Prior to its construction, the Great Gasp and Looping Starship attractions were removed to make room for Goliath, which opened to the public on April 1, 2006.

[1][2] By the end of the 2005 season, the rides Great Gasp and Looping Starship were closed and removed from the park to make room for the new roller coaster.

Next, the train rises back up and enters a 540-degree downward helix before passing through a set of trim brakes and going over the third camelback hill, this time with a 118-foot (36 m) drop.

The train then enters a horseshoe leading back into the park, followed by the final three camelback hills with a drop height of 79-foot (24 m), 56-foot (17 m), and 48-foot (15 m), each lower than the previous one, the second of which crosses over Georgia Scorcher's brake run.

Following a banked left turn, the train makes a quick drop before entering the final brake run leading back to the station.

[1][10][15] Joel Bullock from The Coaster Critic and Mike from NewsPlusNotes both praised the g-forces experienced while going through the helix, as well as the amount of airtime Goliath has.

"[18] In Goliath's opening year, it was voted the fourth best new ride for 2006 and the ninth best steel roller coaster in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards.