California's Retro Theme Park Ride Was Closed For Years – Now It's Reopening This Summer

Roller coaster enthusiasts are rejoicing over news that one of Knott's Berry Farm's signature rides could reopen this summer. Although the park hasn't yet set an opening date, outlets are reporting that the refurbished Montezooma's Revenge will welcome back riders this season. The coaster that originally opened in 1978 will be new, yet familiar, and its newly upgraded track and theme have rechristened it as "Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress."

The theme park, sitting just 30 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), has been working on the retooled and upgraded coaster since the ride shut down in 2022. Construction delays kept riders behind a wall during the 2023 and 2024 summer seasons, with promises of the new coaster launching in 2025. Well, that didn't happen, and construction continued throughout that season. Other theme parks have struggled to keep up with deadlines as well — Hersheypark, for example, nearly didn't open in time for the 2026 summer season.

So, is 2026 the year to add Montezooma to the list of California tourist hot spots worth visiting on your next trip out west? It seems likely, according to a report by The Orange County Register. In April 2026, it reported that the coaster would be back up and running by summer, with park officials telling the outlet, "We are getting close to unveiling an opening date and welcoming all who are brave enough to embark on an unforgettable expedition in search of Montezuma's elusive gold."

Knott's Berry Farm has seen a lot of evolution since its early days. And while it's not the oldest theme park in the United States, it is a staple for thrill seekers. The same can be said for its Montezooma's Revenge coaster. While the ride's updated track will follow a familiar course, the way in which it operates and its theme will be completely new. According to The Orange County Register, one of the much-talked-about changes involves how the coaster launches. The original flywheel launching system dating back to the 1970s has been removed, and a new system is in place that allows for different multi-launch sequences.

It's been reported that for every 100th launch, a completely different launch profile will take passengers on a totally new experience. What those different launch experiences are, exactly, remains a mystery. However, the new system is expected to allow for both forward and backward motion. The new theme is also intriguing, involving doomed treasure hunters and Aztec-inspired cars, The Orange County Register reports.

Screamscape, a website that tracks everything related to roller coasters and theme parks, also seems to think the opening date is quickly approaching. The site celebrated the newly themed Montezooma trains rolling on the new track for testing in early June. While the test runs are certainly a positive sign for an approaching launch date, there is still no specific timeline as of this writing.