Six Flags's One Track Mind

Six Flags seems to have a one track mind when it comes to park improvements. Adding roller coasters while removing run down attractions. Eventually, after many years, this approach leads to a park that is just about roller coasters. Am I wrong on this? Given the struggles that Six Flags has gone through recently and the successes that other parks have had diversifying their attraction base with different types of rides, why is Six Flags so narrow minded? Is adding a roller coaster always the way to improving a park?

Don’t get me wrong. I love roller coasters. Still, these types of attractions have a very narrow, fan base appeal. Kids under the height restrictions can’t ride them; older adults may not want to be flipped upside down or launched 0 to 80 mph. You go to a park like Magic Mountain, you either ride the coasters or you sit on a park bench. Then park had much more appeal when it had rides kids and older adults could ride.

Six Flags seems to operate as if it was a roller coaster construction company. I am curious as to why this is? When they add a water park and a Scooby Doo attraction it shows they are aware of the need to diversify. What is all the resistance about? Dark rides and themed attractions can’t be that much more expensive then some of these huge coaster constructions. They don’t have to know how to build something else other then a roller coaster. They can pay someone to be creative for them. And it would tap into a different fan base. Maybe they are afraid of the maintenance issues of different types of rides.

The first time I went to Six Flags Great Adventure I was so surprised by the Houdini ride. It was such a different kind of ride then anything else there. What was most surprising was finding a dark ride at a Six Flags park. I’m sure it was there before Six Flags purchased the park. Live a little Six Flag, show so creativity, throw caution to the wind and build something unexpected.

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rc-madness said: The first time I went to Six Flags Great Adventure I was so surprised by the Houdini ride. It was such a different kind of ride then anything else there. What was most surprising was finding a dark ride at a Six Flags park. I’m sure it was there before Six Flags purchased the park. Live a little Six Flag, show so creativity, throw caution to the wind and build something unexpected.

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NOPE! houdini is a newer attraction. Also SFOG, SFFT, and SFSTL all have dark rides. and if I recall almost every SF park has a very nice kiddie section.

SFNE has one to, and it also has two kiddie areas, so atlest at SFNE they definitly have a diverse amount of rides, and lots of kids ride thunderbolt and even flashback. SFNE has literally rides for all ages, definitly split up evenly, were any age you are you can comfortably ride decent amounts of rides, unless your like over 50, then it might be boring as they dont have a train ride or a boat ride on the river or anything you your left with the sky ride, ferris wheel which is huge, and the carousel.

^At this point it's looking more like an expansion rather than a rebuild but we'll find out just as soon as they announce.

I'd suspect that they're looking to make SFGRADV into SFMM v2.0,they're so displeased with the way things are going there this year that's the probable reasoning behind why SFGRADV & not MM is adding the rocket.

no....i doubt thats the reason BWSFA....first of all, SFMM already has a 400footer (even if it doesnt work much)...and i dont really see a problem with the way things are going at Gadv....the rocket is going to Gadv because thats what mgt at Gadv wanted. my guess is, it would seem quite a few parks in the area here are getting new coasters, like Dorney and Hershey, both which are heavy competitors with Gadv. also Clementon got that new woodie....so id say its competition with the local parks. but anyway.....

i wouldnt say Six Flags is unimaginative. ive seen a lot of neat stuff pop up at various Six Flags parks over the years that dont necessarily brand it as a "coaster company".

I said that corporate was displeased with the way things are going at MM,not SFGRADV.

Looney Toones Seaport is actually going to be re-themed into the Golden Kingdom. Therefore, there will still only be one kiddie area within the park.

Don't forget...SFNO added or is adding, what, 4 new kiddie rides to the park?

Bugs Bunny Land is now Golden Kingdom. Blended with family shows and attractions. They have those things kids could play around in. Where you can get wet and and dry areas. If people complain about SF's not adding coasters to their smaller parks one thing they can't complain about is, them not having good kiddy sections. Those smaller parks have up to par kiddy sections.

One thing I disagreed with at SFGAm, was the removal of the Hometown Park kiddie rides they had.

While SFGAm has 2 kids areas, they are both right across from eachother. The Hometown rides were on the other side of the park which gave families with small kids more options throughout the park.

Other than that, the Chicago park is making some decent decisions as of late (SUF: 2003)(Mardi Gras: 2004)(New waterpark: 2005).

Sitting at the Dolphin Show Saturday Night I began to wonder if Great Adventure will indeed become everything that SFWOA could have been. Dolphin show, tiger show accent on attractions that no other park in the area could possibly offer due to their respective neighborhoods.

I'm psyched

SAM

Also let's not forget that SFMM has a good variety of water rides as well. Two Log Flumes, River Rapids, Tidal Wave, plus Yosemite Sams, so you might want to extend your statement about SFMM to ride coasters, get wet, or sit on a park bench.

I dont see how someone could claim that SFI has a "coasters or bust" attitude. Thrill-or-bust, maybe, but not just coasters. Yes, the big coasters get the headlines, but they have added other attractions as well. SWAT (AW), Diablo Falls (AW)/PBR (SFA), the rocking tug @ GAm, the shoot-the-chutes @ EW and DL, Stargate @ GAm and others, Sally dark rides @ StL and FT, etc.

I think people get caught up on the coasters because, well most of the discussion sites are geared to COASTER enthusiasts. But please do not discount the other attractions.

lata, jeremy

hey MikeMir, ummm that "unless you're over 50" comment is ridiculous. No, I'm not there yet, but not that far behind. My boyfriend is even closer to 50. And i have friends who already are 50. They don't need walkers yet, they and I still love rollercoasters and even the skycoaster! I ride things I would never have dreamed of when I was, say, 30. So go easy on us old folk, we are NOT all ready for the nursing home. :)

That's funny. When I stopped by SFMM this spring, the big new ride going up was a ProSlide Tornado. It wasn't the first one SFI's bought, either.

And isn't the other big '05 cap ex outlay besides Kingda Ka SFGAM's HH?

Hmmm.

-'Playa

Don't forget Playa that SFA's paradise island will be recieving the HH makeover as well for 05.

Now the question is will it remain in the same place or be moved elsewhere in the park? I'd like to see it moved for two reasons.

Reason 1: they can finally close the gap between gotham city & coyote creek & 2: it would free up a lot of land just to the left of the main gate area for expansion in the ensuing years,a nice section similar to mardi gras at SFGRAM would be a welcome change to that side of the park as there's very little to do over there as it stands now.

SF should take a break on coasters at some of the larger parks & focus more on family rides as some of their parks seem to be lacking in that dept. it's family friendly rides along with customer service that brings in the big bucks...just look at SFGRAM's & SFOG's 04 additions,sadly though until management changes I don't expect much of an improvement in the guest service dept. but hopefully 05 will prove to be a turning point for them....we'll just have to wait & see.

I know that SFA management would like to relocate the water park to an area with more room, but I have no idea if they will get their wish.

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BATWING FAN SFA said:

just look at SFGRAM's & SFOG's 04 additions,sadly though until management changes I don't expect much of an improvement in the guest service dept. but hopefully 05 will prove to be a turning point for them....we'll just have to wait & see.

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Don't lump SFGAm into the poor guest service category if that is what you were implying. This is one SF park that stands out among most of them. The operations and guest service is just fine the way it is.

^I was reffering to the customer service at most of the SF parks in general & wasn't focusing on any one park in particular.

When I mentioned SFGRAM's 04 additions as an example it was to highlight the fact that they performed very well with the smaller additions that were introduced there this season as opposed to making one single large addition.