Six Flags America
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| Six Flags America - Baltimore-Washington, DC | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States |
| Website | Six Flags America |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| Opened | 1981 |
| Previous names | Wild World - 1982 to 1993 Adventure World - 1994 to 1998 |
| Operating season | April through October |
| Area | 523 acres (131 acres currently used for park operations) |
| Rides | 50 total |
Six Flags America is a theme park located in Mitchellville in Prince George's County, Maryland.[1] It lies 15 miles (24 km) east of Washington D.C., and 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Baltimore. It sits on a site of 523 acres (2.12 km2), 131 of which is currently used for park operations.
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[edit] History
The park's history dates to 1973, when Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot and a pair of Irish animal trainers first proposed a wildlife preserve on more than 400 acres (1.6 km2) of corn and tobacco fields. ABC television later bought out Perot and his partners and opened The Largo Wildlife Preserve in 1974, projecting 850,000 visitors a year.
The initial projections that were expected never materialized. ABC bowed out two years later, citing massive losses. The park was then closed for several years and then reopened as a water park in 1982 as Wild World. It featured a number of water slides and a wave pool, with just a couple of dry rides — a Ferris wheel, giant swings, teacups, and the like. When Boston's Paragon Park closed in 1985, the Giant Coaster — which had operated there since 1917 -- was moved to Wild World, where it was renamed the The Wild One and began service in 1986.
More dry rides were added during the late 1980s, and the park's focus shifted to the dry area in 1993, when it was purchased by Premier Parks and renamed Adventure World. Several steel roller coasters were added, among them the Python (originally half of the Lighting Loops at Six Flags Great Adventure) and Vekoma's first Mind Eraser branded SLC. In 1998, a wooden roller coaster was added, ROAR!, designed by Great Coasters International.
The following year, the park was acquired by the Six Flags chain as a result of Adventure World's parent company (Premier Parks) acquiring Six Flags Parks Inc. and Six Flags Inc. from Time Warner Inc. and then re-incorporating itself as Six Flags, and took on the name Six Flags America (because the park is just a mere 15 minutes from Washington, D.C.). With that change came many others, including extensive remodeling and re-theming — Looney Tunes characters became prominently featured in the kiddie area - and an entirely new section, Gotham City, was added (including a Skycoaster bungee ride). Python was sent into storage, but three new coasters opened that year: Two Face: The Flip Side, The Joker's Jinx (the park's only launched roller coaster), and Great Chase, replacing Cannonball in the kiddie area. The 2000 season saw the addition of Superman: Ride of Steel, and in 2001 the Vekoma-designed Batwing opened.
In 2005, the water park, Paradise Island, was upgraded and retitled 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. The park has a Wii Experience room, where visitors are able to play the systems.
John Winkler currently serves as President of Six Flags America. Rick Howarth is the park's general manager. The current chairman of the park's parent company, Six Flags, Inc. is Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.
Six Flags America opened for its 11th season as a branded Six Flags park on Saturday, April 4, 2009. The 2009 season will bring an expansion of the popular Starburst Summer Concert Series, more daily shows, new family train ride Capital Railways, a new Cold Stone Creamery, a new Johnny Rockets, and a new interactive basketball game: 3 Point Challenge.
[edit] Themed sections
The themed sections of the park are: Olde Boston, Looney Tunes Movie Town, Southwest Territory, Nantucket, Gotham City, Skull Island, Coyote Creek and Hurricane Harbor (water park)
[edit] Rides
[edit] Roller coasters
| Ride Name | Year Opened | Removed In | Manufacturer/Ride Type | Current Location | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wild One | 1986 | John A. Miller designed, Dinn Corporation built wooden roller coaster | Southwest Territory | Ride was moved from Paragon Park (defunct). | |
| The Great Alonzo's Cannonball Coaster | pre 1993 | 1998 | Molina & Son's kiddie coaster | ||
| Python | 1993 | 1998 | Arrow Dynamics Launched Loop | Ride was moved from Six Flags Great Adventure (one half of Lightning Loops).
Ride was located where Two Face: The Flip Side was built at the park. |
|
| The Mind Eraser | 1995 | Vekoma SLC | Coyote Creek | Ride was repainted in 2005. | |
| Roar | 1998 | Great Coasters International wooden twister | Skull Island | ||
| Great Chase | 1999 | Zamperla family/kiddie roller coaster | Looney Tunes Movie Town | ||
| The Joker's Jinx | 1999 | Premier Rides LIM spaghetti bowl roller coaster | Gotham City | ||
| Two Face: The Flip Side | 1999 | 2009 | Vekoma Invertigo roller coaster | Ride was removed before the start of the 2009 season. | |
| Superman: Ride of Steel | 2000 | Intamin hypercoaster | Gotham City | ||
| Batwing | 2001 | Vekoma Flying Dutchman | Gotham City |
[edit] Current adult rides
| Ride Name | Year Opened | Manufacturer/Ride Type | Current Location | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carousel | 1988 | Olde Boston | ||
| Pirate's Flight | 1989 | Intamin Flying Dutchman | Skull Island | |
| High Seas | 1989 | Swinging ship | Skull Island | |
| Coyote Creek Crazy Cars | 1990 | Bumper cars | Coyote Creek | Was named Los Coches Chocos |
| Capital Railways | mid 1980s | Train ride | Olde Boston | The ride was formerly for catered picnic customers only, it was opened to everyone in 2009. |
| Great Race | 1993 | Antique cars | Olde Boston | |
| Around the World in 80 Days | 1993 | Family size ferris wheel | Olde Boston | |
| Cyclone | 1993 | Eli Bridge Scrambler | Southwest Territory | |
| Falling Star | 1993 | Chance Falling Star | Southwest Territory | |
| Shipwreck Falls | 1993 | O.D. Hopkins Shoot the Chute water ride | Nantucket | |
| Tea Cups | 1995 | Zamperla tea cups | Olde Boston | |
| Renegade Rapids | 1995 | O.D. Hopkins Rapids water ride | Coyote Creek | |
| Flying Carousel | 1996 | Zamperla Flying Carousel | Olde Boston | |
| Tower of Doom | 1996 | Intamin 140 ft. tall Giant Drop | Southwest Territory | |
| Riddle Me This | 1996 | stand-up roundup ride | Gotham City | Was named World Wind, location moved to Gotham City section in 1999 |
| Skull Mountain | 1997 | Intamin Reversing Boat Ride 8 water ride | Skull Island | Was originally named Typhoon Sea Coaster, ride was modified and name changed in 2007 |
| Rodeo | 1999 | Huss Breakdance | Coyote Creek | |
| The Octopus | 2000 | Sartori Polyp, monster style ride | Nantucket | On August 3, 2007, a 6-year-old girl was injured on this ride. See Incidents at Six Flags parks for more information. |
| Avalanche | 2000 | Chance Alpine Bobs | Gotham City | Ride may be the Curving Dervish ride, which was removed in 1995?
ride was named Alpine Bobs (2000 - 2005), moved to former Krypton Comet location and renamed in 2006. |
| The Penguin's Blizzard River | 2003 | Whitewater West Spinning Rapids water ride | Gotham City |
[edit] Current kiddie rides
All rides located in Looney Tunes Movie Town
| Ride Name | Year Opened | Manufacturer/Ride Type | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmer’s Around the World in 80 Seconds | 1993 | kiddie balloon flight | was named Balloon Flight until 1999 |
| Foghorn Leghorn’s Tinsel Town Train | 1993 | kiddie train ride | was named Circus Train until 1999 |
| Bugs Bunny's Back Lot Trucking Company | 1999 | kiddie convoy ride | |
| Looney Tunes Prop Warehouse | 1999 | kiddie soft play area | |
| Daffy’s Movie Town Tours | 1999 | kiddie Zamperla crazy bus | |
| Sylvester’s Pounce and Bounce | 1999 | kiddie drop ride | |
| Taz’s Film Works | 1999 | kiddie swings ride | |
| PePe Le Pew’s Tea Party | 1999 | kiddie tea cups | |
| Yosemite Sam’s Hollywood Flight School | 1999 | kiddie airplane ride |
[edit] Current extra charge attractions
| Ride Name | Year Opened | Ride Type | Current Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora Speedway | 1996 | go-karts | Southwest Territory |
| Sky Coaster | 2001 | sky coaster | Gotham City |
[edit] Hurricane Harbor (free water park)
| Ride Name | Year Opened | Manufacturer/Ride Type | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castaway Creek | 1982 | lazy river | |
| Calypso Cannonballs | two small tube drop slides | was named Caribbean Cannonball Flume until 2005 | |
| Vortex and Riptide | two small body slides | was named Luau Loop until 2005 | |
| Hurricane Bay | 1982 | wave pool | was named Monsoon Lagoon until 2005 |
| Hammerhead | 1997 | Proslide Technology Inc. “Giant Twister” - enclosed tube slide | was named Black Hole until 2005 |
| Mako | 1997 | Proslide Technology Inc. “Drop Slide” - half enclosed/ half open tube slide | was named Bonzai Pipeline until 2005 |
| Bamboo Chutes | 1987 | Proslide Technology Inc. “Kidz Twister” - two kiddie slides | was named Kids' Flumes until 2005 |
| Paradise Plunge and Reef Runner | 1994 | Proslide Technology Inc. “Pipeline” - two separate open/enclosed tube slides | was named Tahiti Twister until 2005 |
| Crocodile Cal's Caribbean Beach House | 1997 | family activity area | was named Crocodile Cal's Outback Beach House until 2005 |
| Buccaneer Beach | 2005 | kiddie/family activity area | |
| Tornado | 2005 | Proslide Technology Inc. Tornado “60” – funnel shaped tube slide that uses four person “cloverleaf” or two person “whirly wheel” tubes | |
| Bahama Blast | 2005 | Proslide Technology Inc. “Mammoth” – family raft ride | |
| Tony Hawk's Halfpipe | 2008 | Water Fun Products "Sidewinder" - halfpipe water slide |
[edit] Former rides and attractions
- The Juggler (kiddie ride) - opened in 1993, removed end of 1998
- Roller Racers (kiddie ride) - opened in 1993,removed end of 1998
- Kiddie Bumper Boats (kiddie ride) - opened in 1993, removed end of 1998
- Lippazanion Stallions (kiddie attraction) - opened in 1993, removed end of 1998
- Flying Trapeze (kiddie attraction) - opened in 1993, removed end of 1998
- Clown Town (kiddie attraction) - opened in 1993, removed end of 1998
- Clown Around (kiddie ride) - opened in 1993, removed end of 1998
- Aerial Elephants (kiddie ride) - opened in 1993, removed end of 1998
- SkyEscaper (enterprise) - opened in 1991, closed in 2002, removed in 2003/2004
- Kids' Cove (kids area - located in water park) - opened in early 1980's, re-themed to Buccaneer Beach for the 2005 season
- Iron Eagle (Zamperla Rotoshake) - opened in 1995, removed end of 2005
- Krypton Comet (Chance Chaos) - opened in 2000, removed end of 2005
- Lily Pad Walk (located in water park) - opened in early 1980's, removed end of 2005
- The Tilt (Tilt-a-Whirl) - opened in 1989, removed end of 2006
- Circus of the Stars / Lion's Den Bumper Cars (kiddie bumper cars) - opened in early 1980's, removed end of 2007
- The Animation Department (kiddie Carousel) - opened in 1999, removed end of 2007
- Hurricane Mountain (4 twisting body slides; located in water park) - opened in early 1980's, closed in 2008 (not removed)
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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- Six Flags America official website
- SFAFANS.COM- unofficial fansite
- Roller Coasters at Six Flags America
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Coordinates: 38°54′22″N 76°46′21″W / 38.90620°N 76.77257°W
