The Rise and Fall of Six Flags America

The first time I went to Six Flags was when I was 13, me and my siblings we were in Summer Camp in 2009. We go to pools every Friday and field trips like for instance, Washington Mystics WNBA game which was our first field trip. It was the last field trip before the end of summer camp. We went to the Six Flags in Bowie and we had the most upmost fun going fun rides including the roller coasters (mind you it’s my first time riding roller coasters at the time) after we rode on the rides including the water parks. My favorite ride at Six Flags was the Drop Zone and the Hurricane Harbor where the sharp waves come up and down and it became my all time favorite.

It was my first and last time I went to Six Flags America.

Now, after years, Six Flags America announced they shutting it doors for good in November.

Six Flags President & CEO Richard A. Zimmerman said:

“As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company’s long-term growth plan. After reviewing a number of options, we believe that marketing the property for redevelopment will generate the highest value and return on investment. We anticipate strong interest in the property and will continue to strategically pursue portfolio optimization opportunities as we work to unlock the full value of our portfolio.”

Founded in the 1960's and named for its first theme park, Six Flags Over Texas, the company was known first as Six Flags, Corp., and later Six Flags, Inc. The company maintained a corporate office in Midtown Manhattan, and headquarters in Arlington, Texas.

In 1957, real estate businessman Angus G. Wynne and other investors created The Great Southwest Corporation, which in 1960 began building its first theme park in Arlington, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth. They named it Six Flags Over Texas, a reference to the six nations that have governed Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America. The park opened the following year for a short, 45-day seasons. Six Flags Over Texas initially featured a Native American village, a gondola ride, a railroad, some Wild West shows, a stagecoach ride and "Skull Island", a pirate-themed adventure attraction. There was also "LaSalle's River Adventure", inspired by the late-1600s La Salle Expeditions, that carried customers on French riverboats through a wilderness of animated puppets. Over the years, all of those attractions, except the railroad, were replaced by others, such as roller coasters, swing rides, log flumes and shoot-the-chute rides, as well as an observation tower.

Following the success of the first park, two more "original" Six Flags parks were built: Six Flags Over Georgia (1967) and Six Flags Over Mid-America (now Six Flags St. Louis) (1971). The company underwent multiple ownership changes over the decades, involving entities like Penn Central Corporation, Bally Manufacturing Corporation, and Time Warner allowing all Looney Tunes characters to be apart of the Six Flags family.

Rapid expansion led to significant debt. In 2009, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It successfully emerged from restructuring in May 2010 as Six Flags Entertainment Corp.

On July 1, 2024, Six Flags completed an $8 billion "merger of equals" with its long-time rival, Cedar Fair. The combined entity operates under the Six Flags name and manages over 40 properties across North America.

So far, Some Six Flags theme park had closed while most have remained open. Chiefs footballer Travis Kelce had plans to invest Six Flags to save the amusement park but it was a little too late.

Who Knows what will be the future of Six Flags.

It pains me to see things gone away it’s like my childhood is disappearing just like all the retail stores and shopping malls. It's sad!!!!

So long Six Flags America! Thanks for the memories!

All sources from Wikipedia