The Dragon Challenge coaster at Islands of Adventure will permanently close in early September to make way for a new Harry Potter-themed coaster, Universal said Monday.

  • New coaster based on Harry Potter coming to Universal Orlando
  • To make room, Dragon Challenge will be permanently closed
  • Last day of operation for Dragon Challenge is Monday, Sept. 4

The new thrill ride, in Universal's Hogsmeade area, will "take you deeper into J.K Rowling's Wizarding World," Universal announced on its official blog. Universal Creative is working with Warner Bros. and production designers from the Harry Potter films to design the ride, the park said.

The Dragon Challenge opened as the "Dueling Dragons" coaster in 1999 — a double coaster with two tracks that twisted and looped around each other. It was repurposed based on a scene from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and reopened in 2010 as part of the park's Wizarding World of Harry Potter land.

The last day of operation for the Dragon Challenge will be Monday, Sept. 4.


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