Six Flags corporate-mandated closures continue!
Just weeks after confirming that two of their most iconic roller coasters – – Superman: Escape from Krypton at Magic Mountain and Kingda Ka at Great Adventure – – are closing for good, Six Flags has gone a step further and announced the closure of TWO of their parks.
Earlier this month, Six Flags announced that both Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in Bowie, Maryland, will be closing after the 2025 operating season ends, with the parks’ final day being November 2nd. The 500-acre property will be marketed for redevelopment as part of Six Flags’ ongoing “portfolio optimization program”, meaning the land will be sold. The parks employ approximately 70 full-time associates, and all those eligible will receive severance and other benefits.
At the time of the announcement, Six Flags President & CEO Richard A. Zimmerman said of the closures, “As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company’s long-term growth plan. After reviewing a number of options, we believe that marketing the property for redevelopment will generate the highest value and return on investment. We anticipate strong interest in the property and will continue to strategically pursue portfolio optimization opportunities as we work to unlock the full value of our portfolio.”
Zimmerman continued, “This was a difficult decision, and we recognize the impact it will have on our Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor park associates and guests. We are grateful to our park associates who work hard to create lifelong memories for our guests, and Six Flags is committed to supporting all impacted associates through the closure process at the end of this year. Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor have been an important part of the local community, and this final season will be an opportunity to celebrate the decades of fun that guests have enjoyed at the property.”
As part of Six Flags’ massive ongoing corporate reorganization, the company has announced the closure of two more parks, both based in Maryland. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on Six Flags ongoing changes.
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How do you feel about these Six Flags closures? Let us know in the comments below.
It makes me have less faith in Cedar Fair’s stability as a company and it’s decision making processes. Long term a park makes more money or has a potential for higher earnings than a one time land sale. Also if two parks are closed which will be up next in chopping block? I’m not worried about individual rides closing as change is normal and necessary in an entertainment business but closing parks signals something more to customers and shareholders alike, it says something is going very wrong with how the company is being managed.
Most dumbest idea of the century. Why take away the joy, excitement, experience, thrill, and action from new park goers? Especially being the best theme park I’ve personally ever been too. Speaking from the PA, Jersey, Delaware area! Not to mention!, Spectacular live shows!!
I think it is animal terrible decision! Can we please have one outside venue where the whole family can go for some fun!!
Six Flags Magic Mountain needs to closed down Whistlestop Park permanently next year includes Whistlestop Train and Magic Flyer roller coaster as well to make room for more expansion of Bugs Bunny World! Also Lux Luthor Drop of Doom closing down as well! even Fiddler’s Fling or Condor is closed down at Six Flags Great America after 2025 season or not? The New DC Comics Kiddie Roller Coaster to be replaced Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia in the near future! Snoopy will bring Six Flags along with Looney Tunes soon!
All of six flags parks are really good parks six flags America is and needs to be considered an icon to your country though it’s just an entertainment venue it still is worth saving don’t let it go to ruins
Six Flags America is my home park, though I didn’t go there as much as other parks in the surrounding area, but after the merger, I was legitimately excited about having access to the Six Flags parks with my Cedar Fair season pass and I was looking forward to being able to visit a few times a year. Then, it suddenly gets torn away. I do appreciate them giving us some notice, unlike what they did with the several coasters they recently removed, but this is still a big blow.
The park doesn’t have a great reputation, but they have taken steps in recent years to improve that, and I was just there this past weekend, so I can vouch for the fact that the changes have been working. Add to that the new trains that were just added to Ride of Steel, the retheming of their Western area to Steam Town just last year (including the addition of a brand new NebulaZ ride and new trains on the coaster in that area with more comfortable restraints) and the removal is a major shock.
I’m not really a water park person, but it’s also worth mentioning that Hurricane Harbor gor a major new ride last year, as well.
There are two coasters that I’m crushed that we’re going to lose. Batwing is the last remaining Vekoma Flying Dutchman flying coaster of the three that existed and Wild One is the third-oldest coaster in the country, originally opening in 1917. That one, they CAN’T destroy. They have to find some way to relocate it (fingers crossed).
So, all that to say that I regret not having visited more, but I’m going to make up for lost time this season and I’ll miss it when it’s gone.
The Maryland location is very urban, with lots of teen problems. I was there for Halloween one year, with little kids, and the staff told us that we were OK during the day, but that we should be sure to be out of the park befre dark.
I think everyone should prepare for more closures. Six Flags/Cedar Fair currently operate 42 amusement parks after the merger of the two companies. That’s likely too many to comfortably operate and maintain for one company.
As cities have expanded, many of these parks that were originally built on the outskirts of the city now our found on prime real estate. The land these multi-million dollar parks lie on is worth a lot more than the buildings and attractions on that land, and it is more profitable for Six Flags/Cedar Fair to sell the parks to a developer for other reasons that as an amusement park.
If I had to pick the next closures, I would be worried to lose the parks in New York and New England just for the worth of the land alone. Six Flags St. Louis would be another one after the Cedar Fair merger since the company also runs World of Fun in Kansas City, just 3 1/2 hour away from the St. Louis park (a park that hasn’t seen a major new ride in nearly 20 years).
I don’t like the fact that six flags of America is closing was looking forward to going. With the closure what Park will we able to go to.