Six Flags Over Texas facts for kids
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The park's main entrance in 2011
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| Location | Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 32°45′20.52″N 97°4′12.80″W / 32.7557000°N 97.0702222°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | August 5, 1961 |
| Owner | Texas Flags, Ltd. (51%) |
| Operated by | Six Flags |
| General manager | Mark Boyer |
| Slogan | The Thrill Capital of Texas |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Area | 212 acres (0.331 sq mi) (0.86 km2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 45 |
| Roller coasters | 13 |
| Water rides | 3 |
Six Flags Over Texas is a huge 212-acre amusement park located in Arlington, Texas. It's found between the cities of Fort Worth and Dallas. This park is special because it was the very first amusement park in the famous Six Flags family.
The park opened its doors on August 5, 1961. It took a year to build and cost about $10 million. A man named Angus G. Wynne Jr., who developed real estate, had the idea for the park.
Today, the park is managed by the Six Flags Entertainment Corp.. They own a big part of the company that runs the park. Six Flags Over Texas is known for its exciting rides and different themed areas.
Contents
The Story of Six Flags Over Texas
The idea for Six Flags Over Texas came from Angus G. Wynne Jr.. After visiting Disneyland in California, he thought his home state of Texas should have a similar fun park. Planning started in 1959, and construction began in August 1960.
What Does "Six Flags" Mean?
The name "Six Flags Over Texas" celebrates the six different nations that have ruled over Texas throughout history. These nations are Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America.
Originally, Mr. Wynne thought about naming it "Texas Under Six Flags." But someone suggested that Texas isn't "under" anything! So, they changed it to "Six Flags Over Texas." The park was first divided into six themed areas, each representing one of these nations.
Opening Day Fun
Six Flags Over Texas officially opened on Saturday, August 5, 1961. Many important people, including mayors from nearby cities, attended the grand opening. On that day, 8,374 visitors came to the park!
Admission cost $2.75 for adults and $2.25 for children. Parking was 50 cents. You could even buy a hamburger for 35 cents and a soft drink for 10 cents! The park's first season was a big hit, with over 550,000 visitors in just 45 days.
Growing Bigger and Better
In its first ten years, the park added new sections. These included Boomtown, which looked like the towns that quickly grew during Texas's oil boom. They also added the "Tower Section," named after the Oil Derrick observation tower built in 1969.
Two popular rides were also added: El Aserradero in 1963 and the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster in 1966. By the end of the 1960s, almost 2 million people visited the park each year.
In 2011, for its 50th anniversary, Six Flags Over Texas made a big change to its famous Texas Giant roller coaster. It became the New Texas Giant, using a new type of track called I-Box. This made the ride even more exciting!
In 2020, the park decided to stay open all year round. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, the park temporarily closed in March 2020. During this time, they helped local charities by donating food and supplies. The park safely reopened in June 2020.
Changes to the Flags
For many years, the park flew the flags of the six nations that ruled Texas, including the first Confederate flag. In August 2017, the park decided to make a change. They replaced all six historical flags with six American flags.
A park representative explained that they wanted to focus on things that bring people together. This change showed their commitment to celebrating unity.
Exciting Attractions
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Six Flags Over Texas has many thrilling rides and attractions for everyone to enjoy!
Roller Coasters
The park is famous for its roller coasters. Here are some of the most popular ones:
| Name | Opened | Track | Type | Park section | Height | Speed | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batman: The Ride | 1999 | Steel | Inverted roller coaster | Gotham City | 105 feet (32 m) | 50 mph (80 km/h) | |
| Judge Roy Scream | 1980 | Wood | Sit down | Gotham City | 71 feet (22 m) | 45 mph (72 km/h) | |
| Mini Mine Train | 1969 | Steel | Mine train | Boomtown | 20 feet (6.1 m) | 20 mph (32 km/h) | |
| Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast | 1998 | Steel | Launched Shuttle Loop | Gotham City | 218 feet (66 m) | 70 mph (110 km/h) | |
| New Texas Giant | 2011 | Steel | I-Box custom | Texas | 153 feet (47 m) | 65 mph (105 km/h) | |
| Pandemonium | 2008 | Steel | Spinning Coaster | Boomtown | 53 feet (16 m) | 31 mph (50 km/h) | |
| Runaway Mine Train | 1966 | Steel | Mine Train | Boomtown | 35 feet (11 m) | 35 mph (56 km/h) | |
| Runaway Mountain | 1996 | Steel | Sit down | France | 65 feet (20 m) | 40 mph (64 km/h) | |
| Shock Wave | 1978 | Steel | Sit down looper | Tower | 116 feet (35 m) | 60 mph (97 km/h) | |
| The Joker | 2017 | Steel | 4th Dimension coaster | Gotham City | 120 feet (37 m) | 38 mph (61 km/h) | |
| Titan | 2001 | Steel | Hypercoaster | Texas | 245 feet (75 m) | 85 mph (137 km/h) | |
| Wile E. Coyote's Grand Canyon Blaster | 2001 | Steel | Sit down | Boomtown | 16.1 feet (4.9 m) | 15 mph (24 km/h) |
Park Firsts and Records
Six Flags Over Texas has achieved many "firsts" in the amusement park world:
- It was the very first Six Flags Theme Park, opening in 1961.
- It was the first park to offer "Pay one Price" admission, meaning you paid once to enjoy all rides.
- It was the first theme park to have Broadway-style shows.
- It introduced the first Arrow Development Log Flume, called El Aserradero, in 1963.
- It also had the first Arrow Development Mine Train Roller Coaster, the Runaway Mine Train, in 1966.
- The park was home to the first RMC I-Box hybrid coaster, the New Texas Giant, in 2011.
The park also holds some impressive records:
- The Titan is the tallest roller coaster in Texas, reaching 245 feet!
- The Titan is also the fastest roller coaster in Texas, hitting speeds of 85 mph!
- The Oil Derrick is the largest land-based Oil Derrick at 300 feet tall.
- The Texas Skyscreamer is the second tallest swing ride in the world, soaring 400 feet high!
Awards for Awesome Rides
Some of the park's rides have won special awards:
- The Texas Giant was named the World's Best Wooden Roller Coaster in 1998 and 1999.
- The New Texas Giant also won Best New Coaster of 2011.
Fun Events All Year
Six Flags Over Texas hosts special events for holidays, bringing in thousands of visitors.
Fright Fest
Fright Fest is a popular annual Halloween festival. It takes place throughout October and features haunted houses, spooky decorations, and ghouls roaming the park. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was called Hallowfest and focused on outdoor fun.
Holiday in the Park
Held every year since 1985, Holiday in the Park celebrates the winter holidays. It runs from late November through December. The park lights up with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights. Visitors can enjoy festive shows, crafts, and seasonal food. There's even a snowy hill for sledding!
Fun Facts About the Park
Six Flags Over Texas is a really big park! It covers 212 acres, which is about 860,000 square meters. That's a lot of space for rides and fun!
Rides and Coasters
The park has a total of 45 different rides. If you love roller coasters, you're in luck! There are 13 roller coasters to choose from. Plus, there are 3 water rides, perfect for cooling off on a hot Texas day. The park is open all year round, so you can visit any time you like.
See also
In Spanish: Six Flags Over Texas para niños
- Universal Kids Resort
