Six Flags (1961–2024)
| File:Six Flags (logo).svg | |
| Formerly | Tierco Group, Inc. (1971-1994) Premier Parks, Inc. (1994-2000) Six Flags, Inc. (2000–2010) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Public |
| |
| Industry | Theme parks |
| Predecessor | Six Flags Theme Parks |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Angus G. Wynne |
| Defunct | Template:End date and age |
| Fate | Merged with Cedar Fair |
| Successor | Six Flags (2024) |
| Headquarters | Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
Number of locations | 27 |
Area served |
|
Key people | Selim Bassoul (CEO) |
| Revenue |
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| |
Number of employees | 1,450 full-time; 40,000 seasonal (2022) |
| Website | sixflags |
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Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, once known as Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc., stood as a premier amusement park operator in the United States with its headquarters situated in Arlington, Texas. At its height, the company managed the largest portfolio of theme and water parks globally—operating 42 venues across North America including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This collection encompassed theme parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers. In 2019 alone, Six Flags welcomed 32.8 million guests, placing it seventh worldwide in terms of attendance figures.
The enterprise was established during the 1960s by businessman Angus G. Wynne, initially under the titles Six Flags, Corp. followed by Six Flags, Inc.. Corporate headquarters were maintained in both Midtown Manhattan and Arlington. Facing financial challenges that led to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in June 2009 for restructuring purposes, Six Flags successfully reemerged from bankruptcy protection by May 2010 after executing a thorough reorganization plan.
On July 1, 2024, Six Flags combined forces with rival amusement park operator Cedar Fair through an $8 billion merger deal. The newly merged organization preserved the Six Flags brand name and established its main office in Charlotte. This consolidation resulted in a leading global amusement park company overseeing 51 properties—including 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and nine resorts—substantially increasing its market presence and international footprint.
Origins
The origins trace back to 1957 when entrepreneur Angus G. Wynne alongside investors formed The Great Southwest Corporation. This entity initiated construction of its inaugural theme park named Six Flags Over Texas located in Arlington, Texas in 1960. The park’s title pays homage to the six nations that historically ruled over Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America. It officially opened its gates in 1961 for a limited season lasting just 45 days.
Early features at the park included a Native American village exhibit, gondola rides, a railroad attraction, Wild West performances, stagecoach experiences, and "Skull Island," themed around pirates. Another notable attraction was "LaSalle's River Adventure," inspired by the La Salle Expeditions and featuring French riverboats navigating through animated scenes. Over subsequent years, these original attractions were phased out and replaced by modern thrill rides such as roller coasters, swing rides, log flumes, shoot-the-chute water rides, and an observation tower offering panoramic views.
Expansion and acquisitions
In 1964, Toddie Lee Wynne divested his $6 million interest in Great Southwest Corporation. The Pennsylvania Railroad secured a controlling stake by acquiring 500,000 shares as part of its revenue diversification efforts. After merging with the New York Central Railroad in 1968 to form Penn Central Transportation Company, the railroad filed for bankruptcy in 1970; despite this, it continued to finance Six Flags' growth initiatives.
Six Flags launched additional parks, including Six Flags Over Georgia in 1967 and Six Flags Over Mid-America in St. Louis in 1971. The company's expansion strategy then emphasized acquisitions such as AstroWorld in Houston (1975), Great Adventure in New Jersey (1977), and Magic Mountain in California (1979).
In 1982, Penn Central divested Six Flags to Bally Manufacturing. Two years later, Six Flags purchased Great America located in Gurnee, Illinois from Marriott for $114.5 million, securing the rights to feature Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes characters.
Bally transferred ownership through a leveraged buyout to Wesray Capital Corporation in 1987. By 1990–91, Time Warner increased its holdings to a 50% stake, ultimately acquiring full control in 1993 and renaming the entity Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. To alleviate financial obligations in 1995, Time Warner sold a 51% interest for $200 million to an investment consortium led by Boston Ventures, passing on $800 million of debt to Six Flags.
In 1996, Six Flags assumed management of Fiesta Texas in San Antonio with an option to acquire the park after ten years.
Premier Parks
Premier Parks, Inc. was an amusement park operator based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Established in 1971 as Tierco Group, Inc., the company initially focused on real estate before entering the amusement park sector in 1982 through the $1.2 million purchase of Frontier City. Although originally planning to replace the park with retail development, the downturn in the oil industry during the 1980s prompted a shift toward enhancing the park itself. Under general manager Gary Story, appointed in 1984, Frontier City’s attendance and revenue increased fourfold due to investments in new attractions and improved family-oriented amenities.
By 1988, Tierco had fully transitioned away from real estate into amusement parks exclusively. In 1991, it acquired White Water Bay water park and concentrated on expanding family-friendly features to drive attendance growth. The following year, Tierco added a second venue by purchasing Wild World in Maryland for $500,000 worth of renovations and rebranding it as Adventure World with a tropical theme. Gary Story was promoted to president and COO by 1994. The company subsequently rebranded as Premier Parks, Inc., under CEO Kieran E. Burke.
Premier Parks pursued an assertive acquisition strategy throughout the late 1990s. In August 1995, it acquired Geauga Lake, Wyandot Lake, and Darien Lake from Funtime, Inc. for $60 million; Lake Compounce was later sold to Kennywood Entertainment. The firm also enhanced its water park holdings by adding such facilities to properties that previously lacked them.
Premier went public in June 1996, raising nearly $70 million at $18 per share to support further expansion efforts. That year saw acquisitions including The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom (New York), Elitch Gardens (Colorado), Waterworld USA parks (California), Paradise Island Family Fun Park, and Riverside Park (Massachusetts).
In 1997, Premier began operations at Marine World near San Francisco and secured Kentucky Kingdom’s lease for $64 million. It also took over management of Six Flags Over Texas as a managing partner. Expanding internationally, Premier acquired a controlling interest of 94% in Belgium’s Walibi Group—consisting of six parks across Belgium, Holland, and France—to position itself competitively against Disneyland Paris. By the close of 1997, Premier Parks attracted nearly 11 million visitors across its portfolio.
This acquisition-driven approach combined with strategic leadership solidified Premier Parks as a major contender within the global amusement park industry, offering a diversified range of family-oriented entertainment experiences.
Acquisition of Six Flags by Premier Parks
On February 10, 1998, Time Warner Entertainment along with its investment partners divested their holdings in Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc., selling to Premier Parks, Inc. for $1.86 billion, marking the most significant acquisition in Premier's history. The transaction was finalized on April 1. By June, Kentucky Kingdom was rebranded as Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, becoming the first park under Premier’s ownership to adopt the Six Flags branding. Subsequently, in October, four additional parks—Elitch Gardens, Darien Lake, The New Marine World, and Adventure World—were incorporated into the Six Flags brand; the first three maintained their original names appended with the Six Flags designation, whereas Adventure World underwent a complete transformation into Six Flags America. These transitions featured the incorporation of Warner Bros. intellectual properties, thereby expanding the Six Flags portfolio to seventeen parks. On November 18, Premier finalized its acquisition of Six Flags Fiesta Texas from USAA.
Premier Parks continued broadening its holdings by purchasing Reino Aventura in Mexico City for roughly $59 million in March; acquiring White Water Atlanta and American Adventures in Marietta, Georgia from Silver Dollar City, Inc. in May; and obtaining SplashTown USA located in Spring, Texas later that same month. On October 6, Premier extended its North American licensing agreement with Warner Bros., securing rights to Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network, and DC Comics characters for operations throughout Europe and Latin America. This agreement facilitated Premier’s development of additional Warner Bros. Movie World theme parks internationally and included acquiring Warner Bros. Movie World Germany as well as obtaining a minority ownership stake with operational control for the forthcoming Parque Warner Madrid theme park set to open in 2002. It is important to note that this arrangement did not include the original Warner Bros. Movie World on Australia’s Gold Coast due to separate ownership.
Transition of Premier Parks to Six Flags Branding
In its 1999 annual report, Premier Parks revealed plans to rebrand under the Six Flags, Inc. corporate identity. This included transitioning four parks—two within the United States and two internationally—to the Six Flags banner: Geauga Lake became Six Flags Ohio; Riverside Park was renamed Six Flags New England; Walibi Flevo transformed into Six Flags Holland; and Reino Aventura was rebranded as Six Flags Mexico, all integrating Warner Bros. intellectual properties. In December 2000, Six Flags expanded further by acquiring Wild Waves and Enchanted Village in Washington state for $19.3 million.
On January 10, 2001, Six Flags entered into an agreement to acquire SeaWorld Ohio from Anheuser-Busch for $110 million. This acquisition was merged with Six Flags Ohio and adjacent properties to establish the Six Flags Worlds of Adventure complex, designed to compete directly with Cedar Point. Shortly thereafter on January 15, Six Flags European Parks rebranded Walibi Wavre as Six Flags Belgium for the 2001 season; this included introducing Warner Bros. branding while retaining the Aqualibi water park name. In May 2001, Six Flags expanded into Canada by purchasing La Ronde in Montreal through an asset acquisition coupled with a long-term land lease arrangement.
Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid opened in April 2002 as a joint venture involving Six Flags, Warner Bros., and the City of Madrid; Six Flags held a minority stake and assumed operational management responsibilities. Later that year in August 2002, Six Flags acquired Jazzland in New Orleans for $22 million and rebranded it as Six Flags New Orleans for the 2003 season with added Warner Bros. properties integration. Additionally, in 2003 Walibi Schtroumpf was renamed Walibi Lorraine after losing its licensing rights to The Smurfs characters.
In 2004, Six Flags began liquidating assets to address escalating debt levels. On March 10, the company sold Six Flags Worlds of Adventure to Cedar Fair for $145 million. This transaction included the theme park, water park, wildlife area, hotel, and campground facilities. Following the sale, licensed properties such as Looney Tunes and DC Comics were discontinued. Cedar Fair restored the park’s original Geauga Lake name and eliminated the wildlife section. Concurrently, Six Flags divested its European Parks division to Palmon Capital Partners, who rebranded it as StarParks after finalizing the deal on June 24. The Belgian and Dutch locations reverted to the "Walibi" brand, while Warner Bros. Movie World Germany was renamed Movie Park Germany due to licensing restrictions. These asset sales collectively generated $345 million in revenue. Later that year, Six Flags completely exited the European market when Warner Bros. Park Madrid’s management terminated their lease and took over operations, with Warner Bros. acquiring Six Flags’ minority interest.
In 2005, prominent shareholders including Bill Gates’s Cascade Investments (holding 11%) and Daniel Snyder’s Red Zone (12%) demanded organizational reforms. Red Zone initiated a proxy contest on August 17 aiming to secure board control. On August 29, Hurricane Katrina devastated Six Flags New Orleans, leading to its abandonment. On September 12, CEO Kieran Burke announced the closure and demolition of Six Flags AstroWorld, citing operational difficulties and the high real estate value; the land was sold for $77 million in 2006 after demolition expenses.
By November 22, Red Zone had secured control of the board; Burke was succeeded on December 14 by Mark Shapiro, former ESPN EVP and Red Zone CEO. The company brought in prominent figures such as former Representative Jack Kemp and Miramax co-founder Harvey Weinstein to its board, signaling a shift in strategic leadership.
Divestiture efforts persisted into 2006. On January 27, Six Flags moved its headquarters from Oklahoma City to New York City and put Frontier City and White Water Bay up for sale. In April, leases for Wyandot Lake (which was sold back to Columbus Zoo) and Waterworld Sacramento were terminated. On June 23, Six Flags announced intentions to sell, downsize, or close seven additional parks including Six Flags Elitch Gardens and Magic Mountain.
On January 11, 2007, Six Flags sold these parks—except Magic Mountain—to PARC Management for $312 million through cash and notes. PARC subsequently transferred ownership to CNL Lifestyle Properties via a multi-year lease; affected parks dropped the Six Flags branding.
By June 2008, operations of American Adventures were leased out to Zuma Holdings LLC.
This timeframe marked a major transformation in Six Flags’ operational model through asset divestments driven by shareholder activism, significantly affecting its market footprint and financial health.
Bankruptcy Proceedings
During Mark Shapiro’s tenure, Six Flags experienced an annual cash flow decline exceeding $120 million. By October 2008, the company received warnings that its stock price had fallen below New York Stock Exchange minimum requirements. The financial crisis of 2008 further tightened consumer spending and credit availability, raising concerns about potential missed payments to preferred stockholders due in August 2009. Although attendance saw a minor increase in 2008, Shapiro attributed cash flow declines to his management decisions. The company cautioned in its 2008 annual report that filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy might become necessary and retained legal counsel accordingly. The NYSE announced plans to delist Six Flags’ stock effective April 20, 2009; this decision went unchallenged by the company. On June 1, Six Flags deferred a $15 million debt payment using a 30-day grace period but ultimately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 13 while assuring stakeholders that park operations would continue uninterrupted during restructuring. By August 21, lenders agreed to take control of 92% of the reorganized company in exchange for canceling $1.13 billion of debt.
A critical element of restructuring involved renegotiating a lease agreement with the Kentucky State Fair Board for Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. Six Flags proposed waiving rent payments for nine years in return for profit sharing; upon rejection of this offer, it announced the park's closure in February 2010. The Fair Board remained open to revised proposals, leading to the park’s eventual reopening under new management.
On April 28, 2010, bondholders approved a reorganization plan whereby junior note holders—including hedge funds Stark Investments and Pentwater Capital Management—assumed control while senior note holders received cash payouts. Despite some opposition from involved parties, the bankruptcy court sanctioned the plan on April 30. As part of these changes, chairman Dan Snyder was removed from his position; CEO Mark Shapiro stayed on briefly during the transition.
Bankruptcy exit
On May 3, 2010, Six Flags exited bankruptcy protection, reestablishing itself as Six Flags Entertainment Corp. The company revealed intentions to issue new shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Following internal disagreements among board members, Shapiro departed, and Al Weber Jr. was appointed interim president and CEO. The organization shifted various corporate roles and its headquarters from New York City to Grand Prairie, Texas, operating out of a repurposed warehouse in the Great Southwest Industrial District, while retaining an office presence in New York City.
Developments after bankruptcy
Jim Reid-Anderson succeeded Weber as chairman, president, and CEO on August 13, 2010. That same year, John Duffey joined the company as chief financial officer. By October 2012, Weber retired from his role as chief operating officer without an immediate replacement. As part of efforts to reduce expenses, Six Flags ended licensing agreements unrelated to Warner Bros. in late 2010, removing branding from attractions themed around Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles, Tony Hawk, Evel Knievel, and Terminator.
In 2014, Six Flags entered into strategic collaborations with Meraas Leisure and Entertainment (now DXB Entertainments) to develop a theme park in Dubai and partnered with Riverside Investment Group to construct multiple parks across China over the following decade. In February 2016, Reid-Anderson transitioned to executive chairman while Duffey assumed the positions of president and CEO. That year also featured announcements for Six Flags Zhejiang in China, acquisition of Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec water park in Mexico post-bankruptcy, and partnerships aimed at developing parks in Vietnam and additional sites in Chongqing, China.
The year 2017 marked Six Flags’ management takeover of Waterworld California, expanding its portfolio to 20 properties. Upon Duffey's retirement as president and CEO, Reid-Anderson resumed these leadership roles. The company secured agreements to introduce Garfield-themed children's zones within Chinese parks and collaborated with Turner Asia Pacific to incorporate Turner-owned intellectual properties like Tuzki into the Chinese market.
In May 2018, Six Flags acquired operating leases for five previously owned parks—Darien Lake, Frontier City, Wet'n'Wild Phoenix, Wet'n'Wild SplashTown, and White Water Bay—and committed to managing Magic Waters Waterpark starting spring 2019. However, by October 2018, prospects for Six Flags Dubai became uncertain due to financial losses experienced by both Six Flags and its partner DXB Entertainments.
DXB Entertainments officially canceled the Six Flags Dubai project in April 2019 to concentrate on existing assets. In October 2019, Six Flags submitted a bid to acquire competitor Cedar Fair; this offer was declined. Later that month, Jim Reid-Anderson announced his retirement; Mike Spanos was appointed president and CEO effective November 18.
By January 2020, Six Flags disclosed potential postponements or cancellations of its Chinese ventures owing to financial difficulties faced by partner Riverside Investment Group. The company completed relocation of its headquarters to the Centerfield Office Building at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. In March 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic response, all parks temporarily closed operations but contributed to local communities through donations of supplies and food.
Mid-2020 saw phased reopenings of parks implementing enhanced health measures and online reservation systems. Frontier City resumed operations on June 5 as the first park reopening following pandemic closures; additional locations reopened progressively throughout summer. By May 2021, all parks had fully resumed activity.
In March 2021, Six Flags declared that Hurricane Harbor Chicago would become an independent park separate from Great America—marking the chain’s 27th property. In November 2021, Mike Spanos stepped down; Selim Bassoul immediately assumed the roles of president and CEO while Ben Baldanza was appointed chairman of the board.
Consolidation with Cedar Fair
On November 2, 2023, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and Cedar Fair revealed plans to merge, forming an $8 billion enterprise and establishing the largest regional amusement park operator worldwide. This "merger of equals" unites 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and 9 resorts under the Six Flags umbrella. Cedar Fair shareholders will retain a controlling interest of 51%. Richard Zimmerman, Cedar Fair's chief executive officer, will assume the role of president and CEO of the combined organization, while Six Flags CEO Selim Bassoul will take on the position of executive chairman. The merged entity's headquarters is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, with significant administrative operations continuing in Sandusky, Ohio. The merger was finalized on July 1, 2024.
Television Advertising
In June 2003, Six Flags transitioned its advertising agency from Ackerman McQueen to Doner Company. The following year, Doner introduced "Mr. Six," a tuxedo-wearing character known for his lively dance moves set to the Vengaboys' track "We Like to Party." This mascot quickly became synonymous with the brand, greatly boosting its market presence and consumer recognition.
From 2008 through 2010, Six Flags broadcast commercials featuring a "Fun-O-Meter" concept, where an Asian man assessed levels of boredom; this campaign faced backlash due to cultural insensitivity concerns. In reaction, Mr. Six was reinstated in 2009 to spearhead advertising efforts incorporating the Fun-O-Meter theme. By 2011, the company adopted the tagline "Go Big! Go Six Flags!" to emphasize its commitment to excitement and expansion.
After parks reopened post-COVID-19 in 2021, Six Flags introduced the slogan "The Thrill is Calling," weaving it into social media initiatives and television campaigns aimed at enhancing customer engagement and supporting business resurgence.
Brand Licensing and Collaborations
Six Flags has extended its brand and park assets through licensing agreements with various companies, facilitating products like the theme park simulation game Roller Coaster Tycoon 2, which includes recreations of Six Flags attractions.
The company has formed partnerships with roughly 24 entities such as Dole, Armitron, TCBY, Mrs. Fields, Coca-Cola, Mars, Samsung, and Tyson Foods. These collaborations contribute to diversified revenue sources and job creation. For example, Barcel USA expanded its alliance in 2013 to enhance food and beverage sponsorships across the United States.
In 2008, Six Flags collaborated with Brash Entertainment to produce Six Flags Fun Park, a video game initially launched on Nintendo DS. The Wii version experienced delays, while PC and PlayStation 2 editions were canceled following Brash Entertainment's shutdown. Ubisoft later acquired rights for the Wii release, launching it in 2009. The game features themed zones and mini-games simulating a visit to Six Flags but contains minimal direct branding references. In Europe, it was marketed as Fun Park and Fun Park Party. Despite association with the brand name, it garnered poor reviews; IGN rated the Wii edition 4.5/10 due to uninspired gameplay and unengaging objectives.
Additional Investments
On June 19, 2007, Six Flags purchased a 40% equity interest in Dick Clark Productions, the holder of rights to American Bandstand among other media properties. This investment was divested on September 28, 2012. Furthermore, Six Flags maintains equity positions in various corporations including Nestle, Google, Mars Candy, and Coca-Cola.
Theme Parks
| Park Name | Location | Year Established | Year Acquired | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier City | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1958 | 2018 | Initially acquired by Premier Parks (previously The Tierco Group) in 1981; after several transfers of ownership, Six Flags regained operational control in 2018 while EPR Properties continues to own the property. |
| La Ronde | Montréal, Quebec | 1967 | 2001 | Operated under an Emphyteutic lease agreement with the City of Montréal valid through 2065; this represents Six Flags' sole Canadian location. |
| Six Flags America | Largo, Maryland | 1973 | 1999 | Originally Wild World under Premier Parks ownership from 1992; rebranded as Six Flags America following acquisition by Six Flags in 1998. |
| Six Flags Darien Lake | Darien, New York | 1981 | 2018 | After multiple changes in ownership and operation, Six Flags resumed operational rights in 2018; EPR Properties retains ownership. |
| Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | Vallejo, California | 1968 | 1997 | Premier Parks assumed management in 1997 and rebranded it as a Six Flags park; full ownership was secured shortly thereafter. |
| Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | 1992 | 1998 | Initially operated by Gaylord Entertainment; Six Flags took over management in 1996 and completed purchase by 1998. |
| Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, New Jersey | 1974 | 1977 | Acquired from independent owners; expanded in 2012 with the addition of Safari Off-Road Adventure. |
| Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Illinois | 1976 | 1984 | Purchased from Marriott Corporation for $114.5 million; acquisition included licensing rights for Warner Bros. intellectual properties. |
| Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor | Queensbury, New York | 1954 | 1996 | Bought by Premier Parks in 1996; rebranded under the Six Flags name in 2022. |
| Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, California | 1971 | 1979 | Acquired from Newhall Land and Farming Company with a purchase price of $51 million. |
| Six Flags México | Mexico City, Mexico | 1982 | 1999 | Purchased from Reino Aventura for $59 million; underwent significant redevelopment and rebranding as Six Flags México. |
| Six Flags New England | Agawam, Massachusetts | 1870 | 1996 | Among the oldest parks within the chain; acquired by Premier Parks and rebranded as Six Flags New England by the year 2000. |
| Six Flags Over Georgia | Austell, Georgia | 1967 | Developed by Six Flags |
One of three parks originally constructed by Six Flags; partially owned via limited partnership and operated by the company. |
| Six Flags Over Texas | Arlington, Texas | 1961 | Developed by Six Flags |
The flagship park of the brand; partially held through limited partnership with operational control by Six Flags. |
| Six Flags St. Louis | Eureka, Missouri | 1971 | Developed by Six Flags |
The final park constructed directly by Six Flags; fully owned following renaming from Six Flags Over Mid-America in 1996. |
Outdoor
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Situated inside amusement parks | ||||
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Queensbury, New York | 1995 | 1996 | Located within Six Flags Great Escape; formerly known as Splashwater Kingdom until renamed in 2019. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Maryland | Largo, Maryland | 1982 | 1992 | Part of Six Flags America; rebranded as Hurricane Harbor Maryland in 2023. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Darien, New York | 2010 | 2018 | Situated within Six Flags Darien Lake. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Agawam, Massachusetts | 1997 | 1998 | Located inside Six Flags New England. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Austell, Georgia | 2014 | Template:N/A | Part of Six Flags Over Georgia. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Eureka, Missouri | 1999 | Template:N/A | Located within Six Flags St. Louis. |
| Wild West Splash Works | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 2017 | 2018 | Water park inside Frontier City; operated by Six Flags starting in 2018. |
| Standalone admission or separate property | ||||
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles | Valencia, California | 1995 | Template:N/A | Located adjacent to Six Flags Magic Mountain. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Arlington | Arlington, Texas | 1983 | 1995 | Acquired from Wet 'n Wild; positioned near Six Flags Over Texas. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New Jersey | Jackson, New Jersey | 2000 | Template:N/A | Adjacent to Six Flags Great Adventure. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec | Oaxtepec, Mexico | 2017 | 2016 | Former Parque Acuatico Oaxtepec reopened; located near Six Flags Mexico. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord | Concord, California | 1995 | 2017 | Originally developed by Premier Parks; under Six Flags management since 2017; renamed in 2018. Close to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | style="text-align:center" |2009 | style="text-align:center" |2018 | Owned by EPR Properties and operated by Six Flags. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor SplashTown | Spring, Texas | style="text-align:center" |1984 | style="text-align:center" |2018 | Owned by EPR Properties with operations managed by Six Flags. |
| Six Flags White Water | Marietta, Georgia | style="text-align:center"| 1983 | style="text-align:center"| 1999 | Purchased from Silver Dollar City Inc.; operated by Six Flags; situated near Six Flags Over Georgia. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | style="text-align:center"|1981 | style="text-align:center"|2018 | Ownership changed multiple times; operated by Six Flags since 2018; owned by EPR Properties; located close to Frontier City. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Rockford | Cherry Valley, Illinois | style="text-align:center"|1984 | style="text-align:center"|2019 | Formerly Magic Waters; operating lease acquired and rebranded by Six Flags in 2019. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago | Gurnee, Illinois | style="text-align:center"|2005 | Template:N/A | Located next to Six Flags Great America; designated as a separate park in 2021 as the company's twenty-seventh property. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | style="text-align:center"|1992 | style="text-align:center"|1998 | Adjacent to Six Flags Fiesta Texas; rebranded as a separate admission park in 2023. |
Indoor
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark | Queensbury, New York | 2006 | Template:N/A | Situated opposite Great Escape; features a resort along with the Six Flags White Water Bay water park. |
Former and abandoned properties
Organized alphabetically by their last name under Six Flags ownership.
North America
| Park | Location | Year opened | Fate | Year closed/Sold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral | St. Louis, Missouri | 1987 | Closed/Sold | 1987 | Converted steamboat serving as an entertainment venue with music halls and Birdland Theater; ceased operations due to financial difficulties and later converted into a casino. |
| American Adventures | Marietta, Georgia | 1990 | Closed | 2008 | Family-oriented entertainment center adjacent to Six Flags White Water; leased to Zuma Holdings in 2008 but permanently shut down by 2010; currently utilized for employee amenities. |
| Movieland Wax Museum | Buena Park, California | 1962 | Sold | 1985 | Acquired in 1970 and sold in 1985; closed in 2005 with assets auctioned; building demolished in 2016. |
| Six Flags AstroWorld | Houston, Texas | 1968 | Closed | 2005 | Taken over in 1974; closed and demolished by 2006. |
| Six Flags Atlantis | Hollywood, Florida | 1982 | Sold | 1989 | Water park acquired in 1984; sold five years later; shut down following Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and torn down in 1994. |
| Six Flags AutoWorld | Flint, Michigan | 1984 | Closed | 1985 | Indoor park that closed after six months; briefly reopened under different ownership before final closure in 1994; demolished three years later. |
| Six Flags Elitch Gardens | Denver, Colorado | 1995 | Sold | 2007 | Rebranded as Six Flags property in 1999; sold to PARC Management in 2007; currently owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and operated by Premier Parks, LLC. |
| Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom | Louisville, Kentucky | 1987 | Lease ended | 2010 | Leased by Premier Parks starting in 1997 and rebranded in 1998; closed due to lease disagreements in 2010; reopened under new management in 2014 and operated by Herschend Family Entertainment as of 2021. |
| Six Flags New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | 2000 | Destroyed (Hurricane Katrina) | 2005 | Lease acquired in 2002 and rebranded in 2003; closed following damage from Hurricane Katrina; property reverted to city ownership after legal disputes. |
| Six Flags Power Plant | Baltimore, Maryland | 1985 | Closed | 1987 | Briefly operated indoor park that shut down due to financial losses; site redeveloped into a mixed-use entertainment complex. |
| Six Flags WaterWorld | Houston, Texas | 1983 | Closed | 2005 | Water park located within AstroWorld property; combined operations in 2002 and ceased alongside AstroWorld by 2006. |
| Six Flags Worlds of Adventure | Aurora, Ohio | 1887 | Sold | 2004 | Acquired through Funtime purchase in 1995; expanded into largest theme park complex named Six Flags Worlds of Adventure; sold to Cedar Fair in 2004 amid financial difficulties; main park closed in 2007 while water park remained operational until 2016. |
| Stars Hall of Fame | Orlando, Florida | 1975 | Sold (Closed by purchaser) | 1984 | Wax museum near SeaWorld Orlando obtained during Harcourt Brace Jovanovich acquisition; closed shortly after being sold. |
| Waterworld Sacramento | Sacramento, California | 1980 | Lease Ended | 2006 | Water park located on California Exposition grounds; renamed Six Flags Waterworld Sacramento in 2005 but dropped branding the following year; lease ended in 2006 and currently operates as Raging Waters Sacramento under Palace Entertainment and Silverwood Entertainment. |
| Wild Waves Theme Park | Federal Way, Washington | 1977 | Sold | 2007 | Combined theme and water park acquired at the end of the millennium; sold to PARC Management during asset divestiture; presently owned by EPR Properties and managed by Premier Parks, LLC. |
| Zoombezi Bay#Wyandot Lake | Columbus, Ohio | 1937 (theme),1983 (water park) | Lease ended | 2006 | Obtained through Funtime acquisition with land leased from Columbus Zoo; ceased operations under Six Flags due to financial challenges; reopened as Zoombezi Bay water park operated by Columbus Zoo since 2008. |
Europe
Except where otherwise indicated, these parks were divested to Palamon Capital Partners in 2004.
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqualibi | Wavre, Belgium | 1987 | 2004 | Indoor aquatic park purchased alongside Walibi SA in 1998, located next to Six Flags Belgium. |
| Bellewaerde Park | Ypres, Belgium | 1954 | 2004 | Included in the acquisition of Walibi SA; presently under the ownership of Compagnie des Alpes. |
| Six Flags Belgium | Wavre, Belgium | 1975 | 2004 | Bought as Walibi Wavre in 1998, rebranded Six Flags Belgium in 2001; reverted to Walibi Belgium under Compagnie des Alpes after being sold. |
| Six Flags Holland | Biddinghuizen, Netherlands | 1971 | 2004 | Acquired as Walibi Flevo in 1998, renamed Six Flags Holland in 2000; currently operates as Walibi Holland under Compagnie des Alpes. |
| Warner Bros. Movie World Germany | Bottrop, Germany | 1967 | 2004 | Obtained through Premier Parks' acquisition of Six Flags and Warner Bros. European properties in 1999; Warner Bros. licensing was removed upon sale, leading to renaming as Movie Park Germany; sold to Parques Reunidos in 2010. |
| Warner Bros. Movie World Madrid/Warner Bros. Park Madrid | Madrid, Spain | 2002 | 2004 | Operated by Six Flags with a minority shareholding; excluded from the European parks divestiture; management and ownership transitioned to Warner Bros.; currently owned by Parques Reunidos with Warner Bros. maintaining a minority interest. |
| Walibi Aquitaine | Bordeaux, France | 1992 | 2004 | Part of the Walibi SA acquisition; subsequently sold to Compagnie des Alpes (renamed Walibi Sud-Ouest) and later transferred to Aspro Parks (rebranded as Walygator Sud-Ouest). |
| Walibi Lorraine | Metz, France | 1989 | 2004 | Purchased as Walibi Schtroumpf; renamed Walibi Lorraine after license expiration; sold to private investors in 2006 and eventually acquired by Aspro Parks as Walygator Grand-Est. |
| Walibi Rhône-Alpes | Lyon, France | 1979 | 2004 | Included in the Walibi SA purchase; currently owned by Compagnie des Alpes. |
Cancelled parks
| Park | Location | Planned Opening Year | Cancellation Year | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags Entertainment Village | Gurnee, Illinois | 2000s | 1999 | Proposed as a multi-faceted entertainment complex featuring a water park, hotel, retail center, and stadium. Project was terminated in 1999 due to local opposition before construction began. | ||||
| Six Flags Chongqing | Bishan, China | 2020s | 2020 | Planned as the second Six Flags-branded park in China; project halted following financial difficulties faced by Riverside and termination of the licensing agreement. | ||||
| Six Flags Kids World Chongqing | Bishan, China | 2020s | 2020 | Family-oriented theme park intended adjacent to Six Flags Chongqing; canceled concurrently with the main project. | ||||
| Six Flags Adventure Park Chongqing | Bishan, China | 2020s | 2020 | Part of the proposed Chongqing complex; canceled due to license termination. | ||||
| Six Flags Dubai | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2011 | 2019 | Planned within Dubai Parks and Resorts; development delayed for over ten years and ultimately canceled due to financial issues faced by the developer. | ||||
| Six Flags Nanjing | Nanjing, China | 2020s | 2020 | Third proposed Six Flags location in China; project ceased following Riverside's financial troubles and cancellation of licensing rights. | ||||
| Six Flags Kids World Nanjing | 2020s| | 2020|
Family-focused park within the Nanjing development; canceled alongside the main project. |
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Six Flags Adventure Park Nanjing| Nanjing, China| style="text-align:center" |2020s| style="text-align:center" |2020| Planned adjacent park in Nanjing complex; project discontinued together with others. |
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Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Nanjing| Nanjing, China| style="text-align:center" |2020s| style="text-align:center" |2020| One of four parks planned for the Nanjing complex; canceled following termination of licensing agreements. |
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Six Flags Zhejiang Haiyan, China style = " text - align: center " |2020s style = " text - align: center " |2020 Initially intended as China's inaugural Six Flags park developed with Riverside Group. After Riverside's financial collapse, Six Flags ended the partnership. The project was renamed and construction postponed indefinitely. |
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Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Zhejiang Haiyan, China style = " text - align: center " |2020s style = " text - align: center " |2020 Renamed Sunac Water Park by new owner Sunac; opened June 2021 after Six Flags ended its involvement. |
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Six Flags Kids World Zhejiang Haiyan, China style = " text - align: center " |2020s style = " text - align: center " |2020 Planned family-themed park adjacent to Six Flags Zhejiang; canceled following license termination. |
The Flash Pass
The Flash Pass is an optional, fee-based virtual queue system available at Six Flags parks, inspired by the DC Comics superhero The Flash. This service permits visitors to secure specific ride times for an additional charge beyond standard park entry. The initial iteration, known as Q-bot and created by Lo-Q, was introduced at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2001, featuring handheld devices that allowed users to make reservations and receive alerts. In 2021, an updated version was launched, enabling guests to scan QR codes through the official mobile app or park signage to buy individual Flash Passes or redeem season pass benefits.
A variation designed for water parks, called Q-band, was first implemented at Six Flags White Water in 2011. This system utilizes waterproof RFID wristbands that guests scan at kiosks located near attractions, improving ease of use in aquatic environments.
See also
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- Six Flags
- Amusement park companies
- Amusement companies of the United States
- Entertainment companies established in 1961
- American companies established in 1961
- 1961 establishments in Texas
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