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

I completely forgot about that, they pay for what the largest amount they draw is, in addition to actual use. So you want to keep that peak draw as low as possible. Spike cost them more. Another win for LSM's.

You would think more parks would put a solar array somewhere either on land nearby or over their parking lots.

Mr. Six:

The instantaneous power isn't the number we're after though... it's the energy user per launch, presumably in kWh.

Why aren't we interested in instantaneous power? Power is what the ride demands from the park's electrical infrastructure.

Because instantaneous power isn't the same thing as energy used. A phone charger only pulls a few watts (power), but over enough time, it uses as much energy as a single coaster launch. If we're talking about efficiency, we need the power used over time, which is energy. Your electric bill isn't measured by instantaneous power, it's by kWh of energy used. A ride that requires 100 W for one second uses the same energy as a ride that requires 10 W for ten seconds. So the input power by itself is not enough to determine which technology uses less energy.

The infrastructure doesn't matter that much, because as you've all seen, there are ways to "bank" power and release it on launch. Think capacitors or Holiday World's flywheel.

Jeff:

Your electric bill isn't measured by instantaneous power, it's by kWh of energy used.

For commercial applications it is. Large consumers pay for the ability to draw a very large spike from the grid when needed, in addition to how much they actually consume.

We should have another semantic debate. We never have enough of those.

I’m so down, what shall be the topic? Will there be sliders?? Ugh, I love a good slider!

I think and hope Superman gets relocated. I mean it could certainly fit perfectly in a park that doesn't have a hyper. It could be sold outside of the chain to another park operator. I would be surprised if they don't send anything to La Ronde. I mean that park hasn't received anything in so many years! During covid theystarted puting up the old zacspin coaster from Magic Mountain and eventually scrapping the project. Idon't know if they have the space or not but Joker could certainly fit right up there. They also have 2 inverts; one from B&M and one SLC!! Might as well take Superman and have 2 hypers!! Anyway one coaster from SFA should end upthere, and The Great Escape could get one too.

Fun fact, when Drop Zone opened at Kings Island we had to coordinate dispatch between the two rides. If Drop Zone was pulling up through the magnets and FOF would launch, it would abort the launch because the train couldn’t get up to speed. We had to do this for a few months.

Shipwreck Falls was closed all of 2024. It was boarded up along with a sign that said "This site is permanently closed until management decides what to do with the space." (Or something similar to that.) On opening day of the park this year, I see a sign posted stating the ride is ready to re-open this summer. Then I make it back to Superman and notice the two new trains. I was so surprised to see this I actually created a post about it. I have been reading all the speculation and understood the park was on shaky ground. "Steam town" was re-imagined in 2024 along with a new flat ride. Superman has new trains. Another closed ride is re-opening. Perhaps the park might be safe for a few years? I'm not sure but I feel good.

(Basketball analogy) Six Flags America gave me a head fake and I jumped out of my shoes. They went right around me and dunked hard in the face of all the fans of this park then shouted, "We're closing B!!!"

It does seem like there are some contradictory actions there, but the lead time on getting the new trains - for example, will have been fairly long and would pretty likely pre-date the merger. I guess there was little reason for them to not press ahead, if they're going to another park next year because of the park closure, having them run for a year at SFA ahead of that move probably doesn't really matter - it might have been their only option operationally.

I just checked the website and it states Shipwreck Falls is ready to roll on May 24. Curious.

I wonder if there is an options paper somewhere that had something laid out whereby they could parcel off the undeveloped land, sell that off and continue to operate the park, but for whatever reason they opted not to. They've certainly done that at Dominion, Canada's Wonderland - others too I suspect.

I guess the difference with those is that they're profitable parks, plus the fact that they are now competing with themselves in the DC market isn't appealing, either.

DoubleMeatTaco:

Perhaps the park might be safe for a few years?

You don't announce a firm closing date in a press release with the language they did if you haven't already had all of the 'what if?' conversations internally and come to the decision that the park is closing.

You have to read a little between the lines, but I think DoubleMeatTaco felt that way after the early season visit and before the announcement.

Vater:

The Premier spaghetti bowl rides have been operating for 30 years, none of them have closed for good yet.

The one in China has had its death certificate signed:

https://rcdb.com/3511.htm

It was overhauled in May 2021 to give it a few more years.

Any other “at risk” parks in the Cedar flags chain ???

During the investor call last week Richard Zimmerman there are no plans to close any other parks "at this time." But I'm sure it's not off the table should they get any offers they can't refuse.

I thought SFA would close in 2022 when they closed two sections of the park

super7*:

This company has no growth potential IMO. Only reducing costs to maintain margins. It’s a bad investment.

It's wild how bad the stock is doing. You'd think the merger would have pumped up investors and gave it a little boost. Nope. I forget when I bought it exactly, but it was probably around 5 years ago or more (as FUN). As of now, it's down almost 40% from then. Even on these crazy last few days in the market where almost every single stock is rallying, Six Flags continues to drop - down 3% today (literally the only stock I own that went down today) and similar the last few days.

I really shouldn't beat a dead horse, but I will anyway.

Last year, Six Flags America started opening on Friday's in the Spring. They never did this before, as they were only opened on the weekends until Memorial Day weekend when they opened full time. In 2022 or 2023 they started this "Educational Days" program, where they opened on Friday's and encouraged schools to take bus trips for the day. The park was opened for the public as well. In fact, they opened an hour early (10am instead of 11am and closed early at 4 pm) In my opinion, it was a move by Six Flags to try to compete with hundreds of schools in the tri-state area that bus their kids two hours North to Hershey park. Last year, I went on two of those "Educational Days" and it was an absolute disaster and waste of time.

This Friday, I cruised on in to see if it was as bad as last year. It was! How can that be? You have to remember that it is a FRIDAY in the school year. Most of their employees are teenage kids in school (or should be). I walk into the park, Mind Eraser - closed, Firebird - closed, Harley Quinn - Closed, Superman - Closed, Batman - Closed, Wonder Woman - Closed, Ragin Cajun - Closed. Joker Jinx was testing and had an hour+ line because there was nothing open. So at this time it was noon and Wild One and Roar were the only rides running, that's it.

No problem, I have the "Ya Gatta Eat" meal plan, so I am going to get some food that will most likely give me food poisoning. Not happening. Since most rides were closed, the normal eating spots were closed as well, including Johnny Rockets. So whatever pathetic stand were open, there was a bus loads of kids in line. I actually feel really bad for everyone that was at the park that day.

In my 20-years of attending the park, I have a first. Zero rides and no food. I literally did a lap of the park and left.

Wow. I thought SFA customer service was bad 24-25 years ago when I was there. Sounds like it’s gotten worse.

People gotta, wait?