Six Flags facts for kids
 |
|
| Public | |
| Traded as |
|
| Industry | Theme parks |
| Predecessors |
|
| Founded | July 2, 2024 |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
|
Number of locations
|
42 |
|
Area served
|
|
|
Key people
|
Selim Bassoul (executive chairman) Richard Zimmerman (president and CEO) |
|
Number of employees
|
5,000 full-time, 93,000 seasonal and part-time (2024) |
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is a big American company that runs exciting amusement parks. Its main office is in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. This company was created on July 2, 2024, when two older companies, Cedar Fair and the original Six Flags company, joined together. Now, the new Six Flags owns and manages 42 different places across North America. These include fun amusement parks, splashy water parks, and relaxing resorts.
Contents
The Story of Six Flags
Before the Big Merger
The first Six Flags park, Six Flags Over Texas, opened in August 1961. It was started by Angus G. Wynne and other investors. Over the years, the company grew, building new parks and buying others. In 1984, Six Flags bought the Great America park. This deal also gave them the rights to use famous Warner Bros. characters like the Looney Tunes at their parks. Later, a company called Time Warner (now Warner Bros. Discovery) owned Six Flags for a few years.
In 1998, another company called Premier Parks bought Six Flags. Premier Parks 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. The company had financial difficulties and needed to reorganize. They sold some of their parks, including those in Europe. Some of the company's owners wanted changes. In 2005, a group led by Daniel Snyder took control of the company's leadership. More parks were sold, but the company still struggled financially.
Because of a big economic downturn around 2008, Six Flags had to reorganize its finances in 2009. Even with these changes, the parks stayed open. Six Flags came out of this reorganization in 2010 as Six Flags Entertainment Corp. They moved their main office to Grand Prairie, Texas. This reorganization helped them reduce their debt.
New leaders took over, including Jim Reid-Anderson in 2010, followed by Mike Spanos in 2019. Six Flags tried to build new parks in other countries, like Dubai and China. However, these plans faced difficulties due to economic changes and were eventually stopped.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused many Six Flags parks to close for a while. Mike Spanos left his role in 2021, and Selim Bassoul became the new CEO. He tried a new plan to make the park experience better by raising prices and having fewer visitors. However, some people who owned parts of the company disagreed with these ideas. This plan was stopped in 2022 after fewer people visited the parks.
A Look at Cedar Fair's Past
Cedar Fair was another major amusement park company. It started with Cedar Point park in Ohio. Over many years, Cedar Fair grew by buying and managing other popular parks. These included places like Knott's Berry Farm and Canada's Wonderland. Cedar Fair became known for its thrilling roller coasters and family-friendly attractions.
The Big Merger
Before 2024, there were several attempts for Six Flags and Cedar Fair to join forces, but they didn't work out. Other companies also tried to buy Cedar Fair, but those offers were turned down.
Finally, Six Flags and Cedar Fair officially joined together in 2024. This was called a "merger of equals." The new company kept the name Six Flags. It now has a total value of $8 billion. The new company manages 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and 9 resort properties. People who owned parts of Cedar Fair became the main owners of the new company. Richard Zimmerman, who was the CEO of Cedar Fair, became the CEO of the new Six Flags. Selim Bassoul, the former CEO of Six Flags, became the executive chairman of the board. The main office for the new company moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Some important operations are also still in Sandusky, Ohio, where Cedar Fair's old office was. The merger was completed on July 1, 2024.
On May 1, 2025, Six Flags shared news that the Six Flags America park was closing. Its last day of operation was set for November 2, 2025. This decision was part of a plan to make the company's collection of parks better. This plan might involve closing or selling some locations. On August 6, 2025, Six Flags also announced that Richard Zimmerman was stepping down as CEO and president. He is staying in his role until a new leader is found. Mr. Zimmerman will continue to be a director on the company's board.
Fun Places to Visit
Year acquired shows when the park was bought by its previous owner before the merger.
Amusement Parks
Parks that used to be part of Cedar Fair Parks that used to be part of Six Flags
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes | Roller Coasters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California's Great America | Santa Clara, California | 1976 | 2006 | Cedar Fair bought this park as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. The park is planned to close by 2033. | 9 |
| Canada's Wonderland | Vaughan, Ontario | 1981 | 2006 | Cedar Fair bought this park as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. | 18 |
| Carowinds | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1973 | 2006 | Cedar Fair bought this park as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. | 13 |
| Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 1870 | – | This is a very important park for the company and is the oldest park in the group. | 18 |
| Dorney Park | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 1884 | 1992 | Cedar Fair bought this park in 1992. | 8 |
| Frontier City | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1958 | 1981 2018 |
The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1981 and again in 2018. | 5 |
| Kings Dominion | Doswell, Virginia | 1975 | 2006 | Cedar Fair bought this park as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. | 13 |
| Kings Island | Mason, Ohio | 1972 | 2006 | Cedar Fair bought this park as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. | 15 |
| Knott's Berry Farm | Buena Park, California | 1920 | 1997 | Cedar Fair bought this park from the Knott Family in 1997. | 10 |
| La Ronde | Montréal, Quebec | 1967 | 2001 | This park was built for Expo 67. Six Flags bought the right to operate it for 65 years in 2001. | 8 |
| Michigan's Adventure | Muskegon, Michigan | 1956 | 2001 | Cedar Fair bought this park in 2001. | 7 |
| Six Flags America | Woodmore, Maryland | 1974 | 1992 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1992. It is closing at the end of the 2025 season. | 9 |
| Six Flags Darien Lake | Darien, New York | 1981 | 1995 2018 |
The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1995 and again in 2018. | 8 |
| Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | Vallejo, California | 1968 | 1997 (lease) 2007 (full ownership) |
The original Six Flags company started operating this park in 1997 and fully bought it in 2007. | 10 |
| Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | 1992 | 1996 (lease) 1998 (full ownership) |
The original Six Flags company started operating this park in 1996 and fully bought it in 1998. | 11 |
| Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, New Jersey | 1974 | 1977 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1977. It also includes Six Flags Wild Safari Adventure. | 13 |
| Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Illinois | 1976 | 1984 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1984. This is how Six Flags got the rights to use Warner Bros. characters. | 16 |
| Six Flags Great Escape | Queensbury, New York | 1954 | 1996 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1996. It was known as Storytown USA before that. | 6 |
| Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, California | 1971 | 1979 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1979. | 19 |
| Six Flags México | Mexico City, Mexico | 1982 | 1999 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1999. It was once called Reino Aventura. | 9 |
| Six Flags New England | Agawam, Massachusetts | 1870 | 1997 | This is one of the oldest parks in the company. The original Six Flags company bought it in 1997. | 11 |
| Six Flags Over Georgia | Austell, Georgia | 1967 | – | Six Flags Entertainment Corp. 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 theme park. Six Flags Entertainment Corp. manages and operates it. | 13 |
| Six Flags St. Louis | Eureka, Missouri | 1971 | – | This park was once known as Six Flags Over Mid-America. | 10 |
| Valleyfair | Shakopee, Minnesota | 1976 | 1978 | Cedar Point bought this park in 1978, which helped create Cedar Fair in 1983. | 8 |
| Worlds of Fun | Kansas City, Missouri | 1973 | 1995 | Cedar Fair bought this park in 1995. | 8 |
Water Parks
Outdoor Water Parks
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Located inside or next to amusement parks | ||||
| Carolina Harbor | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1982 | 2006 | This water park is inside Carowinds. Cedar Fair bought it as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. |
| Oceans of Fun | Kansas City, Missouri | 1982 | 1995 | This water park is next to Worlds of Fun. Cedar Fair bought it in 1995. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Queensbury, New York | 1995 | 1996 | This water park is inside Six Flags Great Escape. The original Six Flags company bought it with the park in 1996. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Darien Lake | Darien, New York | 1990 | 2018 | This water park is inside Six Flags Darien Lake. The original Six Flags company bought it with the park in 1995 and again in 2018. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New England | Agawam, Massachusetts | 1997 | 1998 | This water park is inside Six Flags New England. The original Six Flags company opened it in 1997. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Austell, Georgia | 2014 | – | This water park is inside Six Flags Over Georgia. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | Eureka, Missouri | 1999 | – | This water park is next to Six Flags St. Louis. |
| Soak City | Doswell, Virginia | 1992 | 2006 | This water park is inside Kings Dominion. Cedar Fair bought it as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. |
| Soak City | Mason, Ohio | 1989 | 2006 | This water park is next to Kings Island. Cedar Fair bought it as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. |
| Soak City | Shakopee, Minnesota | 1983 | – | This water park is inside Valleyfair. |
| South Bay Shores | Santa Clara, California | 2004 | 2006 | This water park is inside California's Great America. Cedar Fair bought it as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. |
| Splash Works | Vaughan, Ontario | 1992 | 2006 | This water park is next to Canada's Wonderland. Cedar Fair bought it as part of the Paramount Parks purchase. |
| WildWater Adventure | Muskegon, Michigan | 1991 | 2001 | This water park is next to Michigan's Adventure. Cedar Fair bought it with the park in 2001. |
| Wildwater Kingdom | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 1985 | 1992 | Cedar Fair bought this water park in 1992. It is part of Dorney Park. |
| Wild West Water Works | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 2017 | 2018 | This water park is inside Frontier City. It became a full water park in 2017. The original Six Flags company bought its operations in 2018. |
| Separate water parks (need a separate ticket) | ||||
| Cedar Point Shores | Sandusky, Ohio | 1988 | – | This water park is next to Cedar Point. It was called Soak City until 2017. |
| Knott's Soak City | Buena Park, California | 2000 | – | This water park is next to Knott's Berry Farm. |
| Schlitterbahn Galveston | Galveston, Texas | 2006 | 2019 | Cedar Fair bought this park in 2019. |
| Schlitterbahn New Braunfels | New Braunfels, Texas | 1979 | 2019 | Cedar Fair bought this park in 2019. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles | Valencia, California | 1995 | – | This water park is next to Six Flags Magic Mountain. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Arlington | Arlington, Texas | 1983 | 1995 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1995. It is across the highway from Six Flags Over Texas. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New Jersey | Jackson, New Jersey | 2000 | – | This water park is next to Six Flags Great Adventure. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec | Oaxtepec, Mexico | 2017 | 2016 | This park reopened in 2017. It is about an hour away from Six Flags Mexico. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord | Concord, California | 1995 | 2017 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1996 and again in 2017. It is about 15 miles from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | 2009 | 2018 | Six Flags operates this park. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown | Spring, Texas | 1984 | 2018 | The original Six Flags company bought this park in 1999 and again in 2017. |
| Six Flags White Water | Marietta, Georgia | 1983 | 1999 | This water park is about 15 miles from Six Flags Over Georgia. Six Flags will fully own it starting in 2027. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | 1981 | 2018 | This park is about 15 miles from Frontier City. Six Flags operates it. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Rockford | Cherry Valley, Illinois | 1984 | 2019 | Six Flags operates this park under a special agreement. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago | Gurnee, Illinois | 2005 | – | This water park is next to Six Flags Great America. It became a separate park in 2021. |
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 1992 | 1998 | This water park is next to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It became a separate park in 2023. |
Indoor Water Parks
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castaway Bay | Sandusky, Ohio | 2004 | – | This water park is inside the resort of the same name. |
| White Water Bay | Queensbury, New York | 2006 | – | This water park is inside the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge. |
Safari Parks
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags Wild Safari Adventure | Jackson, New Jersey | 1974 | – | This safari park is next to Six Flags Great Adventure. You can go on a safari adventure there. |
Resorts
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castaway Bay | Sandusky, Ohio | 2004 | – | This resort is about a mile from Cedar Point. It has an indoor water park. |
| Six Flags Darien Lake Hotel & Campground | Darien, New York | 1954 | 1995 2018 |
This resort is across from Six Flags Darien Lake. It has a hotel, campground, and other fun areas. |
| Six Flags Great Escape Lodge | Queensbury, New York | 2006 | – | This lodge is across from Six Flags Great Escape. It has the White Water Bay Waterpark inside. |
| Six Flags Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa | Jackson, New Jersey | 2024 | – | This resort is located within Six Flags Wild Safari Adventure at Six Flags Great Adventure. |
Future Parks
Amusement Parks
| Name | Location | Planned Opening Year | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags Qiddiya | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 2025 | This park is planned to be the first Six Flags park in Saudi Arabia. It will also be the first Six Flags park outside of North America since 2004. |
Past Parks
Water Parks That Have Closed
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Closed/Sold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Maryland | Largo, Maryland | 1982 | 2025 | This water park was next to Six Flags America. It closed on September 6, 2025. It was known by different names over the years, like Paradise Island. |
Skip the Line: Fast Lane
Fast Lane is a special system used at parks that used to be part of Cedar Fair. It lets visitors wait in a shorter line for many rides. You buy a wristband for an extra cost to use it. This system was first tested at Kings Island in 2011. By 2012, all Cedar Fair parks offered Fast Lane. There's also "Fright Lane" for haunted attractions during Halloween.
All the parks that were originally Six Flags parks will start using Fast Lane instead of The Flash Pass in January 2026. This means The Flash Pass system will eventually be retired.
The Flash Pass: Another Way to Skip Lines
The Flash Pass is another system that lets you skip lines, and it was used at Six Flags parks before the merger. It's named after the speedy DC Comics character, The Flash. For an extra fee, you can reserve your spot in line for certain rides. The first version, called Q-bot, started at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2001. Guests used small handheld devices to make reservations and get alerts when it was their turn to ride. Later, you could also use a QR code on your phone or buy passes for individual rides.
A special version for water parks, called Q-band, was tested in 2011. Guests wore waterproof RFID wristbands that they could scan at different spots in the water park.
The Flash Pass system is planned to be removed by the end of the 2025 season. All the parks that were originally Six Flags will switch to the Fast Lane system in 2026.
Images for kids
-
Six Flags AstroWorld was demolished after its closure in 2005.
