Six Flags will close Six Flags America at the end of the 2025 season

DoubleMeatTaco:

Hambone, great call and you totally nailed it. That was why I was so surprised to see to new trains on Superman this spring. As in, "Why would they buy new trains, then close?" But, like Jeff already mentioned, they will send them north to the New England park that has the identical coaster.

Just for the record, SFNE's Superman is a completely different (and radically better) ride than Superman at Six Flags America.

I suspect at least part of this decision to have been because most of the major rides at Six Flags America are old and (presumably) approaching end of life.

I hope they move the trains to six flags Darian Lake next year.

I think there's a greater chance Darien Lake joins the crusade to help Cedar Flags optimize their portfolio.

Those synergies and bonuses had to materialize from somewhere.
Mergers into larger corporations are rarely (never) good for the end users.

To put it simply, this was plainly a case where the land the park sat on was worth way more than the park. Not the first time this happened in the business, and likely not the last.

LostKause:

Can you imagine how much worse the park experience will be with employees who know they are getting let go?

Not really. One of the reasons I stopped going over 20 years ago is because it couldn't get any worse.

This was also number one on my list post merger news. If they could move one big ride, Superman would be it, possibly to MA. If not trains going to NE and having rode it last week it def needs them, and paint, the theme effects where fixed though.

To put it simply, this was plainly a case where the land the park sat on was worth way more than the park

Not only this but KD and Dorney and GrAdv already really close, plus BGW.

The Nebula will def get a home, along with with Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman.

The SLC at Darien just got an amazing paint job, and new trains. So I suspect going to Michigan.

Jokers Jinx toss up, considering they kept the Flight of Fears, and painted KDs, and Poltregiest had it’s glow up, possibly. If not spares for Freeze’s.

Roar would tech make a great fit for Dorney, if RMC’ed, but that’s wishful thinking, moving wood these days.

Maybe new SF should build a giant warehouse in the center of country to store rides and move around.

My next bets are on Frontier City, maybe one of the parks in NY, and SF water parks, not next to parks, that aren’t silly profitable.

I thought MiA already has an SLC?

Sharpel007:

My next bets are on Frontier City, maybe one of the parks in NY, and SF water parks, not next to parks, that aren’t silly profitable.

Yes, I think we all thought this as bullet point number 2 after SFA. I think Frontier City is the next announcement (perhaps even as early as today, but I don't know anything officially).

SFA makes sense due to the value of the land. Similar to, but less complicated than, CGA

The parks tied up with EPR properties (OK and Western NY specifically) are probably next. Suspect they are 'not worth the trouble'. That will help bring in "cost cuts" that also don't materially affect bottom line. Allows for "we made cuts of X" that are essentially meaningless to profit.

Anything stand alone is most likely also on the block

Sharpel007:

but that’s wishful thinking, moving wood these days.

With enough tariffs, moving wood might become the feasible option.

Sharpel007:
Maybe new SF should build a giant warehouse in the center of country to store rides and move around.

Ride Rotation Program 2.0 baby!!!

Initially I was a bit surprised by this announcement given some of the off-season improvements. I thought that they were solid soldi steps forward, considering all of the various ride removals we have seen over the years.

My only visit to the park was last sept and I was surprised by the number of closed attractions that were partially removed. Some were king of funny, like the portion of a log ride that went over Wild One. The closed kiddie section was sad to see (if memory serve me correct this was Boom Town). From Superman you could see just pieces of rides sitting all over the midway.

I wonder if any of the rides will be relocated or sold off. Always sad to see a park go.

Turns out that if you let a place get run down business declines.

I haven't been impressed by much that Cedar Flags is up to but previous leadership got us here on this one.

CreditWh0re

The parks tied up with EPR properties (OK and Western NY specifically) are probably next.

Given that they don’t own the land, just (a portion?) of the rides, there’s not a lot of value to unlock by selling them. But you may be right, they are probably not that profitable for the same reason. If they can get some operator to take over, they might be happy with that.

(Who that operator might be is a head-scratcher. Mr. Indiana Beach?)

I thought MiA already has an SLC?

They do, but with the old trains.

Ride Rotation Program 2.0 baby!!!

It would semi work if late stage legacy SF didn’t just group buy S&S Freespins, and other things.

I also think with some parks so close to each other now, things will get moved. We shall see what all goes from CGA to SFDK when the time comes, maybe even Knotts.

I haven't been impressed by much that Cedar Flags is up to

Having only been to NE and GrAdv so far and seeing videos of Georgia and MM, the food, painting, landscaping, and safety improvements so far having only been one off season are incredible and faster then I expected. ( The chicken tenders dipped great way to spice up something have, and the portions where bigger then last CF park) And the managers encountered at both parks all friendlier and have a sense of purpose.

The closing of rides with no fanfare earned them no favors with the hardcore, but everything they axed prob should of went years earlier. Also the realization that up charge attractions are a waste of space and resources is very welcome.

I haven't been impressed by much that Cedar Flags is up to

Also on that front the uprated security, and clear definitions of what’s not allowed, has meant Ive seen alot of youth mischief properly handled and almost immediately. To think this only took a year also impressed me.

Part of the problem with Cedar Flags is their cookie-cutter mentality. While SFA doesn’t work well financially in its current incarnation, who’s to say being a Disney/Universal level water park couldn’t be phenomenal given the heat experienced in the DC area for a solid 6 months out of the year? The tourism market is there and it’s huge, wouldn’t it be prudent as a CEO to make it work? Zimmerman & Co. refuse to do anything outside of a traditional seasonal park model. Ironically, recollection is Matt Ouimet once was quoted as saying “We aren’t in the business of closing parks.” Sad that the current C-suite feels opposite but surprising.

Washington DC is a great tourism market.

But I am not going to Washington DC so that I can go to a water park that is outside the Beltway, no matter how awesome it is.

I wouldn’t go if it was inside the Beltway and I love water parks as much as anyone.

…..they would have already built it

Gunkey Monkey:

who’s to say being a Disney/Universal level water park couldn’t be phenomenal

Agreeing with the other folks that if a water park in the DC area would succeed, it wouldn't be because of tourists, it would be because of locals escaping 100-degree heat.

But this made me realize - 500 acres is an insane amount of land for an amusement park the size of SF America. For comparison, that's about the size of the entire Disneyland resort including hotels and the shopping district, SF Great Adventure including the safari and standalone waterpark, or Universal Florida (possibly not including UEU). It's 1/3 bigger than Cedar Point.

If they wanted to have a kick-butt waterpark on, say 50 of those acres it would be easy to do it. But that wouldn't necessarily improve the value of the rest of the land.