Six Flags America#Closing

File:The_Wildlife_Preserve_logo.jpg

In June 1971, Irish brothers Frank and William Stephenson, who were both animal trainers, approached Texas billionaire Ross Perot about financing an animal park they wanted to open “somewhere on the East Coast of the United States”.{{cite news |title=A Beast-Filled Park Eyed Near Bowie |first=Ivan G. |last=Goldman |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=D4 |date=February 20, 1972 |id={{ProQuest|148314517}} |url=https://archive.org/details/beast-filled-park}} The Stephensons and Perot formed the company C.T. Industries, Inc. to build and run the park. Ultimately, they narrowed their decision down to the D.C. area, and purchased {{convert|280|acre|ha}} of land in Prince George's County, Maryland. On December 22, 1971, they applied to the Prince George's County planning board for a special zoning exception. The park was announced to the public in February 1972, with a projected opening before the end of that year.

{{Blockquote|text=It's quite a lot of fun to see these two fellows [Frank and Williams Stephenson] put this together... I didn't know them at all until they walked into my office with their idea... I'm convinced they have the ability to do this well. I'm just a guy standing there with a grease gun. I can lubricate their idea with financial encouragement. |author=Ross Perot}}

In 1973, plans for the park were taken-over by ABC’s Scenic & Wildlife Attractions division (ABCSWA).{{cite news|title=Pr. George's Wild Animal Area Planned |date=April 27, 1973 |page=D1 |newspaper=The Washington Post |id={{ProQuest|148463903}} |url=https://archive.org/details/1973-04-27}} On April 28, 1973, John E. Campbell (ABCSWA President) confirmed they were negotiating the purchase of another {{convert|125|acre|ha}} for the park.{{cite news |title=More Land Sought for Wildlife Park |date=April 28, 1973 |page=D1 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Tom |last=Huth |id={{ProQuest|148426690}} |url=https://archive.org/details/1973-04-28}}

The Wildlife Preserve, a drive-through wildlife park, opened on Monday, July 15, 1974.{{cite news |title=The Wildlife Preserve - Opening Tomorrow |date=July 13, 1974 |newspaper=The Washington Post |id={{ProQuest|146165580}} |url=https://archive.org/details/out_page-0001 |page=L12}}{{cite news |title=Wild Animals Will Roam Farm: Safari Opens Monday |date=July 13, 1974 |work=The Capital |url=https://archive.org/details/740713-largo-wildlife-preserve-opening-md}} Initially, estimated attendance was approximately 850,000 visitors a year.{{cite news |last1=Plattner |first1=Andy |title=Safari opens Monday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11541508/740713-largo-wildlife-preserve-opening/ |access-date=May 9, 2020 |work=The Capital |date=July 13, 1974}} However, those reasonably ambitious attendance numbers never materialized. In 1975, the park added narrated tours through four-car, 150-person-capacity shuttle trains. However, the park failed to promote itself, effectively enough, to generate public interest or profits. In an effort to save-face, ABCSWA announced a $30m amusement park expansion to the struggling drive-through safari (around $171.6m in 2023).{{cite news |title=Amusement Park Set for Largo: Council Votes Rezoning Change for Wildlife Preserve |first=Karen |last=DeYoung |newspaper=The Washington Post |id={{ProQuest|146330210}} |date=November 26, 1975 |page=B1 |url=https://archive.org/details/1975-11-26-amusement-park-set-for-largo}}

Plans for the expansion were scrapped, and, in February 1976, it was announced that the park would close permanently. ABCSWA released a statement, claiming that the park had experienced “unacceptable attendance and revenues” in 1974 and 1975; The Wildlife Preserve itself was said to be a $4m liability for ABC, for the year 1975 (approximately $22.8m in 2023).{{cite news |title=ABC Apparently Abandons Largo Amusement Park Plan |date=February 21, 1975 |page=A11 |first1=Jack |last1=Egan |first2=William H. |last2=Jones |newspaper=The Washington Post |id={{ProQuest|146493919}} |url=https://archive.org/details/1976-02-21-abc-apparently-abandons-largo-amusement-park-plan}}

The park stayed open with a decreased staff in 1977, but was closed altogether for the 1978 season.

Before the year 1978 came to an end, however, the park was sold to Jim Fowler, the host of Wild Kingdom. For the 1979 season, the park reopened with a guided train tour through the safari exhibits, and a smaller park with a children's playground, animal shows, and a petting zoo.{{cite news |last1=Diehl |first1=Jackson |title=Zoo to Bring Animals Within Visitors' Reach |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1978/11/16/zoo-to-bring-animals-within-visitors-reach/0a4adb32-3c99-4eab-b949-bd4f7840bdbf/ |access-date=May 9, 2020 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=November 16, 1978 |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614154421/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1978/11/16/zoo-to-bring-animals-within-visitors-reach/0a4adb32-3c99-4eab-b949-bd4f7840bdbf/}} Alas, the park continued to flounder in terms of public interest, yet nevertheless remained operational for the summer, through the 1979 season. Fowler's company ultimately bowed out as well. The park again was closed for the 1980 season.

File:Wild World Logo.jpg

In the summer of 1980, the safari was sold to a group of local businessmen, who invested $11 million into expanding the park.{{cite news |title=Father, Daughter and the Beat of a 1980s Kind of Amusement Park |first=Christian |last=Williams |date=June 29, 1982 |newspaper=The Washington Post |id={{ProQuest|147452889}} |url=https://archive.org/details/1982-06-29-1980s-kind-of-amusement-park_202306 |access-date=December 16, 2022}} The animal drive-through safari remained, and the park added three flat rides, two kid's rides and a carousel. The park was named Wild World and open by June 26, 1982.{{cite news |title=WILD WORLD |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/06/29/wild-world/ea178a3d-5a72-4316-8d21-23bdbd7de52b/ |access-date=May 7, 2020 |work=washingtonpost.com |date=June 29, 1982 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614155324/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/06/29/wild-world/ea178a3d-5a72-4316-8d21-23bdbd7de52b/ |archive-date=June 14, 2023}} In addition to the select amusement rides, four tube waterslides were added, along with two body slides and a children's water play area. This brought modest improvements in revenue.

The 1983 season saw the addition of four more flat rides, including the High Seas (a swinging pirate ship attraction) and giant swings. The waterslide area was expanded, at the time, to a full water park; with the addition of more water slides and a large wave pool, a more successful 1983 season was underway. Dubbed the 'Wild Wave', $2 million was spent adding the wave pool and it officially opened May 30 for the 1983 season.{{cite news |title=Death of Boy, 9, at Md. Wave Pool Is Ruled Drowning: Medical Examiner Finds Boy's Death At Wave Pool Was Result of Drowning |first=Lisa |last=Swenarski |date=July 15, 1983 |id={{ProQuest|147589272}} |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://archive.org/details/1983-07-15-death-of-boy-9-at-md-wave-pool |access-date=December 16, 2022}}

Tragically, a 9-year-old boy named Christie Davis died late that summer while in the wave pool, which resulted in operational safety changes.{{cite news |title=Wild World Adopts Pool Precautions After Drowning |first=Frank P. L. |last=Somerville |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 20, 1983 |id={{ProQuest|537868589}} |url=https://archive.org/details/1983-07-20-wild-world-adopts-pool-precautions-after-drowning |access-date=December 16, 2022}} The park's attendance had improved, but the park was still unable to break-even. During the 1983 season, the safari was closed; instead, a guided train tour would pass through a few of the animal areas, stop at Safari Village, and tour the rest of the animal exhibits, before arriving back at the station. The Safari Village featured elephant, camel and pony rides, a petting zoo, various eateries, arts-and-crafts, and games; the crowd favorite, “Guess Your Age Or Weight” (featuring Regina Williams), proved so popular that it was relocated to the main park. The animals were sold and moved after the 1983 season ended. In 1984, most of the adult rides were removed from the park and held in storage, leaving only three, plus a few of the children's rides. The park opted to move in the direction of being solely a water park. A new stadium was built that year, along with several more water slides. The park would perform very well on hot days, but faltered a bit more in cooler weather, due to the shift in predominantly swimming- and water-based attractions.

In 1985, the rides were therefore brought back out of storage. That year, Wild World's management wanted to build a major wooden rollercoaster for the park in the 1986 season, but the costs were too high. There was widespread opposition to the plan from the surrounding community.{{cite news|title=Amusement Park Plans Draw Fire |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 30, 1985 |first=Gwen |last=Ifill

|id={{ProQuest|138706490}} |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/138706490/ |access-date=December 16, 2022}} In addition to adding a roller coaster, the park intended to add a 3000-seat amphitheater, and an overnight campground for guests.{{cite news |title=Neighbors Ask P.G. Council to Reject Wild World Plans |date=May 5, 1985 |id={{ProQuest|138691350}} |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/138691350/ |first=Gwen |last=Ifill |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=December 16, 2022

}}

At the time, Knoebels (amusement park in Pennsylvania) had acquired a used rollercoaster, Phoenix, from a defunct park in Texas; Wild World's management team was inspired and began looking for a used coaster for Wild World. With Massachusetts’ Paragon Park closing at the end of 1984, their “Giant Coaster”, which had operated since 1917, was for-sale; in the spring of 1985, Wild World acquired the old PTC coaster, rebranding it “The Wild One” and placing it in an area of the former animal park. The coaster opened in the spring of 1986 to very positive public reviews, and is still running to this day.{{cite news |title=Largo Amusement Park Unleashes 'Wild One' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1986/05/04/largo-amusement-park-unleashes-wild-one/208de4c0-b866-4e01-83c0-940975cc216a/ |access-date=May 7, 2020 |work=washingtonpost.com |date=May 4, 1986}} A kiddie coaster was added to the park at the same time.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

For the 1987 season, Wild World added another water play area and a lazy river. In 1988, the park would see a renovation to its buildings and midways, and a few new flat rides. In 1989, a log flume was added, along with a family raft waterslide in the waterpark. In 1990, the park began to have maintenance issues with many of their carnival-style flat rides, with several unable to be repaired. In 1991, only nine flat rides remained and the park was ultimately put up for sale.

File:Adventure World logo ticket stub.png

In 1992, Wild World was purchased by Tierco Group Inc., later known as Premier Parks, which renamed the park Adventure World.{{cite web |title=ADVENTURE WORLD'S WILD RIDE TO THE TOP |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1995/08/14/adventure-worlds-wild-ride-to-the-top/0c00f18d-f08a-49b1-aadd-dd837f228402/ |website=washingtonpost.com |access-date=May 7, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Tierco Inc. Purchases Maryland Theme Park |url=https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-5580691/tierco-inc-purchases-maryland-theme-park |access-date=May 7, 2020 |work=The Journal Record |date=March 4, 1992}} That year several flat rides and a few kiddie rides were added. In 1993, Adventure World added its second adult rollercoaster. Premier Parks had acquired Lightning Loops from Six Flags. This was a dual-track steel single looping shuttle coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure. One of the tracks was sent to Premier Parks' Frontier City located in Oklahoma City (where it still operates today as the Diamondback), while the other track became known as the Python and would be located at Adventure World.{{cite web |title=Python - Six Flags America |url=https://rcdb.com/152.htm |website=rcdb.com |access-date=May 7, 2020}} Also, a water ride called Shipwreck Falls, in which a 15-person boat would run up a steel track and down a {{convert|45|ft|m|adj=on}} drop into a splashwater pool, was added. More flat rides were added in 1994. By this time, the new additions were well-received, shown as Inside Track Magazine named Adventure World as the most improved amusement park in the country for a third consecutive year in 1994.{{cite news |title=* Adventure World, formerly Wild World, located... |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-11-14-1994318113-story.html |access-date=May 9, 2020 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 14, 1994}}{{cite news |title=What's New In The Parks |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 27, 1994 |id={{ProQuest|751020463}} |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/751020463/ |access-date=December 16, 2022}}

File:Adventure World 1996.jpg

On May 20, 1995, Vekoma's first Mind Eraser, an inverted looping suspended coaster, opened.{{cite web |title=Mind Eraser - Six Flags America |url=https://rcdb.com/149.htm |website=rcdb.com |access-date=May 7, 2020}} This was branded a SLC. In 1996, a free-fall drop-tower ride called the Tower of Doom, now known as Voodoo Drop, made by Intamin was added. In 1997, the park added a second dry water ride called Typhoon Sea Coaster, which was a log flume/junior rollercoaster hybrid. It was later renamed Skull Mountain and eventually closed in July 2011{{cite web|url=http://www.sixflags.com/america/info/news_SkullMountainFinalVoyage.aspx|title=Sx Flags America Prepares Final Voyage For Skull Mountain|date=June 9, 2011|publisher=Six Flags America|access-date=17 May 2012}} to make room for a new roller coaster.{{cite web|url=http://www.sixflags.com/america/info/news_ApocalypseAnnouncement.aspx|title=Six Flags America Announces Apocalypse|date=September 1, 2011|publisher=Six Flags America|access-date=17 May 2012}} In 1997, the water park was renovated, eliminating some older slides, adding newer slides and extensively remodeling the children's water play area.

File:SixFlagsAmerica-Maraboro.jpg

Premier Parks acquired the Six Flags amusement park chain from Time Warner in April 1998, forming the company Six Flags Incorporated.{{cite news |title=The New Monster Of The Midway; Premier Parks Thrives by Not Being Disney |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/21/business/the-new-monster-of-the-midway-premier-parks-thrives-by-not-being-disney.html |accessdate=May 2, 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=June 21, 1998 |archive-date=July 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720170029/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/21/business/the-new-monster-of-the-midway-premier-parks-thrives-by-not-being-disney.html |url-status=live }} The same year, a wooden roller coaster called Roar, which was built and designed by Great Coasters International, was added to Adventure World.{{cite web |title=Roar - Six Flags America |url=https://rcdb.com/485.htm |website=rcdb.com |access-date=May 9, 2020}} At the end of 1998 season, Six Flags announced that Adventure World would be branded with the Six Flags theme and renamed Six Flags America for the 1999 season. The park was officially renamed Six Flags America on October 28, 1998, and a large gala was thrown at the park to commemorate the change. Carrot cake was served in honor of Bugs Bunny the new mascot for the park. The name change allowed for the park to utilize the Looney Tunes and DC characters in its marketing.{{cite news |title=Gala Kicks Off Adventure World Transformation |date=October 29, 1998 |first=Jackie |last=Spinner |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=B7 |id={{ProQuest|1620292444}} |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1620292444/}}

Other changes included the addition of Gotham City, a new DC comics-themed section in the park named after the fictional city, and three new coasters – 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.{{cite news |title=24 people rescued from stalled Joker's Jinx roller coaster at Six Flags America |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/24-people-rescued-from-stalled-jokers-jinx-roller-coaster-at-six-flags-america |access-date=May 9, 2020 |work=fox5dc.com |date=April 13, 2017}} Python was closed and moved into storage.

File:SixFlagsAmericaROAR.jpg, a wooden roller coaster designed and built by Great Coasters International, opened for the 1998 season.]]

File:SixFlagsAmericaTeaser.jpg

For the 2000 season, a new hypercoaster called Superman: Ride of Steel from Intamin opened.{{cite news |title=Roller coaster gets stuck at Six Flags America; riders safely removed from ride |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/roller-coaster-gets-stuck-at-six-flags-america-riders-safely-removed-from-ride |access-date=May 9, 2020 |work=fox5dc.com |date=June 18, 2018}} Its layout is a mirror image of Six Flags Darien Lake's Ride of Steel which opened the previous year.{{cite web |title=Superman: Ride of Steel SFA - COASTER-net.com |url=https://www.coaster-net.com/superman-ride-of-steel-sfa.html |website=coaster-net.com |access-date=May 9, 2020}} The next year on June 16, the park opened Batwing, a Batman-themed Vekoma flying coaster located in the Gotham City area.{{cite web |title=Batwing - Six Flags America |url=https://rcdb.com/1089.htm |website=rcdb.com |access-date=May 9, 2020}} A bungee ride called Skycoaster also opened in the area in 2001. Several flat rides were added in 2002 and a river rapids ride called Blizzard River was added in 2003. In 2005, the Paradise Island water park 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. Tony Hawk's Halfpipe water slide was added in 2008.{{cite news |title=Tony Hawk Water Slide Announced For Six Flags America Waterpark |url=https://www.ultimatewaterpark.com/news/stories/2008-04-07_28.html |access-date=May 7, 2020 |work=ultimatewaterpark.com |date=April 7, 2008}}

In 2010, Six Flags America renovated the Hurricane Bay wave pool deck, adding a new stamped, concrete deck and additional shading. Also the same year, the Thomas Town family area opened featuring eight rides and attractions all themed to Thomas the Tank Engine. The {{convert|3.5|acre|m2|adj=on}} area was billed as North America's largest Thomas Town and marked Six Flags America's largest expansion in more than a decade. Several months later, Six Flags would announce the removal of several licensed agreements as a result of restructuring following the company's emergence from bankruptcy. Thomas the Tank Engine, Tony Hawk, The Wiggles and Evel Knievel themes would be removed from all Six Flags parks beginning in 2011. At Six Flags America, Thomas Town was renamed Whistlestop Park and Tony Hawk's Halfpipe slide was renamed Halfpipe.{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|title=Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers|url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-six-flags-retheme-20101122,0,3267615.story|access-date=27 November 2010|newspaper=LA Times|date=25 November 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sixflags.com/america/rides/KidsRides.aspx |title=Kids' Rides: Six Flags America |publisher=Sixflags.com |access-date=2013-03-17}}

For 2012, the park added Apocalypse, a stand-up roller coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard, which featured two inversions and a ten-story drop. The roller coaster had previously operated as Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/apocalypse-new-six-flags-roller-coaster-gets-a-test-ride-from-a-thrill-fanatic/2012/06/06/gJQAgkjnJV_story.html |title=Apocalypse, new Six Flags roller coaster, gets a test ride from a thrill fanatic |last=Hendrix |first=Steve |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2012}}

In 2013, the park added the six-slide complex Bonzai Pipelines to Hurricane Harbor.{{cite web|url=http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Two-New-Exciting-Attractions-Coming-Next-Spring.html?soid=1105268806920&aid=ziP9M95PQK8|title=The Power of Six Hits the East Coast|work=SplashTacular|access-date=October 8, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sixflags.com/america/info/news_BonzaiPipelinesAnnouncement.aspx|title=Six Flags America Introducing World's First Six-Story Six-Tube Body Slide in 2013|work=SixFlags.com|access-date=August 30, 2012}}

In 2014, Six Flags re-themed a section of the park to feature Mardi Gras. The area would feature a new roller coaster named Ragin' Cajun and a set of Flying Scooters named French Quarter Flyers.{{cite web|title=New for 2014|url=http://content.sixflags.com/comingin2014/|date=August 29, 2013|access-date=August 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901054320/http://content.sixflags.com/comingin2014/|archive-date=September 1, 2013}} Like Apocalypse, Ragin' Cajun was relocated from Six Flags Great America and it was placed in the former location of Two Face: The Flip Side which was removed from the park in 2007. The Mardi Gras section replaced Southwest Territory and the area's existing rides were rethemed to match the new Mardi Gras theme. Tower of Doom, for example, was renamed Voodoo Drop.{{cite web|title=Six Flags America to add new roller coaster, Mardi Gras theme|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/top-shelf/2013/08/six-flags-america-to-add-new-roller.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search|newspaper=Washington Business Journal|first=Rebecca|last=Cooper|date=August 29, 2013|access-date=August 29, 2013}}

In 2015, a flat ride called Bourbon Street Fireball was added.{{cite news |title=wo minutes of terror on the Bourbon Street Fireball |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/ph-ac-cn-roller-coaster-0612-20150612-story.html |access-date=May 7, 2020 |work=Capital Gazette |date=June 12, 2015}} This ride is commonly known as a Super Loop. Similar rides were also added to three other Six Flags parks.

In 2016, Six Flags America added a new family water play structure to Hurricane Harbor named Splashwater Falls, which replaced the former Crocodile Cal's Beach House.{{cite news |title=Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2016 |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-six-flags-2016-20150903-story.html |access-date=May 7, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 3, 2015}}

Six Flags America announced on September 1, 2016, that they would be adding a Funtime Starflyer model, similar to the many SkyScreamer rides at other locations in the chain. At 24 stories (~{{convert|250|ft|m|adj=on}}), Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth is the tallest ride in the park.{{cite news |title=Wonder Woman Star Flyer Coming to Six Flags America |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2016/09/01/wonder-woman-star-flyer-coming-six-flags-america/ |access-date=May 7, 2020 |work=coaster101.com |date=September 1, 2016}}

Announced in August 2018, Apocalypse was converted into a floorless coaster and renamed Firebird for the 2019 season.{{cite web|url=https://wtop.com/business-finance/2018/08/six-flags-adds-a-floorless-roller-coaster/|title=Six Flags adds a 'floorless' roller coaster|date=30 August 2018 }}

In 2023, the park announced that the park's Hurricane Harbor water park (now named Hurricane Harbor Maryland) would receive RipQurl Blaster, the DMV's tallest water coaster.

In July 2024, parent company Six Flags and amusement park owner and operator Cedar Fair merged.{{cite news |last1=Chen |first1=Eve |title=Six Flags and Cedar Fair merge into one big company: What to know |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2024/07/01/six-flags-cedar-fair-merger/74264036007/ |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=USA Today |date=July 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240701121404/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2024/07/01/six-flags-cedar-fair-merger/74264036007/ |archive-date=July 1, 2024 |url-status=live}} After the merger, the newly formed Six Flags Entertainment Corporation outlined plans in their first quarterly earnings meeting for a portfolio optimization in the company, which may include closing or selling off some of its locations.{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Bedigan|title=Six Flags considering closing parks across the US after merger with Cedar Point company|url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/six-flags-theme-park-closures-b2642813.html|website=The Independent|date=November 6, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2025}} A spokesperson from the company after the announcement a day later, stated that the company has no plans to close parks.{{cite web|first1=Emily|last1=Barnes|first2=Josh|last2=Kelly|title=Is Six Flags considering closing or selling amusement parks? What we know|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2024/11/08/is-six-flags-considering-closing-selling-amusement-parks-what-we-know/76110504007/|website=Democrat and Chronicle|date=November 8, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2025}}{{cite web|title=Six Flags addresses rumors of potential park closures|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/six-flags-addresses-rumors-of-potential-park-closures/3596382/|website=WMAQ-TV|date=November 8, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2025}} Roughly six months later on May 1, 2025, Six Flags announced in a press release that it would be closing Six Flags America as part of its ongoing portfolio optimization program. The park scheduled its final operating day as November 2, 2025.{{cite web|first1=Jillian|last1=Smith|first2=Josh|last2=Rosenthal|title=Six Flags America in Bowie to shut down after 2025 season|url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/six-flags-america-bowie-shut-down-after-2025-season|website=WTTG|date=May 1, 2025|access-date=May 1, 2025}} No announcements in the press release were made on the status of the attractions in the park after closing.{{cite web|first=Peter|last=Marzano|title=Six Flags America, Hurricane Harbor to close after 2025 season, company announces|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/six-flags-america-hurricane-harbor-to-close-after-2025-season-company-announces/3735849/|website=WMAQ-TV|date=May 1, 2025|access-date=May 1, 2025}}

The park is located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and is situated about {{convert|15|mi|km}} east of Washington, D.C. and {{convert|30|mi|km}} southwest of Baltimore. The park covers {{convert|523|acre|ha}}, with 300 available for expansion. It resides on the property of a former tobacco farm, Partnership Mansion.

{{unreferenced section|date=December 2022}}

Six Flags America is divided into seven themed areas inspired by the different extremes of the United States, as well as fictional settings like the City of Gotham, and Looney Tunes: Movie Town.

Main Street 1776, also known as Liberty Street, or just Main Street, is inspired by Colonial North America set during the American Revolution. The buildings feature colonial design and host stores and restaurants.{{Cite tweet |user=SixFlagsDC |number=1638933799986929670 |title=Main Street 1776 Concept Art |date=March 23, 2023 |quote=Before there was Main Street 1776, there were drawings of Main Street 1776!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606150617/https://twitter.com/SixFlagsDC/status/1638933799986929670|archive-date=June 6, 2023}} A replica of the Liberty Bell is featured at the entrance of the street.

In Chesapeake guests can experience the motifs that surround life on the Chesapeake Bay. It embodies life on the water, featuring Life Savers and fishing nets caught on drift-wood. It is home to Firebird, and Roar. This area was split into two different sections, Skull Island and Olde Boston until Olde Boston was brought back in 2022. Skull Island focused heavily on the inclusion of pirates.

A colonial themed area.

Looney Tunes Movie Town is inspired by the Looney Tunes cartoons of the 1930s and 1940s and the aesthetic of the era. It allows guests the chance to visit the homes of the cartoons' stars, such as Bugs Bunny and Granny. The "town" features the Great Chase, a children's coaster that takes guests through the set of the next Looney Tunes cartoon being filmed, starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.

Formerly South West Territory, Mardi Gras is supposed to be an all year New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration. Added to the park in 2014, the new themed land features the Ragin' Cajun, a wild mouse coaster where guests are trying to escape the attack of alligators in the Bayou. This land also features The Wild One, a wooden coaster that turned 100 years old in 2017.

{{Main|Gotham City (themed area)}}

Added in the year 2000, Gotham City is a land that allows guests to experience the dark and dirty industrial district of DC Comics' most notorious city. Guests can be held hostage by The Joker and forced to ride his Jinxed carnival coaster. They can soar above the clouds with Superman, on the Superman - Ride of Steel, or hope to stay dry while rushing down the Penguin's Blizzard River.

Recreating the pioneer days of the American frontier, the land drops guests in the frontier town of Coyote Creek. From its opening in 1994,{{cite news |title=Rides of Summer |date=May 8, 1994 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=E3 |first=Barbara Ann |last=Curcio |id={{ProQuest|750898989}} |url=https://archive.org/details/rides-of-summer-may-8-1994}} it has offered 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 was home to the Crazy Horse Saloon, a nod to the western saloons where cowboys used to drink and relax.

Six Flags America announced in 2023 that Coyote Creek would be shut down and completely replaced into an appropriately named SteamTown.{{cite web |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Six Flags America unveils plans for a transformed realm called SteamTown |url=https://www.sixflags.com/america/six-flags-america-unveils-plans-for-a-transformed-realm-called-steamtown |access-date=2025-06-11 |publisher=Six Flags}} The portion of the park features a steampunk-esque theming with complete retheming to rides and shopping, as well as a new stunt show. It opened in June 2024 for SFA's 25th anniversary celebration, as announced via Six Flags Americas' email newsletter directly to passholders.{{cite news |date=June 22, 2024 |title=SteamTown area now open at Six Flags America with new SteamWhirler ride |url=https://parkfans.net/threads/steamTown-opening.12345/ |access-date=2025-06-11 |publisher=ParkFans.net (via themeparkblogger)}}

|align=center|2001

|Vekoma

|Flying Dutchman

|align=center|Operating

|align=center|Gotham City

| Similar to Nighthawk at Carowinds and Firehawk at Kings Island.

|-

|align=center|Firebird

| {{NA|}} 140px

|align=center|2012

|Bolliger & Mabillard

|Floorless Coaster

|align=center|Operating

|align=center|Chesapeake

| Relocated from Six Flags Great America, where it was known as Iron Wolf and opened in 1990. Formerly known as Apocalypse: The Last Stand from 2012 to 2018, when the ride was converted from a stand-up coaster to a floorless coaster.

|-

| align="center" |Great Chase

| {{NA|}} 140px

| align="center" |1999

|Zamperla

|Family Gravity Coaster

| align="center" |Operating

| align="center" |Looney Tunes Movie Town

|A family coaster themed to Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.

|-

| align="center" |The Joker's Jinx

| 140px

| align="center" |1999

|Premier Rides

|LIM Spaghetti Bowl Coaster

| align="center" |Operating

| align="center" |Gotham City

|Similar layout to Flight of Fear coasters at Kings Island and Kings Dominion, and Poltergeist at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

|-

| align="center" |Professor Screamore's SkyWinder

| {{NA|}} 140px

| align="center" |1995

|Vekoma

|Suspended Looping Coaster

| align="center" |Operating

| align="center" |Steamtown

|The first "Mind Eraser"; Vekoma built 27 Suspended Looping Coaster with the same Layout.{{cite web |url=https://rcdb.com/8193.htm |title=689m Standard |website=rcdb.com}} Formerly known as Mind Eraser

|-

|align=center|Ragin' Cajun

| {{NA|}} 140px

|align=center|2014

|Reverchon

|Spinning Coaster / Original

|align=center|Operating

|align=center|Mardi Gras

| Relocated Ragin' Cajun coaster from Six Flags Great America on the site of Two-Face and Python.

|-

| align="center" |Roar

| {{NA|}} 140px

| align="center" |1998

|Great Coasters International

|Wooden sit down

| align="center" |Operating

| align="center" |Chesapeake

|The first "Roar" and the only one still standing; had one duplicate at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

|-

| align="center" |Superman:
Ride of Steel

| {{NA|}} 140px

| align="center" |2000

|Intamin

|Megacoaster

| align="center" |Operating

| align="center" |Gotham City

| Mirror image of Ride of Steel coaster at Six Flags Darien Lake.

|-

| align="center" |The Wild One

| {{NA|}} 140px

| align="center" |1986

|Dinn Corporation

|Wooden

| align="center" |Operating

| align="center" |Mardi Gras

|Relocated from Paragon Park in Hull, Massachusetts as Giant Coaster. Originally built in 1917.

|}

Six Flags America's Kid Section is Looney Tunes Movie Town.

Former Kid's Areas was Thomas Town that only operated during the 2010 season and Whistlestop Park

Hurricane Harbor Maryland{{Cite web |last=Harpster |first=Lexi |date=2023-03-23 |title=Six Flags unveils plans for regions tallest water coaster at Hurricane Harbor Maryland |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/six-flags-unveils-plans-for-regions-tallest-water-coaster-at-hurricane-harbor-maryland |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=WJLA |language=en}} is a water park located within Six Flags America and has additional charge for entry. It was previously known as Paradise Island until 2005 when it was rebranded Hurricane Harbor.

Including Former Hurricane Harbor Water slides

These rides were renamed following an improvement to the ride

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{cite book |title=Inside ABC: American Broadcasting Company's Rise to Power |date=1979 |publisher=Hastings House |first=Sterling |last=Quinlan |page=210 |isbn=0803867654 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhK4AAAAIAAJ&q=%22Wildlife+Preserve%22+Largo+Maryland}}
• {{cite thesis |last=Porto |first=Susan Marie |date=April 1975 |title=A Case Study of The Wildlife Preserve In Largo, Maryland |degree=MSc |publisher=Catholic University of America |url=https://archive.org/details/susan-marie-porto-a-case-study-of-the-wildlife-preserve-in-largo-maryland-april-1975}}

{{Refend}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.sixflags.com/america Six Flags America official website]
• {{RCDB|4558}}

{{Six Flags}}

{{SFA Coasters}}

Category:1974 establishments in Maryland

Category:Buildings and structures in Prince George's County, Maryland

America

Category:Amusement parks in Maryland

Category:Tourist attractions in Prince George's County, Maryland

Category:Amusement parks opened in 1974