WASHINGTON — A permanently closed ride at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, caught on fire on Friday. 

The Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, which closed for good on Aug. 18, is currently undergoing a demolition process. Local station WESH-TV reported that Orlando Fire Department firefighters were “working a small active fire on the tracks of a closed coaster.” 

Videos shared on social media showed a small blaze rippling through the rollercoaster’s former vertical lift hill track.  

The cause of the fire was unknown. 

Photos and videos shared online on Friday afternoon showed firefighters spraying water on the coaster’s tracks. 

The rollercoaster opened on Aug. 19, 2009. For more than a decade, the steel coaster gave visitors a thrill ride while listening to their favorite tracks, including “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas, ” “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain and more. 

Riders would select their song in the first 30 seconds. They could choose from Classic Rock/Metal, Rap/Hip-Hop, Club/Electronica, Country and Pop/Disco. 

The rollercoaster reached a max of 65 mph and stood at 167 feet tall, towering over the park. The attraction was built by German manufacturer Maurer Sohne.

According to a parks fan blog called AllEars, the attraction was supposed to close in September 2025, but its closing date was moved up to mid-August. Universal did not provide details on why the beloved rollercoaster closed but said it was shut down “to make way for a new experience,” the blog reported. 

AllEars also reported that a new permit filed in March 2025 hinted that the new attraction will be a two-story building. 

It is not yet known what will replace the attraction.