| Not to be confused with Six Flags Great America. |
Six Flags America is a Six Flags theme park located in Woodmore, Maryland, in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. The park originally opened in 1974, and after going through several owners and names, it officially became a Six Flags park on May 5, 1999.
The park features seven themed lands, most of which are themed after different historical eras and cultural aspects of the United States. This includes everything from a fictional town based on Colonial America and immersive lands based on Gotham City, Looney Tunes and Whistlestop Park.
The property includes the adjacent Hurricane Harbor water park, which is free with admission.
History[]
The Largo Wildlife Preserve (1974–1978)[]
In 1973, Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot and a pair of Irish animal trainers proposed a wildlife preserve on corn and tobacco fields in Woodmore, Maryland. Television network ABC later bought out Perot and his partners and opened the park as a drive-through safari called The Largo Wildlife Preserve in July 1974, projecting 850,000 visitors a year.
The initial projections that were expected never materialized. In 1975, the park added narrated tours through four-car 150-person trains. However, the park failed to generate a profit. In 1976, ABC bowed out, citing massive losses. The park stayed open with a decreased staff in 1977 and was closed altogether for the 1978 season.
Wild Country (1978–1980)[]
Then at the end of 1978, the park was sold to Jim Fowler, the host of the television program Wild Kingdom. The park then became known as Wild Country. In the 1979 season, the park reopened with the train tour through a safari and a small park with a children's playground, animal shows, and a petting zoo. The park continued to not be profitable but stayed open summers through the 1979 season when Fowler's company bowed out as well. In the summer of 1980, the park once again was closed for the 1980 season.
Wild World (1981–1991)[]
In the summer of 1980, the park was sold to a group of local businessmen and reopened in 1981 as Wild World. The animal drive-through safari remained. The park added three carnival flat rides, two kiddie rides, and a merry-go-round. In addition to the few rides, four tube water slides were added, along with two body slides and a children's water play area. This brought modest improvements in revenue.
In 1982, four more flat carnival rides, including a Ferris wheel and giant swings, were added. The water slide area was expanded at the time to a full water park, with the addition of a couple more water slides and a large wave pool. The park's attendance improved, but the park still was losing money as it was with its previous owners.
For the 1983 season, the animal drive-through safari did not reopen, and the animals were sold. In 1984, most of the adult rides were removed from the park and put in storage, leaving only three. Some of the children's rides also remained. The park opted to move in the direction of being only a water park, and a new stadium was built that year along with a couple more water slides. The park did very well on hot days, but on cooler days attendance was very low due to the fact that most of the park's attractions were just water rides in the water park.
In 1985, the adult rides were brought back out of storage. That year, Wild World's management wanted to build a major wooden roller coaster for the park's 1986 season, but the costs were too high. At the time, Knoebels park in Pennsylvania had acquired a used roller coaster called the Phoenix from a defunct park in Texas. Wild World's management then recruited Bill Dinn, who had worked in the industry since the 1950s and played a role in Knoebel's acquisition of the Phoenix, to find a similar coaster for Wild World.
Boston's Paragon Park closed at the end of 1984. The Giant Coaster—which had operated there since 1917—was put up for sale. During the spring of 1985, Wild World bought the old wooden coaster and rebuilt it in part of the former animal park for opening, where it was now known as The Wild One. It opened for the spring of 1986 to very positive reviews. The park also added a kiddie coaster at the time.
For the 1987 season, Wild World added another water play area and a lazy river. In 1988, the park renovated the buildings and midways, but managed to add a couple more flat rides. In 1989, a log flume was added, along with a family raft water slide in the water park area. In 1990, the park began to have maintenance issues with many of their flat rides. In 1991, only nine flat rides remained and the park was put up for sale.
Adventure World (1992–1998)[]
In 1992, Wild World was purchased by Premier Parks, and was renamed Adventure World. That year, several flat rides and a few kiddie rides were added. In 1993, Premier acquired Lightnin' Loops from Six Flags Great Adventure. One half was added to Adventure World as its second adult roller coaster, Python. The other half was sent to Frontier City in Oklahoma City, where it became known as Diamondback. Also in 1993, a water ride called Shipwreck Falls was added, in which a 15-person boat would run up a steel track and down a drop into a "splashwater" pool. More flat rides were added in 1994.
In 1995, Mind Eraser, an SLC (Suspended Looping Coaster) by Vekoma, was added. In 1996, a free-fall drop tower ride named the Tower of Doom was added to Southwest Territory. In 1997, the park added a second dry water ride called Typhoon Sea Coaster, which was a log flume/junior roller coaster hybrid. It was later renamed Skull Mountain and eventually closed in July 2011 to make room for a new roller coaster. In 1997, the water park was renovated, eliminating some older slides, adding newer slides and extensively remodeling the children's water play area.
In April 1998, Premier Parks acquired Six Flags Theme Parks from Time Warner. That year, Adventure World added Roar, a wooden roller coaster designed by Great Coasters International.
Six Flags America (1999–present)[]
1999–2005: Kieran Burke era[]
At the end of 1998, Six Flags announced that Adventure World, along with Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, and Marine World near San Francisco, would all be rebranded as Six Flags parks in 1999, while Darien Lake near Buffalo, New York and Riverside Park in Springfield, Massachusetts would be "Flagged" in 2000.
In 1999, Adventure World officially became Six Flags America. This name was chosen because of the park's close proximity (20 minutes) to Washington D.C., and its American themes. With that change came many others, including extensive remodeling and re-theming, as well two new lands, Gotham City and Looney Tunes Movie Town. Python was removed and sent into storage, but three new coasters opened that year: Two Face: The Flip Side, The Joker's Jinx (the park's first launched roller coaster), and The Great Chase, replacing Cannonball.
The 2000 season saw the addition of Superman: Ride of Steel, a hyper coaster manufactured by Intamin. It was a mirror image to the layout of the other version of Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags Darien Lake.
In 2001, a flying coaster named Batwing opened in Gotham City. Named after the Batman's plane, the ride was manufactured by Vekoma.
A few flat rides were added in 2002 while a water raft ride called Blizzard River was added in 2003.
In 2005, Paradise Island water park was rebranded Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. The transition from Paradise Island to Hurricane Harbor saw the addition of a new Tornado water slide as well as renovations to existing attractions and buildings.
2005–2010: Mark Shapiro era[]
In 2007, Typhoon Sea Coaster was renamed Skull Mountain.
In 2008, the new Tony Hawk's Halfpipe water slide was added to Hurricane Harbor.
In 2010, Six Flags America renovated the Hurricane Bay wave pool deck, adding a new stamped concrete deck and shading. Also in June, Six Flags America opened the Thomas Town family area. With eight rides and attractions, all themed to Thomas the Tank Engine, the area was billed as North America's largest Thomas Town and marked Six Flags America's largest expansion in more than a decade.
2010–present: Weber/Anderson/Duffey era[]
In late 2010, Six Flags began the process of removing licensed theming from attractions as a cost-cutting measure. They terminated several licenses, including their license with Thomas the Tank Engine and Tony Hawk. Thomas Town was renovated to become Whistlestop Park, and Tony Hawk's Halfpipe slide was renamed Halfpipe all in time for the 2011 season.
On June 9, 2011, Six Flags America announced that Skull Mountain would accept its final riders for a month before permanently closing on July 10.[1]
For 2012, the park added Apocalypse: The Last Stand, a B&M stand-up roller coaster with two inversions, a 10-story drop, and speeds of up to 55 mph. The ride had previously operated at Six Flags Great America as Iron Wolf. On August 30, Six Flags announced that Bonzai Pipelines would be added to Hurricane Harbor for the 2013 season. It would feature six different slides on one complex tower, with each of them going different directions.[2]
On August 29, 2013, Six Flags America announced that they would be adding a new Mardi Gras themed area for the 2014 season. The area will include Ragin' Cajun and a set of Flying Scooters named French Quarter Flyers. The new Mardi Gras section will replace Southwest Territory with the current rides rethemed to the new Mardi Gras theme such as Drop of Doom rethemed to Voodoo Drop.[3] Like Apocalypse, Ragin' Cajun was relocated from Six Flags Great America, and is located on the former location of Two Face: The Flip Side that was removed from the park in 2007.
On August 28, 2014, Six Flags announced Bourbon Street Fireball, a Larson Super Loop.
On September 3, 2015, Six Flags America announced Splash Water Falls, an addition to Hurricane Harbor.
On September 1, 2016, Six Flags America announced Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth, a 242 foot tall FunTime Starflyer.
2020–2021: Mike Spanos era[]
To be added
2021-present: Selim Bassoul[]
To be added
Location[]
Areas and attractions[]
Main Street 1776[]
- Main article: Main Street 1776
The main hub of Six Flags America, themed after Colonial America. The buildings feature a colonial design and host stores and restaurants. A replica of the Liberty Bell is featured at the entrance of the street.
Attractions[]
Shops[]
- Flags Emporium
- Looney Tunes All American Boutique
- Hamilton's $10 & Under
- Six Flags Photo
- American Airbrush
- Coaster Candy
Coyote Creek[]
- Main article: Coyote Creek
This land drops guests in the frontier town of Coyote Creek, recreating the pioneer days of the American frontier. Entertainment and attractions include Renegade Rapids, a white water rafting ride down the dangerous rivers of the west inspired by the Colorado River. Coyote Creek is home to the Crazy Horse Saloon, a node to the western saloons were cowboys use to drink and relax. This area and Whistlestop Park are going to open back from refurbrishment which started on 2021 and will end 2024
Attractions[]
- Mind Eraser
- Renegade Rapids
- Rodeo
- Coyote Casino
- Coyote Creek Crazy Cars
Shops[]
- Candy Creations
Restaurants[]
- Tex's Favorites
- Crazy Horse Saloon
Chesapeake[]
- Main article: Chesapeake
This land is themed after life on the Chesapeake Bay. It embodies life on the water, and is home to attractions like Shipwreck Falls, Firebird and Roar.
Attractions[]
- The Great Race
- Carousel
- Tea Cups
- Pirate's Flight
- Firebird
- Roar
- High Seas
- Shipwreck Falls
- Cyclone
- Chesapeake Stunt Arena
Restaurants[]
- Big Top Funnel Cakes
- Johnny Rockets
- Chop Six
- Macho Nacho
- Aviator Grille
- Gold Rush Chicken Co.
- Chesapeake Burger Company
Shops[]
- Midtown Cart
- Inferno Gifts
Gotham City[]
- Main article: Gotham City (Six Flags America)
Named after the fictional city from DC Comics, this land allows guests the experience to enter the dark and dirty industrial district of Gotham.
Attractions[]
- Superman: Ride of Steel
- Batwing
- Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth
- The Joker's Jinx
- The Penguin's Blizzard River
- Riddle Me This
- Harley Quinn Spinsanity
Mardi Gras[]
- Main article: Mardi Gras (Six Flags America)
This land is intended to be an all-year New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. It opened in 2014, replacing Southwest Territory.
Attractions[]
- The Wild One
- Voodoo Drop
- Zydeco Zinger
- Big Easy Speedway
- Ragin' Cajun
- French Quarter Flyers
- Bourbon Street Fireball
Restaurants[]
Looney Tunes Movie Town[]
- Main article: Looney Tunes Movie Town (Six Flags America)
This children's area allows guests the chance to visit the production studio town of the Looney Tunes. It opened in 1999.
Attractions[]
- Looney Tunes Prop Warehouse
- Sylvester's Pounce and Bounce
- Elmer's Around the World in 80 Seconds
- Foghorn Leghorn's Tinsel Town Train
- Taz's Film Works
- The Great Chase
- Pepe Le Pew's Tea Party
- Yosemite Sam's Hollywood Flight School
Whistlestop Park[]
- Main article: Whistlestop Park (Six Flags America)This area will get refurbrishment that will end 2024
Attractions[]
- Whistlestop Train
- Happy Junction
- Whistlestop Whirlybirds
- Sky Jumper
- Whistlestop Bus Line
- Up, Up & Away
- Splash Zone
- Whistlestop Park Playground
Shops[]
- Whistlestop Depot
Seasonal events[]
Fright Fest[]
- Main article: Six Flags America Fright Fest
This annual Halloween haunt event began in 1999. It features haunted attractions, as well as several themed scare zones and Halloween entertainment.
Holiday in the Park[]
- Main article: Six Flags America Holiday in the Park
This Christmas event debuted in 2016, and features millions of twinkling lights and Holiday entertainment.
Executive management[]
Park Presidents[]
- Terry Prather (2006-2008)
- John Winkler (2008-2011)
- Rick Howarth (2011-2020)
- Richard Pretlow (2020-present)
References[]
- ↑ Sx Flags America Prepares Final Voyage For Skull Mountain (Press release). Six Flags America (June 9, 2011). Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved on August 30, 2019.
- ↑ Six Flags America Introducing World’s First Six-Story Six-Tube Body Slide in 2013. Six Flags. Retrieved on August 30, 2012.
- ↑ Cooper, Rebecca (August 29, 2013). Six Flags America to add new roller coaster, Mardi Gras theme. Retrieved on August 29, 2013.
External links[]
- Six Flags America official page at Six Flags
Six Flags America at Coasterpedia- Six Flags America at the Looney Tunes Wiki
- Six Flags America at the Roller Coaster Wiki
- Six Flags America at the Roller Coaster DataBase
- Six Flags America at Wikipedia
