Who Ya Gonna Launch? Ghostbusters Appears Poised to Replace Rip Ride Rockit

Green construction walls and permits point to something ghostly in the works.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, which has towered over Universal Studios Florida since 2009, is closing on August 18, 2025 (via Wikipedia). Its spot in the New York section—complete with a treble-clef loop crashing through a faux Firehouse—has long tied into the park’s Ghostbusters heritage. Now, construction walls citing “Historic Engine 89 Firehouse Restoration” have appeared around the ride support—renewing speculation that Ghostbusters may rise again in that space (via WDWNT; via GhostbustersNews).

History is repeating itself at Universal Studios Florida. Five years after the closure of the original Ghostbusters Spooktacular show, the famed Firehouse façade, once home to slime and ghosts, is back in the spotlight. Crews have erected green construction walls around Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s treble‑clef loop, and the signage explicitly mentions “restoration of the Historic Engine 89 Firehouse” in compliance with the Historic Preservation Act (via WDWNT). This week’s fresh site work, track visible behind fences, and construction efforts are clearly more than mere landscaping (via WDWNT; via WDWNT).

Inside those walls, Universal is reportedly working with Intamin, the same manufacturer behind the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster in California and the blockbuster VelociCoaster back in Orlando (via Orlandoparkstop). Bright-blue ride track recently spotted at Intamin’s European facility — believed destined for this very project — mirrors the style of their vertical-launch systems and reinforces the rumor that a multi-launch ride is taking shape (via Orlandoparkstop). That type of system, featuring sudden bursts of speed and tight-diameter elements, fits the vibe of a spectral pursuit more than a generic thrill ramp.

Ghostbusters isn’t just a liberally reused intellectual property at Universal; it’s being woven into their broader narrative strategy. The Firehouse façade is an unmistakable callback to the original show, and the placement of new construction containment suggests more than façade refurbishment—it implies the coaster station itself may be embedded within that iconic image (via GhostbustersNews). Redditors who frequent coaster forums and ride-enthusiast subs have picked up on the pattern, with comments like “a ghostbusters coaster would be way more popular” and speculation over the return of the Firehouse entrance (via Reddit; via GhostbustersNews).

Guests walking the New York Street area during site visits have reported seeing rockwork removed, track segments lying near the lagoon, and crew members operating behind the walls—even with Rockit still open until mid‑August (via WDWNT; via WDWNT). That suggests heavy machinery and structural work have already begun, likely ahead of full demolition to ensure minimal disruption once the marquee track is cleared away.

What might this new ride look like? The strongest rumors point to a trackless multi-launch coaster shaped around a recreated Engine 89 Firehouse. Intamin’s designs could allow trains to launch multiple times—perhaps escaping ghosts in tight quarters, then bursting into a New York skyline element, before returning into a showcase finale beneath the Firehouse canopy. Riders may queue through the Firehouse, see its classic façade, then board an Ecto-themed train complete with onboard audio or lighting effects. With two new buildings permitted—one for the ride station and another likely for mechanics—Universal appears ready to reinstate a long-missing E-ticket thrill here (via Orlandoparkstop).

Ghostbusters suits Universal’s post-Epic Universe strategy: they need a headline-grabbing thrill at Studios to match Islands of Adventure’s VelociCoaster and the hype surrounding Epic’s imminent attractions. Ghostbusters, although not Marvel, maintains cross-generational recognition and taps into Universal’s nostalgia catalog. Plus, it fits spatially. Fast & Furious might have been considered for this plot, but the Firehouse references in the walls seal the deal. Ghostbusters Spooktacular’s entrance is being resurrected not as a museum piece but as a gateway to a high-speed supernatural adventure.

There’s no official announcement yet — Universal never telegraphs these moves. But all the pieces unify: walls maintained through August, construction fencing referencing Ghostbusters façade, Intamin track ready for installation, new station blueprints filed, and heated online chatter. If rumors hold, Universal may unleash this coaster between 2027 and 2028, tying into its seasonal events and offering a signature New York chase ride.

If you’re strolling past the Roman amphitheater or stopping for a slice at Louie’s, glance at that Firehouse façade now blanketed in green. It won’t stay that way for long. Something spectral is stirring, and Ghostbusters may soon be the pride of Universal Studios Florida again—this time, on rails.

Subscribe to Epic Universal for more insider analysis, construction updates, and theme-park rumor tracking you actually need to keep your finger on the pulse.