Six Flags is a publicly traded company, with H Partners Management as the largest shareholder.
Founded: August 5, 1961
Country of origin: USA
Type of Company: Publicly traded
Headquarters: Arlington, Texas, USA
Website: www.sixflags.com
Trading as: SIX (New York Stock Exchange)
Six Flags is a renowned amusement park company, known for its thrilling roller coasters and family-friendly entertainment. It is one of the largest amusement park companies in the world.
In November of 2023, the company announced it will merge with Cedar Fair, but it will keep the Six Flags name.
Previous Ownership:
- 1961: Founded by Angus Wynne. The first park, Six Flags Over Texas, opened in Arlington, Texas.
- 1993: Time Warner fully acquires the company
- 1998: Premier Parks, Inc. acquires Six Flags from Time Warner and expands the brand globally.
- 2009: Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to heavy debts but emerged in 2010 after restructuring.
- 2023: Set to merge with Cedar Fair
Key People:
- Selim Bassoul: President & CEO
- Ben Baldanza: Non-Executive Chairman
Market Position:
As of 2023, Six Flags is one of the leading amusement park companies globally, known for its innovative roller coasters and diverse entertainment options. It has a strong presence in North America and is expanding its footprint internationally. The merger with Cedar Fair will cement this position further.
Key Competitors:
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products
A division of The Walt Disney Company, offering theme parks and resorts, cruise line, and vacation experiences worldwide.
Universal Parks & Resorts
A unit of Comcast through its wholly-owned subsidiary NBCUniversal, offering theme parks and resort properties around the world.
Cedar Fair
An American amusement park and entertainment company operating numerous properties in North America. Cedar Fair is set to merge with Six Flags and they will continue to operate under the Six Flags name.
Six Flags Parks
Theme Parks
United States
- Frontier City – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Six Flags America – Largo, Maryland.
- Six Flags Darien Lake – Darien, New York.
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom – Vallejo, California.
- Six Flags Great Adventure – Jackson, New Jersey.
- Six Flags Great America – Gurnee, Illinois.
- Six Flags Great Escape – Queensbury, New York.
- Six Flags Fiesta Texas – San Antonio, Texas.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia, California.
- Six Flags New England – Agawam, Massachusetts.
- Six Flags Over Georgia – Austell, Georgia
- Six Flags Over Texas – Arlington, Texas.
- Six Flags St Louis – Eureka, Missouri.
Mexico
- Six Flags México – Mexico City
Canada
- Six Flags México – Mexico City
Water Parks
- Hurricane Harbor Arlington – Located near Six Flags Over Texas.
- Hurricane Harbor Chicago – Located at Six Flags Great America.
- Hurricane Harbor Concord – Located 25 minutes away from Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
- Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles – Located next to Six Flags Magic Mountain.
- Hurricane Harbor New England – Located next to Six Flags New England.
- Hurricane Harbor New Jersey – Located next to Six Flags Great Adventure.
- Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma – Located about 20 minutes from Frontier City.
- Hurricane Harbor Phoenix – The only Six Flags park in Arizona.
- Hurricane Harbor Rockford – Located about an hour away from Six Flags Great America.
- Hurricane Harbor San Antonio – Located next to Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
- Hurricane Harbor SplashTown – Located in Houston, Texas.
- Six Flags White Water – Located at Six Flags Over Georgia.
Mexico
- Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oaxtepec – Located close to Six Flags México
The History of Six Flags
Early Years and Expansion (1961-1997):
- Origin: The first park, Six Flags Over Texas, was created to offer a family-friendly experience with a theme based on the six nations that had sovereignty over Texas.
- Expansion: The company expanded by adding more parks across the United States, each with its unique theme and attractions.
Premier Parks Era and Global Expansion (1998-2008):
- Acquisition by Premier Parks: Premier Parks, Inc. acquired Six Flags and expanded the brand, adding more parks and attractions, including international locations.
- Innovation: Introduced some of the world’s most famous roller coasters and attractions, making Six Flags synonymous with thrilling amusement park experiences.
Financial Challenges and Recovery (2009-present):
- Bankruptcy and Restructuring: Faced financial difficulties leading to a bankruptcy filing in 2009, but reemerged in 2010 after restructuring.
- Modernization and International Expansion: Focused on modernizing parks and expanding internationally, including partnerships for parks in China, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai.
- COVID-19 Pandemic: Faced challenges due to the pandemic but has been adapting its operations to ensure safety and sustainability.
- Merger: The company will merge with Cedar Fair in 2024, to create a theme park behemoth.