The Circuit Breaker is the first tilt roller coaster in Texas and only the second of its kind in the United States.
Provided by COTALAND
COTALAND’s marquee roller coaster experienced two operational stops with riders on board during the Austin-area amusement park’s opening weekend, including one that left 19 people secured in their seats as the ride tilted vertically.
The Circuit Breaker coaster stopped unexpectedly Saturday and again Sunday, according to a statement provided by COTALAND. No injuries were reported and no medical treatment was required in either incident.
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Saturday’s stop lasted about nine minutes while the ride was in its vertical tilt position, COTALAND said. The vehicle was then returned to a horizontal position before attendants helped riders exit.
The second stop occurred Sunday and lasted about two minutes before the vehicle was returned to its normal horizontal position. Riders exited normally, according to COTALAND.
COTALAND provided the following statement to the American-Statesman in response to questions about the stops:
“On Saturday, Circuit Breaker experienced an unplanned stop while 19 riders were onboard. The ride stopped while the vehicle was in its vertical tilt position, where riders remained safely secured in their seats for approximately nine minutes. The vehicle was then returned to a horizontal position, and ride attendants assisted guests in exiting. No injuries occurred and no medical treatment was required.
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Circuit Breaker experienced another operational stop on Sunday while riders were onboard. Riders remained safely secured throughout the delay. The ride vehicle returned to its normal horizontal position in approximately two minutes, and guests exited normally. No injuries occurred and no medical treatment was required.
Circuit Breaker, like modern roller coasters and other major thrill rides, has numerous sensors and safety systems that continuously monitor operating conditions. If a required condition is not satisfied, the system may automatically stop the ride rather than allow it to continue. When that happens, riders remain safely secured while attendants follow established procedures, complete the necessary checks and verification cycles, and return the ride to service once those checks are satisfied.
Occasional operational stops are a normal part of operating sophisticated amusement rides. Our goal is to complete the necessary checks efficiently, minimize the inconvenience to our guests, and get everyone back to enjoying their day at COTALAND.”
Both stops occurred as the new amusement park celebrated its long-awaited grand opening Sept. 26 and 27 at Circuit of the Americas. The 30-acre park sits beside the track, between turns 19 and 20, and features 30 rides and attractions for both families and adrenaline seekers. The Circuit Breaker is one of five coasters at the park, and COTALAND boasts it as the first tilt roller coaster in Texas and only the second of its kind in the United States.
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Though this weekend marked the park’s grand opening, some rides — including the Circuit Breaker — had been open to the public for much longer.
The park faced a $1 million lawsuit earlier this year over another incident in which riders were stuck on the Circuit Breaker. Riders Matthew Cantu and Nicholas Sanchez allege in the lawsuit that they were stuck in a 90-degree position, 120 feet in the air, for more than an hour when the coaster malfunctioned on Dec. 17, 2025.
Representatives for COTALAND said at the time that the coaster’s built-in safety systems functioned as intended.
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“We take guest safety extremely seriously, and the ride’s built-in safety systems functioned exactly as intended during this temporary delay,” said Griffin Tendler, vice president of marketing for COTALAND, in a statement to KXAN in response to the lawsuit. “While we understand that any interruption can be frustrating for guests, the characterization of this incident in the lawsuit is inaccurate and motivated by greed.”
Tickets to COTALAND currently range in price from $39.99 to $75, plus additional fees for parking. Annual passes start at $199.