Credit WFAA
ARLINGTON, Texas — Many visitors flock to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington to ride Titan, the tallest rollercoaster in the state. But imagine reaching the top, 250 feet in the air, and never coming down.
“I’m usually up in the air all day,” said Carlo Legaspi, laughing. “Except for lunch.”
Legaspi, team lead for Baynum Solutions, the company tasked with repainting Titan, spends his days high above the ground, working on one of the most iconic rides in the park.
“I love it,” Legaspi added. “Every job has its ups and downs, but my job is mostly ups.”
Baynum Solutions travels across the country year-round, working on amusement parks, giving a fresh look to rides like Titan.
“If you’re afraid of heights, this probably isn’t the job for you,” said Walt Bowser, president of Baynum Solutions.
Bowser’s team tackles about 120 amusement park attractions every year, but it’s more than just slapping on some paint. The process is meticulous.
Before a single drop of paint touches the track, Titan must be cleaned, primed, and protected. After weeks of preparation, the paint goes on by hand.
“It’s a lot of work,” Bowser said. “We do everything by brush and roll. If we spray up high and the wind picks up, we might end up painting the Cowboys’ stadium. So, we make sure to do it the right way.”
When Baynum is finished, every inch of Titan will have been touched four times. The repainting is happening now, during the offseason, since roller coasters typically need to be repainted every 10 to 15 years. It’s also the perfect time to refresh the ride with a new look.
“Titan is in the Texas-themed area of Six Flags Over Texas,” said Wilma Rivera, Six Flags regional public relations manager. “We wanted to honor Texas heritage, so we’re using the white, red, and blue colors to reflect the Texas flag.”
Rollercoaster fans may have noticed that so far, only blue and white paint has been applied. So, where’s the red?
“You’ll have to come back and see,” Rivera teased. “There’s a little secret, but it’ll definitely be red, white, and blue!”
The project involves about 10 workers, a few months of work, and 800 gallons of paint—truly a titanic achievement.
“There’s a lot of pride in what we do,” Bowser said. “Our guys take great pride in their work.”
Legaspi agrees, adding, “Sometimes I sneak a picture or two. I’m lucky to have found something I love to do.”
When the project is finished, however, Legaspi won’t be riding Titan. But that’s okay. For him, every day on the job is an adventure of its own.