Six Flags Renames 'Dead Man's Party' in Halloween Lineup Days After Fatal Goliath Roller Coaster Incident

Six Flags Over Georgia has renamed its Fright Fest show 'Dr. Fright's Dead Man's Party' days after a guest was ejected from the park's Goliath roller coaster and died. The company has not explicitly linked the two developments.

The production is now listed as 'Dr. Fright's Party' ahead of the park's planned reopening on Friday, 16 October. The same show at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey has also had its online listing changed. The timing has drawn attention because the Goliath death occurred on Monday, 12 October, during the Halloween season, when Fright Fest attractions are operating.

Six Flags Renames 'Dead Man's Party'

The production, which dates back to 1999, was absent from Six Flags Over Georgia's 2025 Fright Fest line-up before returning this year under its original title. It is now listed as 'Dr. Fright's Party', with its description also revised to remove the darker language previously associated with the production.

According to Attractions Magazine, the updated description reads: 'Join Dr. Fright for a lively Halloween celebration filled with energetic entertainment, larger-than-life characters, and festive surprises.' The publication contacted Six Flags Over Georgia about the change and whether further adjustments would be made. A spokesperson said: 'Out of respect for the recent incident and those affected, we have made certain adjustments to our event offerings.'

Six Flags has not specifically confirmed whether the show's renamed title is one of those adjustments, nor has it announced wider changes to its Fright Fest entertainment. That distinction is notable because Six Flags Great Adventure continues to list 'Final Destination: Death's Playground' as part of its 2026 Fright Fest programme. The attraction is based on the horror franchise known for elaborate death scenarios, including a famous roller coaster sequence in the original film.

Fatal Goliath Incident Under Investigation

The title change comes after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday after being ejected from Goliath, according to police. Preliminary information from witness and employee interviews indicated that Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction. Several other people were injured.

One witness told 11Alive that Kariem 'fell and hit the car three different times' before falling beneath the ride. The witness also said the man appeared in a souvenir photo taken during the ride. An alleged image has since circulated online, but it has not been independently authenticated.

Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is conducting an 'in-depth and comprehensive review' of the incident as investigators work to establish what happened. Six Flags Over Georgia is due to reopen on Friday, but Goliath is not expected to operate while the investigation continues.

Nine Other Roller Coasters Closed

The Goliath incident also prompted Six Flags to temporarily close nine roller coasters across six parks in the US and Canada as a precaution. The affected rides include Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds, Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure, Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America, and Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland.

The closures involve rides built by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Swiss manufacturer that also built Goliath in Georgia. The company said it was investigating the incident but would not comment further until it had a better understanding of what happened.

Six Flags has confirmed adjustments to its event offerings, but has not specified whether the fatal incident prompted the show's name change.