in 2006, felt like the perfect inspiration for this project. To ensure the design stayed true to real-life RMC conversions, I established a set of constraints at the outset:

  1. Track Length: The track must be 1500 meters or less.
  2. Zoning: The layout must remain confined to the original area, with an exception for the Zumanjaro queue area.
  3. Reusability: Existing structures can be reused or scrapped, depending on feasibility (e.g., Wildcat’s Revenge and Iron Gwazi).
  4. New Dynamic Trains: I-Box hybrid trains must be redesigned to include LEDs.
  5. Blocking: The track and supports must not interfere with existing pivotal walkways.
  6. Station: The station and service bays must be reused.
  7. Maximum Height: The maximum height of the ride must not exceed 210 feet.
  8. New Theming: The project must include new theming.
  9. Budget: The total cost must range between $20–25 million, with $10–15 million allocated for track, $5 million for theming, and $5 million for labor, trains, and additional expenses.

With these constraints in place, I began the project by mapping the site.

Site Mapping

One of the first and most critical steps in any ride conversion project is site mapping. This process involves creating accurate and detailed representations of the physical area, identifying existing structures, and understanding the constraints and opportunities of the site. For Steel Toro, site mapping required evaluating the current layout of El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure, which includes key elements such as the station, service bays, maintenance sheds, and control rooms. These structures are pivotal for determining the space available for modifications and ensuring that essential operational elements can be preserved or adapted.

Since I have not had the opportunity to work directly at Six Flags, acquiring detailed knowledge about these critical structures presented a challenge. To overcome this, I mapped the general area that could feasibly accommodate Steel Toro based on my observations and publicly available information. The initial map, shown to the right, highlights the space theoretically allotted to the ride. This includes the current El Toro track layout, which will serve as a foundation for a reimagined ride experience. Additionally, the queue line for Zumanjaro, which has been closed since 2024, offers a unique opportunity to extend the ride’s footprint. By incorporating this unused area, Steel Toro could expand beyond the constraints of the original El Toro layout, adding more creative possibilities for the ride’s design.

However, there are challenges to consider, such as the unknown conditions of the Zumanjaro queue area. For instance, soil strength and stability must be taken into account when designing coaster elements, supports, and foundations. While I currently assume for simplicity that the ground in this area is strong enough to support the coaster, further analysis would be necessary in a real-world scenario. Despite these uncertainties, site mapping has laid the groundwork for planning Steel Toro’s layout and setting the stage for a thrilling RMC conversion that retains the essence of El Toro while offering a fresh, innovative experience.