Opening Date to be by Summer 2026 MonteZOOMa The Forbidden Fortress Rollercoaster at Knott's Berry Farm

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Finally I have been watching the progress they have been doing to MonteZooma forbidden Fortress at Knott's Berry Farm

and then I saw this tonight. 

Knott’s Berry Farm to open reimagined Montezooma coaster this summer Knott’s maintenance crews recently installed Montezooma’s new electromagnetic launch system. The oft-delayed makeover of Montezooma’s Revenge at Knott’s Berry Farm that has mothballed the historic roller coaster for four years will soon be completed and ready to welcome riders again. Knott’s Berry Farm looks forward to opening the reimagined Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress launched roller coaster by summer 2026 or sooner, according to Knott’s officials. “The park is eagerly awaiting to see the ancient legend rise again,” according to Knott’s officials. “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.” The extensive renovation of Montezooma’s Revenge at Knott’s Berry Farm will introduce a backstory about doomed treasure hunters along with Aztec-themed trains, randomized launch sequences and new rider restraints.

All the parts needed for the Montezooma makeover are at Knott’s — including the track, motors and coaster trains. Knott’s maintenance crews recently installed Montezooma’s new electromagnetic launch system known as Linear Synchronous Motors that will assist with the launch and braking of the coaster trains, according to Screamscape. Knott’s plans to start testing the reimagined Montezooma coaster in the next month or two once the new trains are placed on the track. Montezooma’s Revenge has sat partially disassembled since 2022 when the Buena Park theme park announced plans to update the historic flywheel launch coaster with a new randomized launch sequence and rechristen the reimagined ride as Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress. The Montezooma makeover has been marked by fits and starts right from the beginning. Knott’s Berry Farm closed Montezooma’s Revenge in January 2022 with little notice or fanfare only to be forced to reopen the ride the next day so fans could get one more ride on the classic coaster. At the time, the remade ride was expected to return in 2023. The updated Monty was supposed to be the centerpiece of the refreshed Fiesta Village, but the Knott’s themed land returned in May 2023 without the star of the show. Construction delays were blamed for the ride remaining unready for the reopening of Fiesta Village. During the festivities, a construction wall stood at the entrance to the Montezooma coaster that was missing large segments of track, including the signature loop. Montezooma’s Revenge was built by German roller coaster manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf based on plans developed by renowned coaster designer Werner Stengel. The 1978 Schwarzkopf flywheel-launch shuttle loop coaster has been designated a historic landmark as the last operating ride of its kind in the United States and the longest standing in its original location. The redesigned Montezooma coaster train will depart from a rethemed station that has been reimagined as an architectural cousin of the Mayan stone temple housing the Jaguar coaster next door. Montezooma riders will pass through a fanged mouth-like portal with smoke and lighting effects, according to a teaser video. The new coaster train for Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress has been designed to look like a mythical creature made from rocks with fang-like teeth, reptilian scales, spiked armor and glowing red eyes. The first flywheel-launched roller coaster in the world will offer riders a new twist as Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress. The new version of the coaster is expected to rotate through three randomized multi-launch sequences with a fourth launch profile taking place on every 100th ride, according to Screamscape. “Imagine the surprise in store for riders while they wait for the launch, not knowing if the coaster will launch forward or backwards at first,” according to Screamscape. “Talk about adding a re-rideability factor.” A new station and queue experience will take riders through the exploration camp of Montezuma’s hidden Aztec fortress filled with boobytraps and the remains of treasure hunters. The nearby Jaguar coaster next to Montezooma is set amid an archeological dig in a Mayan temple. The rides are already connected with Jaguar’s track passing through Montezooma’s loop. The theming of the reimagined Montezooma coaster will be separate from the Jaguar coaster and will tell the story of Montezuma’s hidden treasure and those who have tried to find Aztec emperor’s riches over the years. Wow can't wait. This was posted in the OC Register on By Brady MacDonald | bmacdonald@scng.com PUBLISHED: April 2, 2026 at 8:46 AM PDT | UPDATED: April 2, 2026 at 4:09 PM PDT.