Six Flags facts for kids
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is a big American company that owns and runs many fun places like amusement parks, water parks, and resorts. Its main office is in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Six Flags is the largest company of its kind in North America, with 50 different locations.
In 2024, over 50 million people visited Six Flags parks. This made it one of the top five most visited theme park companies in the world. The company was created on July 2, 2024. It was formed when two big amusement park companies, Cedar Fair and the original Six Flags company, joined together. This big merger was worth about $8 billion. The new company kept the stock market symbol "FUN" from Cedar Fair. Also, the people who owned parts of Cedar Fair now own a bit more than half of the new company.
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| Traded as |
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| Industry | Theme parks |
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| Founded | July 2, 2024 |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
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Number of locations
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50 |
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Area served
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Key people
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Selim Bassoul (executive chairman) Richard Zimmerman (president and CEO) |
| Revenue |  US$2.71 billion (2024) |
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Operating income
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US$311 million (2024) |
| US$207 million (2024) |
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| Total assets | US$9.13 billion (2024) |
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Number of employees
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5,000 full-time, 93,000 seasonal and part-time (2024) |
Contents
Exciting History of Six Flags
Before the Big Merger
The story of Six Flags began in August 1961. That's when Angus G. Wynne and other investors opened the very first park, Six Flags Over Texas. Over the next 20 years, more parks were built and bought. In 1984, Six Flags bought the Great America theme park. This deal also gave them the rights to use popular Warner Bros. characters like the Looney Tunes at their parks!
Later, in 1998, a company called Premier Parks bought Six Flags. Premier Parks then started changing the names of its own parks to Six Flags. By 2000, all their parks were known as Six Flags.
During the 2000s, Six Flags faced some challenges with managing its money. To help, they sold some of their parks, including those in Europe. Some owners wanted changes in how the company was run. In 2009, Six Flags had to reorganize its finances to stay in business. But the parks kept running as usual!
In 2010, the company became Six Flags Entertainment Corp. They moved their main office to Grand Prairie, Texas. New leaders tried to build Six Flags parks in other countries, like Dubai and China. However, these plans faced difficulties due to local economic changes and were eventually stopped.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused many Six Flags parks to close temporarily. This was a tough time for everyone. Later, a new CEO, Selim Bassoul, tried a new plan. He wanted to make the park experience better by raising prices to reduce crowds. However, fewer people visited the parks, so this plan was changed in 2022.
Cedar Fair's Journey
Cedar Fair also has a long and interesting history. It grew to become another major player in the amusement park world. You can learn more about their story in the main article about Cedar Fair.
The Big Merger of Six Flags and Cedar Fair
For many years, other companies tried to buy Cedar Fair, but those deals didn't happen. Finally, in 2024, Six Flags and Cedar Fair officially joined together! This was called a "merger of equals" because both companies were very important.
The new company kept the name Six Flags. It became the largest amusement park operator in North America. It now owns 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and 9 resorts! Richard Zimmerman, who was the head of Cedar Fair, became the new leader (President and CEO) of the combined company. Selim Bassoul, the former head of Six Flags, became the executive chairman of the company's board.
The main office for the new company is in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, many important business tasks are still handled at Cedar Fair's old office in Sandusky, Ohio. The merger was completed on July 1, 2024.
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Recent Changes in 2025
On May 1, 2025, Six Flags shared news about some changes. The Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor Maryland parks in Woodmore, Maryland, closed at the end of the 2025 season, on November 2, 2025. This decision was part of a plan to make the company's parks even better.
On August 6, 2025, Six Flags announced that Richard Zimmerman stepped down as the CEO and president. He stayed in his role until a new leader was found. He will still be a director on the company's board. Then, on November 24, 2025, Six Flags announced that John Reilly became the new CEO, starting on December 8, 2025.
Six Flags Properties: Parks and Resorts
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation owns and operates many exciting parks and resorts. These include amusement parks, water parks, and even safari parks! The map below shows where many of these fun places are located across North America.
Year acquired shows when the park was bought by either Cedar Fair or the original Six Flags company before they merged.
Amusement Parks
Parks that were part of Cedar Fair Parks that were part of Six Flags (1961–2024)
| Name | Location | Year opened | Year acquired | Notes | Roller coasters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California's Great America | Santa Clara, California | 1976 | 2006 | Bought by Cedar Fair. It is planned to close by 2033. | 9 |
| Canada's Wonderland | Vaughan, Ontario | 1981 | 2006 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 18 |
| Carowinds | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1973 | 2006 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 13 |
| Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 1870 | – | This is the main park and the oldest in the chain. | 18 |
| Dorney Park | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 1884 | 1992 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 8 |
| Frontier City | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1958 | 1981 2018 |
Bought by Premier Parks in 1981. Six Flags took over operations again in 2018. | 5 |
| Kings Dominion | Doswell, Virginia | 1975 | 2006 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 13 |
| Kings Island | Mason, Ohio | 1972 | 2006 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 15 |
| Knott's Berry Farm | Buena Park, California | 1920 | 1997 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 10 |
| La Ronde | Montréal, Quebec | 1967 | 2001 | Built for Expo 67. Six Flags bought the right to operate it in 2001. | 8 |
| Michigan's Adventure | Muskegon, Michigan | 1956 | 2001 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 7 |
| Six Flags Darien Lake | Darien, New York | 1981 | 1995 2018 |
Bought by Premier Parks in 1995. Six Flags took over operations again in 2018. | 8 |
| Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | Vallejo, California | 1968 | 1997 (lease) 2007 (full ownership) |
Six Flags began operating it in 1997 and fully bought it in 2007. | 10 |
| Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | 1992 | 1996 (lease) 1998 (full ownership) |
Six Flags began operating it in 1996 and fully bought it in 1998. | 11 |
| Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, New Jersey | 1974 | 1977 | Bought by Six Flags in 1977. It includes the Wild Safari Adventure. | 13 |
| Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Illinois | 1976 | 1984 | Bought by Six Flags in 1984. This deal gave Six Flags the rights to use Warner Bros. characters. | 16 |
| Six Flags Great Escape | Queensbury, New York | 1954 | 1996 | Bought by Premier Parks in 1996. It was known as Storytown USA before. | 6 |
| Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, California | 1971 | 1979 | Bought by Six Flags in 1979. | 19 |
| Six Flags México | Mexico City, Mexico | 1982 | 1999 | Bought by Premier Parks in 1999. It was formerly called Reino Aventura. | 9 |
| Six Flags New England | Agawam, Massachusetts | 1870 | 1997 | One of the oldest parks. Bought by Premier Parks in 1996 and renamed in 2000. | 11 |
| Six Flags Over Georgia | Austell, Georgia | 1967 | – | Six Flags manages and operates this park. They will fully own it by January 2027. | 12 |
| Six Flags Over Texas | Arlington, Texas | 1961 | – | This was the very first Six Flags park. Six Flags manages and operates it. | 13 |
| Six Flags St. Louis | Eureka, Missouri | 1971 | – | Formerly known as Six Flags Over Mid-America. | 10 |
| Valleyfair | Shakopee, Minnesota | 1976 | 1978 | Bought by Cedar Point in 1978, which helped create Cedar Fair. | 8 |
| Worlds of Fun | Kansas City, Missouri | 1973 | 1995 | Bought by Cedar Fair. | 8 |
Water Parks
Outdoor Water Parks
| Name | Location | Year opened | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Located inside amusement parks | ||||
| Carolina Harbor | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1982 | 2006 | Located within Carowinds. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| Oceans of Fun | Kansas City, Missouri | 1982 | 1995 | Next to Worlds of Fun. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Queensbury, New York | 1995 | 1996 | Located within Six Flags Great Escape. Bought by Premier Parks. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Darien Lake | Darien, New York | 1990 | 2018 | Located within Six Flags Darien Lake. Six Flags took over operations again in 2018. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New England | Agawam, Massachusetts | 1997 | 1998 | Located within Six Flags New England. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Austell, Georgia | 2014 | – | Located within Six Flags Over Georgia. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Eureka, Missouri | 1999 | – | Next to Six Flags St. Louis. |
| Soak City | Doswell, Virginia | 1992 | 2006 | Located within Kings Dominion. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| Soak City | Mason, Ohio | 1989 | 2006 | Next to Kings Island. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| Soak City | Shakopee, Minnesota | 1983 | – | Located within Valleyfair. |
| South Bay Shores | Santa Clara, California | 2004 | 2006 | Located within California's Great America. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| Splash Works | Vaughan, Ontario | 1992 | 2006 | Next to Canada's Wonderland. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| WildWater Adventure | Muskegon, Michigan | 1991 | 2001 | Next to Michigan's Adventure. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| Wildwater Kingdom | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 1985 | 1992 | Located on the property of Dorney Park. Bought by Cedar Fair. |
| Wild West Water Works | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 2017 | 2018 | Located within Frontier City. Six Flags bought the operations lease in 2018. |
| Separate admission or property | ||||
| Cedar Point Shores | Sandusky, Ohio | 1988 | – | Next to Cedar Point. |
| Knott's Soak City | Buena Park, California | 2000 | – | Next to Knott's Berry Farm. |
| Schlitterbahn Galveston | Galveston, Texas | 2006 | 2019 | Bought by Cedar Fair in 2019. |
| Schlitterbahn New Braunfels | New Braunfels, Texas | 1979 | 2019 | Bought by Cedar Fair in 2019. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles | Valencia, California | 1995 | – | Next to Six Flags Magic Mountain. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Arlington | Arlington, Texas | 1983 | 1995 | Bought from Wet 'n Wild. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New Jersey | Jackson, New Jersey | 2000 | – | Next to Six Flags Great Adventure. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec | Oaxtepec, Mexico | 2017 | 2016 | Reopened in a former water park location. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord | Concord, California | 1995 | 2017 | Six Flags bought the operations lease in 2017. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | 2009 | 2018 | Operated by Six Flags. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown | Spring, Texas | 1984 | 2018 | Six Flags bought the operations lease in 2017. |
| Six Flags White Water | Marietta, Georgia | 1983 | 1999 | Six Flags operates this park and will fully own it in 2027. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1981 | 2018 | Operated by Six Flags. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Rockford | Cherry Valley, Illinois | 1984 | 2019 | Operated by Six Flags. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago | Gurnee, Illinois | 2005 | – | Next to Six Flags Great America. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 1992 | 1998 | Next to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. |
Indoor Water Parks
| Name | Location | Year opened | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castaway Bay | Sandusky, Ohio | 2004 | – | Located inside the Castaway Bay resort. |
| White Water Bay | Queensbury, New York | 2006 | – | Located inside Six Flags Great Escape Lodge. |
Safari Parks
| Name | Location | Year opened | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags Wild Safari Adventure | Jackson, New Jersey | 1974 | – | Next to Six Flags Great Adventure. You can go on a safari ride here! |
Resorts
| Name | Location | Year opened | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castaway Bay | Sandusky, Ohio | 2004 | – | Located near Cedar Point. It has an indoor water park. |
| Six Flags Darien Lake Hotel & Campground | Darien, New York | 1954 | 1995 2018 |
Located across from Six Flags Darien Lake. It has a hotel, campground, and more. |
| Six Flags Great Escape Lodge | Queensbury, New York | 2006 | – | Located across from Six Flags Great Escape. It has an indoor water park. |
| Six Flags Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa | Jackson, New Jersey | 2024 | – | Located within Six Flags Wild Safari Adventure at Six Flags Great Adventure. |
Upcoming Properties
Amusement Parks
| Name | Location | Year Opening | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags Qiddiya City | Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia | 2025 (expected) | This will be the first Six Flags park in Saudi Arabia. It's also the first Six Flags park outside North America since 2004. |
Former Properties
| Name | Location | Year opened | Year closed/sold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags America | Woodmore, Maryland | 1974 | 2025 | This park closed on November 2, 2025. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Maryland | Woodmore, Maryland | 1982 | 2025 | This water park closed on September 6, 2025. |
Fast Lane: Skip the Line!
Fast Lane is a special system used at parks that used to be part of Cedar Fair. It lets visitors get a wristband for an extra cost. This wristband allows them to wait in a shorter line for most rides. This means more fun and less waiting!
All Six Flags parks will start using the Fast Lane system in January 2026. This means the old Flash Pass system will no longer be used.
The Flash Pass: Virtual Queue Fun
The Flash Pass is a system that was used at Six Flags parks before the merger. It's named after the speedy DC Comics character, The Flash! For an extra fee, guests could get a handheld device or use a mobile app. This allowed them to reserve a spot in line for rides without physically standing there. The device or app would tell them when it was their turn to ride.
A water park version, called Q-band, used waterproof wristbands. Guests could scan these at kiosks to reserve their spot for water slides.
The Flash Pass system is being removed by the end of the 2025 season. All Six Flags parks will switch to the Fast Lane system in 2026.
See Also
- Holiday in the Park
- Incidents at Six Flags parks
- Six Flags Fright Fest
