Six Flags Fiesta Texas

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Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Image:Fiestatexaslogo.png
Location San Antonio, Texas
Website Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Owner Six Flags
Opened 1992
Previous names Fiesta Texas
Operating season February to January
Area 200 acres (0.81 km2)
Rides 42 total
  • 8 roller coasters
  • 9 water rides

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land near the northwest intersection of Loop 1604 and Interstate 10 in San Antonio, Texas. Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the major entertainment component of USAA's La Cantera, a 1,600-acre (6.5 km²) master-planned development in northwest San Antonio. Six Flags Fiesta Texas is located in a former rock quarry in the development; "La Cantera" means "rock quarry" in Spanish.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Development and construction

The original development team consisted of property owner USAA Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the USAA insurance company, and Gaylord Entertainment Company, which owned the now-closed Opryland USA theme park in Nashville, Tennessee. The original concept for Fiesta Texas was defined as "a destination market, musical show park" similar to that of Opryland USA. The primary focus on southwestern music and culture rather than rides would be the unique element that would set the park apart from its competition.[2]

When the initial ownership group began investigating a possible major theme park development in San Antonio, Texas, they faced significant competition in the Texas market. There were similar established Six Flags parks in Arlington and Houston as well as the nearby SeaWorld of Texas, which opened in 1988. Based on the competition, the development team believed the opportunity in San Antonio (an established regional leisure destination) was there and that the stable, slow growth direction of the theme park industry in the U.S. was in their favor.

Actual construction of the theme park took approximately 23 months, running from early 1990 to the park's opening in March 1992.[3] Construction of the theme park was overseen by a joint venture of two general contractors, Lyda Inc. of San Antonio and Manhattan Construction Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Gaylord Entertainment managed and was a minority owner of the Fiesta Texas theme park, with USAA Real Estate Company as the majority owner. Although attendance at the park met initial projections, Fiesta Texas was a money loser. After losing $16 million on the theme park in 1995, Gaylord sold its 14-percent stake back to USAA.

[edit] Change in ownership

In 1996, Time Warner took over management and operations of Fiesta Texas and added the Six Flags name to the park, while USAA remained as the sole owner. Premier Parks, which acquired the Six Flags theme park chain from Time Warner, purchased Fiesta Texas from USAA in 1998.[4] Since then, Fiesta Texas has expanded its waterpark and added a new boardwalk area.

[edit] Rides and attractions

The park's main entrance sign sits near towering waterfalls
A view of Fiesta Bay Boardwalk from Frisbee

The six themed areas of the park are Los Festivales, Crackaxle Canyon, Spassburg, Rockville, Fiesta Bay Boardwalk, and Wiggles World.

[edit] Current Roller coasters

Name Opened Status Type Location
The Rattler 1992 Operating John Pierce and RCCA Wooden Coaster Crackaxle Canyon
Romp Bomp A Stomp 1992 Operating Vekoma Junior Coaster Wiggles World
Road Runner Express 1997 Operating Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Coaster Crackaxle Canyon
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster 1999 Operating Vekoma Boomerang Coaster Los Festivales
Poltergeist 1999 Operating Premier Rides LIM Catapult Coaster Rockville
Superman: Krypton Coaster 2000 Operating B&M Floorless Coaster Spassburg
Tony Hawk's Big Spin 2007 Operating Gerstlauer Spinning Coaster Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
Goliath 2008 Operating a B&M Inverted Coaster Los Festivales

[edit] Current rides and attractions

Name Opened Type Location Notes
Whistle Stop 1992 Train (2 Stations) Crackaxle Canyon
The Gully Washer 1992 Hopkins Rapids Water Ride Crackaxle Canyon
Der Pilger Bahnhof 1992 Train stations Spassburg
Whirligig 1992 Zierer Wave Swinger Spassburg Named Die Fledermaus from 1992 to 2008.
Fender Benders 1992 Morgan Bumper Cars Spassburg Named Steingasse from 1992 to 2008.
Amerigoround 1992 Morgan Carousel Rockville Located in Spassburg as Dornroschen from 1992 to 2008; moved to former Chaos location in 2009.
Motorama 1992 Morgan Sports Car Ride Rockville Named Motorama Turnpike from 1992 to 2004.
The Hustler 1992 Morgan Spinning Ride Rockville
Power Surge 1992 Hopkins Shoot-the-Chute Water Ride Rockville
Big Red Cars 1992 Zamperla Convoy Ride Wiggles World Named Kinderbahn from 1992 to 2008; original "truck-style" cars re-themed for Wiggles World in 2009.
Crow's Nest Ferris Wheel 1994 Chance Ferris Wheel Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
S.S. Overboard 1994 Zamperla Galleon Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
Waverunner 1994 Eli Bridge Scrambler Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
Little Castaways 1994 Ride Works Tea Cups Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
Wagon Wheel 1996 Schwarzkopf Enterprise Crackaxle Canyon Relocated from Six Flags Over Texas.
Bugs' White Water Rapids 1998 Hopkins Super Flume Water Ride Spassburg
The Twister 1998 Huss Top Spin Spassburg Named Der Twister from 1998 to 2008.
Frisbee 1998 Huss Frisbee Fiesta Bay Boardwalk Originally located on current Boomerang site in Los Festivales; relocated to former paddleboat lake.
Yosemite Sam's Wacky Wagons 1999 Zamperla Mini Kiddie Ferris Wheel Crackaxle Canyon
Foghorn Leghorn's Barnyard Railway 1999 Zamperla Rio Grande Kiddie Train Ride Crackaxle Canyon
Kinderstein 1999 Zamperla Mini Tea Cups Kiddie Ride Spassburg Named Mini Tea Cups from 1999 to 2002.
Scream! 1999 S&S 3-tower Combo Complex Rockville
Daffy's School Bus Express 1999 Zamperla Crazy Bus Rockville
Taz's Tornado 1999 Zamperla Lolly Swing Rockville
Go-Karts 1999 (Extra Charge) Fiesta Bay Boardwalk Located where The Joker's Revenge and the park's former "kiddie beach" used to sit.
Wiggly Trail Ride 1999 Kiddie Drop Ride Wiggles World Located in Crackaxle Canyon from 1999 to 2008 as Rodeo Rider (1999 to 2001) and Lil' Bronco Buster (2002 to 2008); moved to Wiggles World for 2009.
Scooby-Doo! Ghostblasters: The Mystery of the Haunted Mansion 2002 Sally Corp. Interactive Family Dark Ride Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
Big Red Planes 2009 Zamperla Aero Top Jet Wiggles World
Yummy Yummy Fruit Salad 2009 Zamperla Samba Tower Wiggles World
S.S. Feathersword's Playship 2009 Interactive Kiddie Playship Wiggles World
3-Point Challenge 2009 Half Court Spassburg Extra-charge attraction.

[edit] White Water Bay

Fiesta Texas includes a separate water park adjacent to the main park. There is no additional charge to visit White Water Bay. The waterpark was originally named Ol' Waterin' Hole from 1992 to 1998 and Armadillo Beach from 1999 to 2005.

Name Opened Type Notes
Texas Tumble 1992 family raft ride
White Water Canyon 1992 lazy river
The Six Chuter 1992 open tube slide
The Mine Shaft 1992 enclosed tube slide
Blow Out 1992 body speed slide
Twister 1992 enclosed body slide
Texas Treehouse 1999 family activity area
Lone Star Lagoon 1999 Texas shaped wave pool
Tornado 2004 Proslide Technology Inc. Tornado "60"
Whirlpool 2006 Proslide Technology Inc. “Cannonbowl”
Big Bender 2006 Proslide Technology Inc. “Pipeline”
Hill Country Racer 2006 Proslide Technology Inc. 6 lane “ProRacer” Relocated from Six Flags Astroworld.
Splash Water Springs 2006 new different kids area

[edit] Former attractions

Name Opened Removed In Type Former Location Notes
Rennsporplatz 1992 1997 Mason Corporation kiddie roller racers/scooters Spassburg
Cap’n Willie’s Shrimpboat 1994 1998 kiddie soft play ship Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
Bayside Paddle Boats 1994 1998 Paddle Boat Ride Fiesta Bay Boardwalk extra charge
Seaside Golf 1994 1998 Mini Golf Rockville
Daffy’s Duckaneer 1999 2000 Sartori kiddie swinging ship Crackaxle Canyon Moved to Six Flags St. Louis in 2006.
Screamin’ Skycoaster 1995 2001 Skycoaster Fiesta Bay Boardwalk Extra charge; Move to the Texas State Fair
The Joker's Revenge 1996 2002 Vekoma Hurricane Coaster, with backward-facing trains Fiesta Bay Boardwalk Relocated to Six Flags New Orleans in 2002 and opened as The Jester in 2003.
Chaos 1999 2005 Chance Chaos Rockville Relocated to Kemah Boardwalk
Turbo Bungy 2001 2005 Eurobungy bungee/trampoline Crackaxle Canyon Extra charge
The Wipeout 1994 2006 Chance Wipeout Fiesta Bay Boardwalk The ride was closed in 2003, and finally removed in 2006.
Tempest 2002 2006 Gravity Works Skyscraper Fiesta Bay Boardwalk extra charge
Der Fliegenzirkus 1992 2008 kiddie bi-plane ride Spassburg Removed for Wiggles World
Kinderwagen 1992 2008 kiddie bumper cars Spassburg Removed for Wiggles World

[edit] Former waterpark attractions

Name Open Removed In Type
Tadpole Pond 1996 1998 kiddie pool
Sandy Bottoms 1996 1998 beach volleyball area
The Gusher 1992 1999 two open raft slides – wet/dry slides
Pipeline 1992 1999 two enclosed raft slides – wet/dry slides
The Triple Dipper 1992 2002 two body slides with three humps
Splash Water Springs 1992 2005 kiddie play area
Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole 1996 2005 family activity area
Crackaxle Springs 1996 2005 “adult” activity area

[edit] Award-winning shows

In addition to Fiesta Texas’ roller coasters and water park, several shows are presented throughout the day. Six Flags Fiesta Texas' show bill has been awarded Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Award for “best theme park shows in the country” for the tenth consecutive year (2007). In 2005, Xcelleration, a show featuring professionals from the sports of BMX Biking, skateboarding, bungee artists and acrobatics was opened at the Zaragoza Theater. Xcelleration was also awarded an industry accolade, the Big “E” for “Best Sports Show of 2005.”[5] Fiesta Texas' Fright Fest show "Mayor Slayer's Monster Mash Bash" was awarded best show with a production value of $25,000–$50,000 at the IAAPA Big "E" Awards.

[edit] Annual events

During peak periods, the "Lone Star Spectacular" fireworks and laser show takes place on the quarry walls. In October, the park hosts "Fright Fest" for Halloween. In December, "Holiday in the Park" celebrates Christmas; it is actually the second Christmas event in the park's history, after the "Lone Star Christmas" events that ran from 1994 to 1997.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Theme park development case study
  2. ^ Nashville City Paper article
  3. ^ Thomas Enterprises
  4. ^ Fiesta Texas history
  5. ^ Amusement Today's 2005 Golden Ticket awards (PDF) and Golden Ticket award
  6. ^ Six Flags Fiesta Texas unofficial website
  7. ^ Six Flags 2004 Annual Report (PDF) does not include revised stats since Hurricane Katrina closed Six Flags New Orleans; or the closing of Six Flags Astroworld in 2005.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 29°35′58″N 98°36′34″W / 29.5995°N 98.6094°W / 29.5995; -98.6094

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