Six Flags Great Adventure facts for kids
| Previously known as Great Adventure (1974–1977) | |
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| Location | Jackson, New Jersey, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°8′15.71″N 74°26′25.65″W / 40.1376972°N 74.4404583°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | July 1, 1974 |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| Slogan | The World's Ultimate Thrill Park |
| Operating season | Late March – Early January |
| Attendance | 3.22 million in 2016 |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 58 |
| Roller coasters | 14 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | Six Flags Great Adventure |
Six Flags Great Adventure is a super fun amusement park located in Jackson, New Jersey. It's owned by a company called Six Flags. The park is located between New York City and Philadelphia. It even has a water park called Hurricane Harbor! The park first opened in 1974 as Great Adventure, started by Warner LeRoy. Six Flags bought the park in 1977.
In 2012, Six Flags made its Great Adventure park (which is about 160-acre (65 ha)) even bigger. They combined it with their Wild Safari animal park (about 350-acre (140 ha)). This created the Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari park. At 510 acres (210 ha), it became the second-largest theme park in the world. Only Disney's Animal Kingdom is bigger.
Contents
History of Six Flags Great Adventure
How the Park Started (1974–1977)
In 1972, a creative inventor named Warner LeRoy had a big idea. He wanted to build a huge entertainment area called Great Adventure. His plan included seven different parks! These were an amusement park, a safari park, a show park, a floral park, a sports area, a shopping area, and a campground with a beach and stables. He also wanted hotels connected to the parks by boats, buses, and even a monorail.
LeRoy wanted his parks to blend in with the forests and lakes. He chose a property in New Jersey that was easy to reach from New York City and Philadelphia. It was close to a new highway, Interstate 195.
LeRoy worked with Hardwicke Industries, who had built safari parks before. They planned to open the seven parks in stages over five years. Great Adventure opened to the public on July 1, 1974. It cost $10 million to build. At first, only the Enchanted Forest (the amusement park) and the Safari park were open. Even though they planned for seven parks, only three were ever built: the amusement park, the safari, and later Hurricane Harbor.
The Enchanted Forest was designed to look like a child's dream. Everything was made to seem bigger than real life. A Big Balloon was a huge hot-air balloon near the entrance. It was the biggest of its kind in the world! The Log Flume was the longest log ride ever built at that time. It had a giant "Conestoga Wagon" and a huge Western-themed restaurant. The Giant Wheel (now called Big Wheel) was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. The Freedom Fountain was the largest spraying fountain. These were all on the other side of the park.
One smaller attraction was the Garden of Marvels. It had working model trains and boats. These were set among tiny models of American landmarks and European castles. This miniature village idea came from LeRoy's plan for a floral park. Other ideas from his floral park concept included a tree with snakes, a carousel, and a petting zoo. These became part of the park's main area, called Dream Street.
The Shoppe Lane area was inspired by a planned shopping park. It had large open spaces, a big fountain, and street performers. Shops like "Fairy Tales" sold stuffed animals and toys, including Superman.
Neptune's Kingdom was a plan for a water show park. From this idea came Aqua Spectacle, where dolphin shows and high-dive shows took place. Today, this stadium is called Fort Independence.
The Rootin' Tootin' Ready for Shootin' area opened with the Runaway Mine Train on July 4, 1974. A smaller roller coaster called Big Fury opened later that year. The Sky Ride connected two parts of the park. It had been used at the 1964–'65 New York World's Fair. The Great Train Ride took guests on a loop through the woods.
In 1975, the Fun Fair area opened with new spinning rides and a smaller Ferris wheel. A second log flume, the Moon Flume, was built to help with crowds. The Fortune Festival was a new game area.
LeRoy also wanted to add "dark rides" (indoor rides with special effects). While many of his ideas didn't happen, the Haunted Castle Across the Moat was added later. It was inspired by his idea for a "Hotel Transylvania."
In 1976, the park's entrance moved to its current central spot. It was designed with a "Liberty Court" area. Its style was inspired by the United States bicentennial celebration. The park's name changed from Enchanted Forest to Great Adventure. Some older rides were removed before new owners took over.
New Owners and Big Changes (1977–1992)
In 1977, construction started on a steel roller coaster called Lightnin' Loops. Later that year, Six Flags bought the park. Six Flags began adding rides found in bigger theme parks. These included the wooden roller coaster Rolling Thunder in 1979. They also added The Buccaneer (a swinging ship), Roaring Rapids (now Congo Rapids), and Parachuter's Perch.
In 1981, the park added a water ride called Roaring Rapids. In 1983, a Freefall Ride was added. In 1984, the park added the Sarajevo Bobsleds roller coaster. They also removed a kiddie coaster, keeping the total number of coasters at four.
In 1986, the park added its fifth roller coaster, Ultra Twister. It had spiral twists. Another water ride, Splashwater Falls, was also added. Riders would go up a hill in a large boat and then down a steep waterfall, getting soaked! These new rides were added to help bring more visitors to the park.
In 1989, a new roller coaster called The Great American Scream Machine opened. It had multiple loops and was the tallest roller coaster in the world for a month! This ride helped bring many people back to the park. The Scream Machine was removed in 2010.
In 1990, a stand-up roller coaster called Shockwave was added. It had been at another Six Flags park before. However, Ultra Twister was removed at the end of 1989. So, the park still had five roller coasters. In 1991, the park added a huge area of "dry" waterslides. These slides were themed after rivers around the world.
The Time Warner Years (1990–1997)
In 1990, Time Warner (a big entertainment company) started to buy parts of Six Flags. By 1993, they owned all of it. Time Warner used the parks to promote their movies.
In 1992, the "Fun Fair" area of the park was renamed "Action Town," and then "Movietown" in 1993. A Batman stunt show was added. It was also announced that a new roller coaster, Batman The Ride, would be built. Lightnin' Loops was taken down to make space for Batman.
Batman, designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, opened in 1993. This brought the coaster count back up to four. In 1994, a motion simulator ride was added. It showed different movies over the years, including a dinosaur theme and a SpongeBob theme.
In 1995, Viper was added. It was a steel roller coaster similar to Ultra Twister. This brought the coaster count to five again. In 1996, an indoor roller coaster called Skull Mountain opened. In 1997, a new roller coaster called Batman & Robin: The Chiller was built. However, it had many technical problems and didn't open properly until 1998.
Premier Parks Takes Over (1998–2005)
Premier Parks bought Six Flags in 1998. The new team added many new rides in 1999. They wanted to reduce long lines. A new kiddie water play area called Looney Tunes Seaport was added. Two new kiddie roller coasters, Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train and Road Runner Railway, were also added. The main new ride was a floorless steel roller coaster called Medusa (now known as Bizarro).
In 2000, a new water park called Hurricane Harbor opened next to Great Adventure. It had its own entrance and ticket. It included many waterslides, a kiddie water play area, and a wave pool.
In 2001, the park added another amazing roller coaster called Nitro. In 2002, Batman & Robin: The Chiller was updated to be smoother. In 2003, Superman: Ultimate Flight was added. In 2005, the park added the world's tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka. Viper was removed to make way for new attractions. A new children's play area called Balin's Jungleland was also added. In 2006, a wooden roller coaster called El Toro was built where Viper used to be.
New Management (2006–2010)
In 2007, the park added Wiggles World, a new area for younger kids. Batman & Robin: The Chiller was removed due to ongoing technical problems. Other rides like Freefall and Splashwater Falls were also removed.
In 2008, a new indoor roller coaster called The Dark Knight was added. It was based on the Batman movie. The motion simulator ride changed its theme to Fly Me To The Moon. The Glow in the Park Parade was also added.
In 2009, Medusa was updated and renamed "Bizarro." The roller coaster, its station, and the area around it were all repainted. New special effects and sounds were added to the ride. This made the ride popular again.
Recent Years (2010–Present)
In 2010, the Motion Simulator ride Fly Me To The Moon did not reopen. In July 2010, the Great American Scream Machine roller coaster was removed. This made space for a big new ride in 2011. On September 16, 2010, the park announced that Green Lantern, a stand-up roller coaster, would open in 2011. It used to be called Chang at another Six Flags park.
In late 2010, Six Flags started removing themes from some rides. Wiggles World was renamed and rethemed to Safari Kids for the 2011 season.
In 2012, Great Adventure introduced SkyScreamer. This is a 242-foot-tall (74 m)* Funtime StarFlyer that swings riders in a 98-foot (30 m) circle at speeds over 43 miles per hour (69 km/h). It opened in the new area called Adventure Alley. This area also got bumper cars, flying elephants, and a musical scrambler ride. Also in 2012, Hurricane Harbor in New Jersey announced a new water attraction called King Cobra.
On August 30, 2012, Six Flags combined its 160-acre (65 ha) Great Adventure Park with its 350-acre (140 ha) Wild Safari animal park. This created the 510-acre (210 ha) Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari park. It became the largest theme park in the world!
On August 29, 2013, Six Flags announced the addition of Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom for the 2014 season. This is a huge drop tower built on the supports of Kingda Ka. They also announced the removal of Rolling Thunder.
On August 28, 2014, Six Flags announced a new ride for 2015 called Looping Dragon. It was later renamed El Diablo.
In March 2015, Six Flags Great Adventure shared plans to clear over 18,000 trees. This was to build a 90-acre solar farm. This farm would create enough electricity for almost all of the theme park's needs! On September 3, 2015, Six Flags Great Adventure announced a new 4th Dimension roller coaster for spring 2016. It was first called "Total Mayhem." On November 21, 2015, Holiday in the Park, a Christmas event with millions of lights, started for the first time. On January 27, 2016, the park announced that "Total Mayhem" would be renamed "The Joker." Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train was renamed Harley Quinn Crazy Train. On September 1, 2016, the park announced Justice League: Battle for Metropolis 4D. This ride opened in 2017 in the spot where The Chiller used to be.
Timeline of Rides and Events
| Year | Events | Image |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Safari Park and Enchanted Forest (amusement park) open. Rides include: carousel, Sky Ride, Giant Wheel, Super Round Up, Runaway Mine Train, log flume, Flying Wave, Traffic Jam, Swiss Bob, Calypso, Matterhorn, Woodland Express, Grand Prix, Pretty Monster, antique cars, and Big Fury. | |
| 1975 | New rides: Jumbo Jet, Enterprise, Poland Spring Plunge, Lil' Thunder, Super Cat, Schwabinchen, Wild Rider. | |
| 1976 | New ride: Musik Express replaces Happy Feeling petting zoo. Pretty Monster moves. |  |
| 1977 | New rides: Monster Spin replaces Pretty Monster. Gondola added then removed. | |
| 1978 | New rides: Lightnin' Loops, Wild Rider, Scrambler, Haunted Castle Across the Moat (a haunted walk-through). | |
| 1979 | New rides: Rolling Thunder, Spin Meister. A second side of Haunted Castle is built. Grand Prix cars removed. |  |
| 1980 | Buccaneer and Adventure Theater added. Six Flags Great Adventure Rail Road removed. | |
| 1981 | Roaring Rapids (now Congo Rapids) added. Wild Rider removed. | |
| 1982 | Joust-a-Bout added. | |
| 1983 | Bally takes over Six Flags. Stuntman's Freefall and Parachuter's Perch added. | |
| 1984 | Haunted Castle is destroyed by fire. Sarajevo Bobsled added. Rolling Thunder Coaster 2's trains run backwards. | |
| 1985 | Looping Starship added (later called Space Shuttle). |  |
| 1986 | Ultra Twister added. Matterhorn removed. Swabinchen removed. |  |
| 1987 | Splashwater Falls (later Movie Town Water Effect) added. Scrambler moved. A management change focuses on family values. | |
| 1988 | Condor debuts. Sarajevo Bobsled removed. | |
| 1989 | Great American Scream Machine added. Ultra Twister removed. | _01.jpg) |
| 1990 | Shockwave added from Six Flags Magic Mountain. | |
| 1991 | Adventure Rivers (water slides) added (removed in 1999). Condor and Swiss Bob removed. Fright Fest begins. | |
| 1992 | Time Warner buys Six Flags. Enchanted Forest section renamed "Action Town." Batman Stunt Show Arena built. Lightnin' Loops removed. Shockwave removed. | |
| 1993 | El Sombrero added. Batman: The Ride opens in May. Action Town becomes Movie Town. |  |
| 1994 | "Right Stuff: Mach 1 Adventure" (simulator) added. | |
| 1995 | Viper debuts on June 1. | |
| 1996 | Skull Mountain opens. Enchanted Tea Cups and Lethal Weapon Stunt Show added. |  |
| 1997 | Dare Devil Dive (a 155 ft (47 m) tall Skycoaster) added. Batman & Robin: The Chiller is built but only operates briefly. |  |
| 1998 | Batman & Robin: The Chiller opens regularly. Adventure Rivers dry slides and Sky Pilot removed. | |
| 1999 | Medusa (now Bizarro) opens April 3. Other rides added: Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train, Road Runner Railway, Looney Tunes Seaport (kiddie area), and Houdini's Great Escape. Many flat rides added. "Escape from Dino Island 3D" replaces "Mach 1 Adventure." |  |
| 2000 | Hurricane Harbor water park opens as a separate park. Employee housing opens. Spinnaker removed. | |
| 2001 | Nitro opens on April 7. Season Pass entrance opens. Slingshot and Turbo Force (upcharge rides) debut. Viper stands but doesn't operate. El Sombrero, Centrifuge G Force, and Time Warp removed. |  |
| 2002 | Pirate's Flight removed. Viper reopens. Chiller's trains modified. | |
| 2003 | Evolution removed. Superman: Ultimate Flight opens on April 17. ErUPtion (upcharge) added. "Right Stuff Mach 1 Adventure" returns for one season. Jumpin' Jack Flash and Pendulum removed. |  |
| 2004 | SpongeBob SquarePants: The Ride replaces "Right Stuff." Batman: The Ride's supports repainted. Main Street buildings repainted. Season Pass Entrance and Bugs Bunny Land discontinued. Viper closes. | |
| 2005 | Chiller and Great American Scream Machine repainted. Safari tours begin. The Golden Kingdom themed area debuts with Balin's Jungleland, Temple of the Tiger, and Spirit of the Tiger. Kingda Ka opens on May 21. Viper demolished. Taz Twister, Rodeo Stampede, and Chaos removed. |  |
| 2006 | Spin Meister removed. Bugs Bunny National Park opens in March. Runaway Train's track repainted. Flying Wave's opening delayed. Plaza Del Carnaval opens. Carnegie Deli opens. El Toro opens on June 11. Rolling Thunder and Kingda Ka run fewer trains. Batman side of The Chiller opens. Stuntman's Freefall, Riptide, and Koala Canyon removed. |  |
| 2007 | Batman & Robin: The Chiller reopens both sides but closes permanently on June 28. Wiggles World opens. Autobahn gets new cars. Ben and Jerry's and Cold Stone Creamery open. Great American Hamburger becomes Johnny Rockets Express. Wok & Roll becomes Panda Express. Kingda Ka runs four trains. Movie Town Water Effect demolished. | |
| 2008 | On May 15, The Dark Knight, a new indoor roller coaster, is added. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Ride removed for "Fly Me To The Moon." More Johnny Rockets and Coldstone Creamery open. Old Country and Houdini's Great Escape closed. Super Teepee destroyed. New locker policy. Cabanas available. Space Shuttle and Flying Wave removed. | |
| 2009 | Medusa undergoes overhaul and becomes Bizarro, opening May 23. Big Wheel repainted. Mr. Six returns. Cyber cafe opens. Parachute Tower repainted. Houdini's Great Escape re-opened for Fright Fest. |  |
| 2010 | Hurricane Harbor adds a ProSlide Tornado. Many Main Street buildings refurbished. Fly Me To The Moon closed. On July 18, the Great American Scream Machine closes and is demolished for the Green Lantern roller coaster. | |
| 2011 | On May 27, Green Lantern (formerly Chang from Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom), a green B&M stand-up coaster, is introduced. Slingshot (upcharge) added. Tango, Bugaboo, and Foghorn Leghorn's Stagecoach Express reopen. Fantasy Fling repainted and renamed "Tornado." Coca-Cola Freestyle opens. | |
| 2012 | In May, SkyScreamer is added to newly themed Adventure Alley section, along with Fender Benders and Déjà Vu, and Air Jumbo. Safari closes on September 30 for major renovations. | |
| 2013 | On May 23, Wild Safari reopens as Safari Offroad Adventures. On September 7, Rolling Thunder, a wooden roller coaster, closes after nearly 35 years. | |
| 2014 | On July 5, Six Flags Great Adventure opens Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, the tallest drop ride in the world. It drops riders 415 feet at speeds up to 90 mph. It is built on Kingda Ka's supports. | |
| 2015 | In May, El Diablo opens. Holiday in the Park begins in late November. Fort Independence and Great Lake Grandstand demolished for The Joker. Batman runs backwards for part of the season. | |
| 2016 | On May 27, The Joker, a new 4D Free Fly roller coaster, opens. Hurricane Harbor gets Caribbean Cove. Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train is renamed Harley Quinn Crazy Train. | |
| 2017 | Justice League: Battle For Metropolis, a 4D Interactive-Gaming dark ride replacing Batman & Robin: The Chiller, is announced. |
Fun Attractions at the Park
Main Street
Main Street is the main entrance to Six Flags Great Adventure. It used to be called Liberty Court. This area looks like an old American town from the 18th century. Later, it started to look more like a town from the early 1900s. The Freedom Fountain is at the front and is a popular meeting spot.
| Attraction | Description |
|---|---|
| Main Street Market | Gifts, medicine, and cameras. |
| Looney Tunes Shoppe | Souvenirs with Looney Tunes and Justice League characters. |
| Sweet Treats | Candies, fudge, and caramel apples. |
| My Six Flags Photo | Pick up your souvenir photos from your visit. |
| M-PORIUM | Featuring M&M'S and Mars candy. |
| The Flash Pass Headquarters | Buy a system to reserve your spot on rides. |
| Super Hero Cape Cart | Capes from your favorite DC Super Heroes. |
| Liberty Square Gazebo | A stage for seasonal shows. |
Fantasy Forest
Fantasy Forest is in the middle of the park. It was once part of the entrance. This section is designed to make you feel like a kid again! It has bright colors and a magical feel. The Yum Yum Cafe looks like a giant ice cream sundae. You can also find the colorful Carousel and Enchanted Teacups here. This area used to be two separate sections: Dream Street and Strawberry Fair. They were combined into Fantasy Forest. In 2012, the west side became Adventure Alley.
| Ride | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel | 1974 | Frederick Savage | The park's big carousel. |
| Enchanted Tea Cups | 1996 | Zamperla | A tea-cups style ride with fun decorations. |
| Houdini's Great Escape | 1999 | Vekoma | A "Madhouse" attraction inside a "mansion" with Harry Houdini's magic theme. |
Adventure Alley
Adventure Alley opened in 2012. It used to be part of Fantasy Forest. This area has a cool retro theme and features several classic family rides. It was built because people wanted more family-friendly rides. SkyScreamer, Déjà Vu (a Scrambler ride), and Air Jumbo (a Flying Elephants ride) all opened in May. Fender Benders, a bumper cars ride, opened in July. The area plays songs from the Broadway show Jersey Boys.
| Attraction | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Wheel | 1974 | Anton Schwarzkopf | A very large Ferris wheel that was once the tallest in the world. |
| Air Jumbo | 2012 | A flying elephants ride that moved from another part of the park. | |
| Adventure Alley Games | 2012 | Test your skills at fun family games. | |
| Déjà Vu | 2012 | Eli Bridge | A scrambler ride with music. |
| Fender Benders | 2012 | Bertazzon | A classic bumper cars ride. |
| Kingpin Bowl-A-Rama | 2012 | A mini bowling game (costs extra to play). | |
| SkyScreamer | 2012 | Funtime | A tall swing ride that lifts riders 242 feet high and spins them at 43 mph. |
Adventure Seaport
Adventure Seaport was introduced in 2011. It includes two children's areas: Looney Tunes Seaport and Safari Kids. It also has a small section that used to be part of Movietown.
| Attraction | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congo Rapids | 1981 | Intamin | A rapids ride, one of the first of its kind in the world. |
| Nitro | 2001 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A 230-foot (70 m)-tall hyper-coaster, ranked as one of the best steel coasters. |
Safari Kids
Safari Kids was added in 2011. It was called Wiggles World from 2007 to 2010. Most of the rides were re-themed from Looney Tunes Seaport. This area replaced an older part of the park. It was renamed Safari Kids in 2011 when the park's agreement to use the Wiggles brand ended.
| Attraction | Year opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure Theater | 2007 | A stage for kids' shows. |
| Air Safari | 2007 | A flying planes ride, originally named Big Red Planes. |
| Bugaboo | 1976 | A kiddie ride that moved from another themed section. |
| Jumpin' Joey | 1999 | A children's drop tower. |
| Raja's Rickshaws | 1982 | A kiddie scrambler ride that moved from another themed section. |
| Safari Tours | 1999 | A car ride, originally named Taz's Seaport Trucking Company. |
| Sky Zooma | 1999 | A children's balloon ride. |
Looney Tunes Seaport
This children's area, based on Looney Tunes characters, opened in 1999.
Attractions:
| Attraction | Year opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bugs Bunny Barnstormer | 1999 | A plane-themed ride that spins. |
| Daffy's Deep Diver | 1999 | A submarine-themed ride. |
| Pepe Le Pew's Hearts Aweigh | 1999 | A small spinning teacups ride. |
| Road Runner Railway | 1999 | A children's roller coaster. |
| Taz's Tornado | 1999 | A swings ride. |
Movietown
This section looks like a Hollywood movie set. It has buildings, rides, and shops themed after movies. Many attractions feature DC Comics characters like Batman and Robin. Over the years, some movie props and flat rides have been removed. The addition of The Dark Knight Coaster meant removing The Movietown Water Effect. Batman and Robin: The Chiller was also removed. In summer 2016, plans were released for a Justice League: Battle For Metropolis dark ride in the Chiller's old spot.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio 28 Arcade | 1978 | Exchange game tickets for prizes. | |
| The Dark Knight Coaster | 2008 | Mack Rides | An indoor roller coaster themed to the movie, The Dark Knight. |
| Batman: The Ride | 1993 | Bolliger & Mabillard | An inverted roller coaster where your feet dangle. |
| Showcase Theater | A stage for musical shows. | ||
| Movietown Arena | 1992 | A place for special events. | |
| Justice League: Battle For Metropolis | 2017 | Sally Corp | A 4D dark ride that replaced Batman & Robin: The Chiller. |
Lakefront
Lakefront is located right by the lake. The rides and buildings in this area have a nautical (boat and ocean) theme. There's also a Panda Express restaurant here.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Quinn Crazy Train | 1999 | Zierer | A family roller coaster themed like a mine train. It was called Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train until 2016. |
| Buccaneer | 1980 | Intamin | A swinging pirate ship ride. |
| Jolly Roger | 1999 | Zamperla | A spinning ride with a big skull sign. |
| Skull Mountain | 1996 | Intamin | An indoor roller coaster that runs in the dark. |
| Skyway | 1974 | Von Roll Holding | An aerial tramway (like a cable car) that takes riders to Frontier Adventures. It came from the 1964 World's Fair. |
| Swashbuckler | 1974 | Hrubetz | A spinning ride that has been moved and repainted many times. |
| The Joker | 2016 | S&S Worldwide | A 4D Free Spin Roller Coaster. It was originally named Total Mayhem. |
Frontier Adventures
This section has a Western theme and is very scenic. It has famous buildings like the Fort and the Best of the West restaurant. It's also home to popular rides. In 2009, Bizarro opened here. Even though it's a modern coaster, it has a story about taking over the Medusa Mine. Frontier Adventures is now where you find the Safari Off Road Adventure station.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safari Off Road Adventure | 2013 | A safari attraction. It replaced Six Flags Wild Safari, which closed in 2012. This addition made Six Flags Great Adventure the largest theme park in the world! | |
| Camp Aventura | 2013 | On the Safari, you can feed giraffes or ride the Soaring Eagle zip-line (for an extra fee). You can also meet small, exotic animals here. | |
| Bizarro | 1999 (as Medusa) | Bolliger & Mabillard | The world's first Floorless roller coaster, with 7 inversions (upside-down loops). It was called Medusa from 1999-2008. You must be 54 inches tall to ride. |
| Runaway Mine Train | 1974 | Arrow Development | The park's first roller coaster, themed as a mine train. Riders load in "The Fort" and travel through a forest and over a lake. |
| Skyway | 1974 | Von Roll Holding | This ride came from the 1964 World's Fair. It loads in "The Fort" and takes riders to Lakefront. |
| Saw Mill Log Flume | 1974 | Arrow Development | The park's log flume ride. Boats shaped like logs take riders down a big drop and around an island. |
| Plymouth Rock Assurance Arena | 1974 | A stage for concerts and shows. |
Bugs Bunny National Park
Bugs Bunny National Park opened in 2006 with El Toro. It has camp-themed rides in a rustic area by the lake.
| Ride | Year Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bugs Bunny Camp Carousel | 1979 | A carousel with posters of different Bugs Bunny cartoons. |
| Bugs Bunny National Water Park Tower | 2006 | A leaky water tower that can get guests wet. |
| Bugs Bunny Ranger Pilots | 2006 | An airplane ride that moved from another Six Flags park. |
| Daffy Duck's Hot Air Balloons | 2006 | A circular balloon ride. |
| Porky Pig Camp Wagons | 2006 | A circular wagon ride. |
| Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster | 2006 | A kiddie ride themed to race cars. |
| Wilderness Theater | 1974 | A stage for Looney Tunes shows for children. |
This area used to be part of Frontier Adventures. It has strong Spanish influences, with music, lights, and colorful buildings. The station for El Toro is here. The whole area feels very festive.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Diablo | 2015 | Larson International | A tall loop ride. It was first called "Looping Dragon." You must be 48 inches tall to ride. |
| El Toro | 2006 | Intamin | A wooden roller coaster. It was voted the world's best wooden roller coaster in 2012. You must be 48 inches tall to ride. |
| Tango | 2006 | Zamperla | A rocking and spinning ride for families. |
Golden Kingdom
The Golden Kingdom opened in 2005 with Kingda Ka. It was built where Bugs Bunny Land, the park's old kiddie section, used to be. This area has a theme with bamboo plants and stone temples.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingda Ka | 2005 | Intamin | A "strata-coaster," the tallest roller coaster in the world as of 2015. It's themed like a bengal tiger. |
| Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom | 2014 | Intamin | The world's tallest drop ride, attached to Kingda Ka. On clear days, riders can see Philadelphia's skyline. |
| Splashwater Oasis | 2005 | A jungle-themed children's water play area. | |
| Safari Discoveries | 2011 | Guests can get close to different animals, from kinkajous to sea lions. | |
| SeaFari Theater | 2014 | See adorable Asian small-clawed otters up close. |
Boardwalk
The Boardwalk section of Great Adventure has games, restaurants, and many of the park's larger rides. This area was once themed as Edwards Air Force Base, and some of those old themes are still there. For example, the parachute tower still has that name.
| Ride | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boardwalk Games Center | 1976 | An arcade with video games. | |
| Dare Devil Dive | 1997 | Skycoaster, Inc. | A Skycoaster ride (costs extra). |
| Games Square | 1975 | Win prizes at these boardwalk-style skill games. | |
| Great American Road Race | 1999 | J&J Amusements | Go-karts (costs extra). |
| Green Lantern | 2011 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A stand-up roller coaster with 5 inversions. It used to be called Chang. |
| Parachute Training Center: Edwards AFB Jump Tower | 1983 | Intamin | A gentle 23-story drop ride. |
| Rockwall | A rock climbing wall (costs extra). | ||
| Slingshot | 2011 | Funtime (manufacturer) | A tall slingshot ride (costs extra). |
| Superman: Ultimate Flight | 2003 | Bolliger & Mabillard | A flying roller coaster with 2 inversions. |
| The Twister | 1999 | Huss Maschinenfabrik | A top spin ride. |
Former Attractions
| Ride | Year Opened | Year Closed | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boats | 1974 | 1974 | Flat Ride | Paddle boats for guests to use in the lake. |
| Antique Cars | 1974 | 1975 | Flat Ride | An antique car ride. |
| Jumbo Jet | 1975 | 1975 | Roller Coaster | Built and tested but never opened to the public. |
| Big Fury | 1974 | 1977 | Roller Coaster | |
| Pretty Monster | 1974 | 1977 | Flat Ride | |
| Enterprise | 1975 | 1977 | Flat Ride | |
| Gondola | 1977 | 1977 | Flat Ride | |
| Wild Flower | 1975 | 1977 | Flat Ride | |
| Haunted House | 1978 | 1978 | Walkthrough Attraction | |
| Super Cat | 1975 | 1978 | Flat Ride | |
| Grand Prix | 1974 | 1979 | Flat Ride | An antique car ride. |
| Alpen Blitz | 1976 | 1978 | Roller Coaster | Had two cars that pushed or pulled the train. |
| Great Train Ride | 1974 | 1980 | Transport Ride | |
| Wild Rider | 1978 | 1981 | Roller Coaster | |
| Super Sidewinder | 1976 | 1983 | Flat Ride | |
| The Screamer | 1976 | 1983 | Roller Coaster | A children's roller coaster. |
| Haunted Castle | 1979 | 1984 | Walkthrough Attraction | A walkthrough attraction that was destroyed by fire. |
| Matterhorn | 1974 | 1986 | Flat Ride | |
| Calypso | 1974 | 1987 | Flat Ride | |
| Monster Spin | 1978 | 1987 | Flat Ride | |
| Paddle Boats | 1983 | 1987 | Upcharge Attraction | Paddle boats that guests could use in the lake. |
| Skooter | 1975 | 1987 | Flat Ride | A bumper car attraction. |
| Tilt-a-Whirl | 1979 | 1987 | Flat Ride | |
| Sarajevo Bobsled | 1984 | 1988 | Roller Coaster | Moved to Six Flags Great America. |
| Ultra Twister | 1986 | 1989 | Roller Coaster | Moved to Six Flags Astroworld. |
| Condor | 1988 | 1990 | Flat Ride | |
| Swiss Bob | 1974 | 1991 | Flat Ride | |
| Lightnin' Loops | 1978 | 1992 | Roller Coaster | One track moved to Six Flags America, the other to Frontier City. |
| Shockwave | 1990 | 1992 | Roller Coaster | Moved to Six Flags Astroworld. |
| Traffic Jam | 1974 | 1992 | Flat Ride | A classic bumper cars ride. |
| Virtual Revolution | 1995 | 1995 | Upcharge Attraction | A flight simulator. |
| Panorama Wheel | 1974 | 1996 | Flat Ride | A Ferris wheel. |
| African Tower | 1991 | 1998 | Flat Ride | Part of the Adventure Rivers section. |
| Asian Tower | 1991 | 1998 | Flat Ride | Part of the Adventure Rivers section. |
| Joust-a-Bout | 1982 | 1998 | Flat Ride | Removed due to high costs to keep it running. |
| North American Tower | 1991 | 1998 | Flat Ride | Part of the Adventure Rivers section. |
| Spinnaker | 1999 | 2000 | Flat Ride | |
| Pirate's Flight | 1999 | 2001 | Flat Ride | |
| Schwabinchen | 1975 | 2001 | Flat Ride | Removed in 1986, then brought back in 1993. |
| Scrambler | 1978 | 2001 | Flat Ride | |
| Sling Shot | 2001 | 2001 | Upcharge Attraction | A ride that could be moved on a trailer. |
| Time Warp | 1999 | 2001 | Flat Ride | |
| Evolution | 1999 | 2002 | Flat Ride | |
| Speed Sports | 2001 | 2002 | Upcharge Attraction | |
| Turbo Force | 2001 | 2002 | Upcharge Attraction | A ride that could be moved on a trailer. |
| Jumpin' Jack Flash | 1999 | 2003 | Flat Ride | |
| Pendulum | 1999 | 2003 | Flat Ride | |
| Chaos | 1999 | 2005 | Flat Ride | |
| Rodeo Stampede | 1999 | 2005 | Flat Ride | |
| Rotor | 1975 | 2005 | Flat Ride | |
| Viper | 1995 | 2005 | Roller Coaster | This ride was often closed and many riders found it very bumpy. |
| Enterprise | 1979 | 2006 | Flat Ride | |
| Freefall | 1983 | 2006 | Flat Ride | |
| Hydro Flume | 1999 | 2006 | Flat Ride | |
| Alcatraz | 2001 | 2007 | Upcharge Attraction | Not very popular because it was hard to find and people didn't know what it was. |
| Autobahn | 1976 | 2007 | Flat Ride | Bumper cars. The building has been empty since 2008. |
| Batman and Robin: The Chiller | 1997 | 2007 | Roller Coaster | This ride was often closed and opened almost a year late. |
| Flying Wave | 1974 | 2007 | Flat Ride | |
| Looping Starship | 1985 | 2007 | Flat Ride | |
| Musik Express | 1976 | 2007 | Flat Ride | This ride was closed from 2008-2014 before being removed. |
| Splash Water Falls | 1987 | 2007 | Flat Ride | Its name was changed to Movie Town Water Effect. |
| Eruption | 2003 | 2010 | Upcharge Attraction | |
| The Great American Scream Machine | 1989 | 2010 | Roller Coaster | This ride was replaced by Green Lantern. |
| The Right Stuff: Mach 1 Adventure | 1994 | 2010 | Flat Ride | A motion simulator with different films. The building is now used for storage. |
| Turbo Bungy | 2001 | 2011 | Upcharge Attraction | A trampoline attraction. |
| Rolling Thunder | 1979 | 2013 | Roller Coaster | Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom and El Diablo were later built in the park. |
Awards and Recognition
Many of Six Flags Great Adventure's exciting roller coasters have won awards! They've been recognized in Amusement Today's yearly Golden Ticket Awards. Here's how some of them ranked:
| Roller Coaster | Highest Rank |
|---|---|
| Nitro | 3 (2007 – 2012) |
| El Toro | 1 (2012) |
| Bizarro (Medusa) | 9 (1999) |
| Kingda Ka | 25 (2008) |
In 2012, Six Flags Great Adventure and the Garden State Film Festival both won the Tourism Achievement Award. They received this award for helping to improve the local economy through tourism.
Fright Fest Fun
During the Halloween season, Six Flags Great Adventure transforms! It's decorated with spider webs, smoke, and other spooky Halloween decorations. Actors dress up in scary costumes to surprise guests, just like they used to at the Haunted Castle. Fright Fest usually starts at 6:00 PM. That's when the "zombies" parade to a stage to kick off the "fright by night" activities. The park suggests that the nighttime activities might be too scary for kids under 13. Fright Fest brings in some of the biggest crowds of the year, especially as Halloween gets closer.
One of the most popular parts of Fright Fest every year is "Dead Man's Party." This is a live dance show with popular music. Hundreds of people watch it, and it's become a local favorite!
The event also has haunted attractions that cost extra to enter. Some of these include The Manor, Total Darkness, Voodoo Island, and Wasteland. Certain areas of the park have "free-roaming zombies." These include The Bloody Fountain (on Main Street), Circus Psycho (on the Boardwalk), and Bone Butcher Terror-tory (in Frontier Adventures).
Images for kids
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Green Lantern construction
- Six Flags Great Adventure at the Roller Coaster DataBase
See also
In Spanish: Six Flags Great Adventure para niños
