Tornado has reportedly hit Six Flags Over Texas

Drudge Report is currently reporting that "Significant damage reported at Six Flags amusement park in Arlington..." There is no link to a source as of yet. Dallas/Fort Worth is getting pounded by a tornado swarm right now.

It's over on the FW side of the metroplex. Still blowing through Dallas area. There were a couple of tornadoes that touched down in populated areas - Mesquite, Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Benbrook. I hadn't heard anything about Six Flags getting hit, but there was one that went through Arlington and was headed for the airport. I'll scour the local news and see if they say.

Prayers for all in the path of the storm.

Edit: From what I can tell the tornado was on the southern end of Arlington whereas Six Flags is on the northern. I'm pretty sure if it hit Six Flags, it would be all over the news given that it's about 1/4 mile from the Rangers ball park which is in turn about 1/4 mile from the new Cowboy's stadium, so I'm a bit skeptical that it did hit Six Flags.

Yikes.

Edit: updated link since old one changed.

I have many friends that work in the bowling industry at the International Bowling Campus right across the street from Six Flags, and they are indicating the park had significant damage as well.

No damage at Six Flags.
http://tinyurl.com/83r79b9

Bad tragedy for the area, but good news for the park.

I can't believe the helicopter video of truck trailers being tossed around. That's insane. Hard to believe that no one was killed (according to NBC tonight, anyway).

I was at Michigan's Adventure a couple a fews days after the storms went through, back when they lost a good portion of the trees in front of the park back in the 90's. A couple of the rides were destroyed in the storm. The drummer boy ride that was next to the corkscrew was badly smashed up, and one of it's cars looked like a stepped on tin can.

The Mutley's Putt Putts area received the worst damage, and everything that was in that area of the park was closed and removed. If you're wondering the new entrance to the park sits in the spot where those rides were located. The old entrance used to be where the Mad Mouse coaster is today. That same storm flipped over mobile homes at the Grand Haven state park, and was rumored to have 80 to 120 mph straight line winds. I'll be every time a storm rips through there they hold their breath these days, and, seeing how there are practically no trees left, the winds might take out the only things standing.

But, I'm sure nothing would be as bad as what happend to Six Flags New Orleans, just looking at the photos of what happened there, and what has happened with the park since, must be one of the greatest park tragedies on record. Storms, Flooding, and Fires are still the biggest threat to the parks these days. Not so much fire anymore, but, it can still happen. I remember reading about how Luna Park at Coney Island Burned to the ground, and nothing was left. Can't imagine what that would have been like. Seeing the state the Six Flags New Orleans is in is probably pretty darn close.

That footage was crazy. You'd expect something like that to be CGI'ed. Now that you mention it, though... what the hell were they doing in a helicopter?

Timber-Rider said:
I was at Michigan's Adventure a couple a fews days after the storms went through, back when they lost a good portion of the trees in front of the park back in the 90's. A couple of the rides were destroyed in the storm.

You have to be kidding me. For as much as they've raised admission, you'd think by now, they would have found a way to control the weather.

Lucky for you, the mid-timbers region was unaffected.

Some storms went through my home park, too, some other time.

Other parks get the best storms. My park constantly gets screwed, despite how much I paid for my umbrella.

You guys get umbrellas? My park only cares about making money, so they let us get rained on, then charge $6 for 3 minutes in the family dryer.

I don't really think it's necessary to derail additional threads to humiliate someone who is already getting his just verbal beating.

kpjb said: Now that you mention it, though... what the hell were they doing in a helicopter?

I happened to see it live, flying trailers and all, on the Weather Channel. One of the hosts asked the same question. The conclusion was that apparently the chopper was far enough to be safe, as evidenced by the stability of the images.

Don't they have devices that stabilize images these days? As in POV videos?

I just want to know who the person was who said "Massive tornado outbreak? Let me get my helicopter!" Admittedly though, I didn't even realize until after I'd watched a few clips that helicopter + tornado seems like a terrible idea.

Or, for that matter, tornados and driving. What was that, I35, or 30 maybe just teaming with traffic? I realize metroplex traffic is heavy and tornados are known for taking people by surprise, but had that been me out there? Seeya!

Fortunately the storm didn't shift toward that freeway, or I'm afraid we woulda seen more than empty tractor trailers thrown about.

A surprising number of people completely ignore the tornado sirens around here. Or even worse, actively try to go towards the tornadoes to watch them.

Well I am a storm chaser and video tape tornadoes when I can. But I do not get too close. My team stays about 2-3 miles away from one. That way if it turns towards us, we still have time to move out of the way. We spot, warn, and chase. We just got some great video of one in Kansas back from April 14th.