A classic reimagined: Montezooma’s Revenge returns to Knott’s Berry Farm
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Christopher Higgins first rode Montezooma’s Revenge on Jan. 17, 1994 at age 12 — the same day as the Northridge earthquake.
“The quake was in the morning before park opening, but we called Knott’s and they were gonna open that morning,” said Higgins, who now lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Mission Viejo and is owner of America’s Coaster Network, a forum for roller coaster enthusiasts.
“It was just me and a friend, a year older. He wanted me to ride Montezooma’s Revenge, but I was too scared. Then I saw kids younger than me getting in line and felt pressured to ride. And so I did. It was a blast.”
Montezooma’s became one of Higgins’ favorite rides at Knott’s Berry Farm, a sentiment shared by many other roller coaster fans. On Aug. 6, Montezooma’s Revenge officially reopened as MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress — after a four-year closure — with improvements including a new launch system and updated theming while still preserving the ride’s history.
“The track is the same track as far as the layout,” said Raffi Kaprelyan, park president of Knott’s Berry Farm. “We wanted to make sure that all the elements were the same as the one before. So we had to take it and measure the old one, to be precise with it, and make sure that it was like-for-like replacement in everything except for the train and the launch system.”
Upgrades include new trains, a new motorized launch system, an updated station experience, refurbished track and supports, and a reimagined story and theming involving a mysterious forbidden temple and the legendary lost treasure of Montezooma.
Built by German roller coaster manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf and designed by German engineer Werner Stengel, the original coaster opened on May 25, 1978. The original ride was the first, and one of only eight flywheel-launched coasters in the world. It accelerates to more than 55 miles per hour in less than four seconds, speeding through a 76-foot, 360-degree vertical loop, climbing the 148-foot front tower, reversing through the loop and up the 112-foot back tower.
The nonprofit American Coaster Enthusiasts designated the ride — the last operating Schwarzkopf shuttle loop in the United States and the longest standing in its original location — an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in 2019.
Derek Perry, president elect of American Coaster Enthusiasts, said he first rode Montezooma’s Revenge as a child with his family during a vacation to California from Rhode Island, where he grew up.
“I had heard about this wild shuttle loop coaster that sent riders forward and backward through a massive loop and up two spikes, but I could never have imagined how much of an impact it would have on me,” Perry said. “My first visit to Knott’s Berry Farm and my first ride on Montezooma’s Revenge stand out as some of my favorite childhood memories.”
He said he’s grateful that the park restored the iconic attraction rather than scrapping it — especially since there are few of these classic coasters left in the world.
“I know it can be difficult to keep older rides operating, and Knott’s Berry Farm does such a fantastic job of maintaining the historic charm of the park while also meeting modern safety standards,” he said.
He rode the renovated ride on the first day it opened to the public on Aug. 6.
“I’ve been on it more than a dozen times now, and I’m ready to ride it dozens more,” he said.
The first thing he noticed in the renovated ride was the updated theming and he was impressed.
“The entrance sign and archway look terrific and fit perfectly into the Fiesta Village section of the park,” Perry said. “The queue is full of booby-trap theming that builds the excitement as you make your way to the station. The audio design is also top-notch and helps tell the story, getting you ready to venture further into the Forbidden Fortress.”
He said the renovations exceeded his expectations.
“The smoothness of the ride really stands out, as do the powerful launch and the lighting and audio show that sets you off right before you’re launched out of the station,” Perry said. “The new version seems to pack more of a punch. The loop feels more intense, and the design of the train looks fantastic. Overall, it feels like a new experience while still retaining the spirit of the original Montezooma’s Revenge.”
