News Six Flags America & Hurricane Harbor to Close Following 2025 Season
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All joking aside, it’s truly a shame things didn't pan out for me to make it out there this year. I don’t think I would’ve been impressed by anything but Wild One (and I likely would’ve hated Firebird), but I definitely regret never heading the opposite direction all the years I lived so close to Great Adventure.
Wild One was running as brilliantly as ever today (and to be clear, I adore it and it desperately needs to be saved), but I also got a really good night ride on Roar tonight too. Sad about losing both of them.
For me, I think my (potentially controversial) "depression ranking" for the loss of major coasters at SFA now that the park is closed is...
Batwing was my favorite version of one of my personal favorite, super underrated coaster models and featured what I believe is still my favorite inversion—the incredible vertical loop. I'm glad Batwing was the last Flying Dutchman, but I'm gutted to see the coaster and model die.
Roar, though once cloned, is now the only version of what is a really fun little GCI layout. It was never taken care of like it should have been and it could have definitely used new track and Millennium Flyers, but I really liked the thing regardless. Sad to lose it for sure.
I was reminded again today of how much better I think the forces on Joker's Jinx are when compared to the Flight of Fear clones. I don't have Poltergeist and if/when I ride it my sadness over losing Jinx may subside more, but for now, that second half really is just killer compared to Flight of Fear and I'm gonna miss it a lot.
Superman, though obviously the flagship coaster of the park, doesn't do all that much for me and I can ride what seems to be a superior version at Darien Lake so, despite the coaster's size and prominence in the lineup, I don't actually feel all that upset about losing it.
I'm very anti-Firebird and didn't even ride it today. That said, it's a custom layout and the first B&M—it's always a little disappointing to see history die, but yeah, not feeling sad about this one personally.
SkyWinder may be the best looking SLC (that paint job!) but it's an SLC. Obviously at the bottom of this list. I can ride plenty of others.
For me, I think my (potentially controversial) "depression ranking" for the loss of major coasters at SFA now that the park is closed is...
- Wild One
- Batwing
- Roar
- Joker's Jinx
- Superman
- Firebird
- SkyWinder
Batwing was my favorite version of one of my personal favorite, super underrated coaster models and featured what I believe is still my favorite inversion—the incredible vertical loop. I'm glad Batwing was the last Flying Dutchman, but I'm gutted to see the coaster and model die.
Roar, though once cloned, is now the only version of what is a really fun little GCI layout. It was never taken care of like it should have been and it could have definitely used new track and Millennium Flyers, but I really liked the thing regardless. Sad to lose it for sure.
I was reminded again today of how much better I think the forces on Joker's Jinx are when compared to the Flight of Fear clones. I don't have Poltergeist and if/when I ride it my sadness over losing Jinx may subside more, but for now, that second half really is just killer compared to Flight of Fear and I'm gonna miss it a lot.
Superman, though obviously the flagship coaster of the park, doesn't do all that much for me and I can ride what seems to be a superior version at Darien Lake so, despite the coaster's size and prominence in the lineup, I don't actually feel all that upset about losing it.
I'm very anti-Firebird and didn't even ride it today. That said, it's a custom layout and the first B&M—it's always a little disappointing to see history die, but yeah, not feeling sad about this one personally.
SkyWinder may be the best looking SLC (that paint job!) but it's an SLC. Obviously at the bottom of this list. I can ride plenty of others.
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I am be fully willing to tear it down and use it for firewood, even if the wood is chemical treated.
I went to SFA for closing day! More media to come but here are some shorts:
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I am still a massive fan of the idea of Wild One going between the Mack tower and El Toro at Great Adventure. The thought of losing another PTC sickens me, let alone one with this much historical significance.
I don’t believe the new leadership would allow the park to treat it as poorly as they did Rolling Thunder (and, let’s be honest, El Toro). There’s something to be said about their commitment to making Toro a world class coaster again despite all of the vitriol towards Great Adventure in the past year, and they would certainly gain some goodwill back by saving North America’s oldest operating coaster, especially with Leap the Dips looking more and more like it’s seen its final riders. As someone who grew up riding Rolling Thunder and marathoned it on its final day of operation, the park’s lineup has felt incomplete without a classic wooden coaster.
To me, Wild One had one of the best layouts as far as out and back woodies go. It provided great airtime and had an amazing helix. It really sucks to see it go out like this. Even if it got relocated somewhere far that I would never visit, I'd at least be happy it would be saved an people could still experience it.
Man, I hate to be a bummer but I’m so upset over this. SFGAdv is my home park and what happened last year was crushing to me. Seeing this whole park close is another knife in the heart. It was the second SF park I’d been to and spent such an awesome first day there with my family, including my sister taking an awesome pic of me and my dad on Batwing. My heart hurts knowing so many people locally loved this park and although I know it’s a business decision, I’ll miss the charm this park had and the people who worked in it. RIP Six Flags America.
I just want to thank all of you who went and all those I met. Tonight was magical and was definitely made by the people and workers. Very emotional night and it was an honor to be there with you all tonight. I hope they are able to do something to save Wild one. Thank you all again. 
I love this community.
I love this community.
Thank you for showing the staff love. I wish I could’ve made it tonight. I’m sure the staff will never forget the love of they should have received from the chain.I just want to thank all of you who went and all those I met. Tonight was magical and was definitely made by the people and workers. Very emotional night and it was an honor to be there with you all tonight. I hope they are able to do something to save Wild one. Thank you all again.
Seeing it officially listed as defunct on RCDB is like a knife to the heart. Wish I could have been there today, it seems like 1 hell of a day from everyone's reports here.
Is there like a support group for this? Am I unreasonable to be so upset about this?
Seeing Ka go was so painful being seeing this go after makes me feel so hopeless for the future of theme parks…
Seeing Ka go was so painful being seeing this go after makes me feel so hopeless for the future of theme parks…
Today was just so bittersweet. It was a great time in the park despite know why we were all there and with the exception of the idiot on Batwing everyone was well behaved and polite. Staff were amazing I was among the enthusiasts that were just standing around talking on mainstreet tillbthey finally politely through us out just after 9. Even then security let us stop at the that’s all folks sign hang out and even played photographer to allow everyone to get last leaving pictures including sweezing the whole group of probably 40 or so into a last round of photos.
One last point to make this was the last public train for the park the couple on the front row got married on that ride years ago. They are long time ACE members and the one one the exit side has been going to the park for 45 of the park's 51 years and is probably the formost expert on the parks history. The ACE members in line at close made it a point to make sure they had front row one the last public ride and I can think of nothing more fitting.
One last point to make this was the last public train for the park the couple on the front row got married on that ride years ago. They are long time ACE members and the one one the exit side has been going to the park for 45 of the park's 51 years and is probably the formost expert on the parks history. The ACE members in line at close made it a point to make sure they had front row one the last public ride and I can think of nothing more fitting.
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Wild One seems like it would be more viable to clone and modernize than to actually move it and put in what is likely a good amount or rehabilitation necessary. The layout is great, but I can't see someone trying to make it work as is.
Roar is a travesty how badly that ride was maintained with what is a top flight layout.
Oh, I agree. Clone the layout, move the trains, try to keep a little wood, and call it a day. These super old wooden coasters are always a Ship of Theseus problem anyway.
As for the future of the park and the land the park president was asked yesterday and said that he thinks the mostly future is houses. He did stress that he doesn't KNOW anything but that is his personal best guess reading the tea leafs. He also was telling us that park leadership had know pre heads up on the announcement of the closing and that he personal found out about when the cruise ship he was on at the time made a port stop which was the day after the announcement.
The amount of entertainment, 4 different stages plus the Looney tunes characters, the drummers, and the dancers going around with a mobile sound system, made me feel like THIS is a theme park!
I rope dropped Wild One (front row) and then did Superman (back row) and then decided to do other things than stand in line most of the day. In retrospect, that was where the enthusiasts and conversations were, especially at the big 2. Did do a short line at Firebird and a late last ride on Roar which was fantastic, ironically it seems the line cutters made it work out that I was next in line for the grouper. Even though it was a short day, it's the only time I've ever gone to SFA for the entire operating day or watched a stunt show from inside (loud!). Sounds like I should have stayed around even later but between getting up early, getting cold and dark, 3 previous days at VA parks and all my activities of the last 4 weeks incl. SFA the previous weekend, 6:30 felt late to me.
I rope dropped Wild One (front row) and then did Superman (back row) and then decided to do other things than stand in line most of the day. In retrospect, that was where the enthusiasts and conversations were, especially at the big 2. Did do a short line at Firebird and a late last ride on Roar which was fantastic, ironically it seems the line cutters made it work out that I was next in line for the grouper. Even though it was a short day, it's the only time I've ever gone to SFA for the entire operating day or watched a stunt show from inside (loud!). Sounds like I should have stayed around even later but between getting up early, getting cold and dark, 3 previous days at VA parks and all my activities of the last 4 weeks incl. SFA the previous weekend, 6:30 felt late to me.
Something I thought was cool was the park president, the East Region GM (who oversees KD, Carowinds, SFoG, and Dorney), and Six Flags’ SVP of Operations were all present on Main Street and talking to guests well after the park closed. It’s nice that they showed up and took yesterday seriously, and didn’t just unceremoniously close the park like it was business as usual.
Yesterday was a special day, but three moments towards the end of the day — the last ever “dance party” show in the saloon where the performers were dancing their hearts out, the final stunt show and the performers’ impassioned speeches of gratitude at the end, and seeing the enormous crowd lingering on Main Street with staff not putting any pressure on anyone to leave well after closing — are going to stay in my memory for a long time.
Six Flags America was never an amazing park to me, but it meant something to me since my earliest days of becoming an enthusiast. When I was a kid, I checked out the book “Amusement Parks of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware” by Jim Futrell from the public library, and its incredibly detailed history and profiles of every park in the region are what turned my casual interest in theme parks into a lifelong passion. The SFA section (along with the KD and BGW sections) was one of the book’s most in-depth, so the story of SFA was a formative part of my becoming an enthusiast. It’s almost surreal that the history of SFA as recorded in that book, which still sits on my bookshelf, is now just that: history. A snapshot of what once was.
As someone who only visited SFA once before its final season this year, I don’t think I’m entitled to a heartfelt reflection on all that yesterday meant. But one small moment yesterday captured what the significance of yesterday was, to me. A few rows ahead of me on the train, a mom and her three young daughters asked the train employee to take a picture of them with her iPad. As he took the picture, she said “Say ‘Last day!’” which the kids repeated while the picture was snapped. That moment broke my heart. It was obvious that the park was a place they regularly visited, a place where the young girls had grown up, that they were now losing forever.
We enthusiasts can reflect on the good and bad of SFA that is being lost with the closure — from the demise of a historic coaster to the park’s horrendously nonsensical layout — but the park was never built for us. It was built for families like the one in front of me on the train. It was a place that existed to make people happy. For 50 years, employees showed up every operating day to bring joy to the people that showed up. And really, at their core, that’s all that theme parks are about. That’s the core promise that has sparked our entire love for this industry.
And whether SFA got it right every time or not, it was a place meant to create special memories for people, and it’s now gone. For all of us who appreciate the art of theme parks and what makes them special, whether you ever visited SFA or not, yesterday was a sad day. At least the memories will live on.
Yesterday was a special day, but three moments towards the end of the day — the last ever “dance party” show in the saloon where the performers were dancing their hearts out, the final stunt show and the performers’ impassioned speeches of gratitude at the end, and seeing the enormous crowd lingering on Main Street with staff not putting any pressure on anyone to leave well after closing — are going to stay in my memory for a long time.
Six Flags America was never an amazing park to me, but it meant something to me since my earliest days of becoming an enthusiast. When I was a kid, I checked out the book “Amusement Parks of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware” by Jim Futrell from the public library, and its incredibly detailed history and profiles of every park in the region are what turned my casual interest in theme parks into a lifelong passion. The SFA section (along with the KD and BGW sections) was one of the book’s most in-depth, so the story of SFA was a formative part of my becoming an enthusiast. It’s almost surreal that the history of SFA as recorded in that book, which still sits on my bookshelf, is now just that: history. A snapshot of what once was.
As someone who only visited SFA once before its final season this year, I don’t think I’m entitled to a heartfelt reflection on all that yesterday meant. But one small moment yesterday captured what the significance of yesterday was, to me. A few rows ahead of me on the train, a mom and her three young daughters asked the train employee to take a picture of them with her iPad. As he took the picture, she said “Say ‘Last day!’” which the kids repeated while the picture was snapped. That moment broke my heart. It was obvious that the park was a place they regularly visited, a place where the young girls had grown up, that they were now losing forever.
We enthusiasts can reflect on the good and bad of SFA that is being lost with the closure — from the demise of a historic coaster to the park’s horrendously nonsensical layout — but the park was never built for us. It was built for families like the one in front of me on the train. It was a place that existed to make people happy. For 50 years, employees showed up every operating day to bring joy to the people that showed up. And really, at their core, that’s all that theme parks are about. That’s the core promise that has sparked our entire love for this industry.
And whether SFA got it right every time or not, it was a place meant to create special memories for people, and it’s now gone. For all of us who appreciate the art of theme parks and what makes them special, whether you ever visited SFA or not, yesterday was a sad day. At least the memories will live on.
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Awesome, LOVE to hear early 2026 addition rumors!
In all serious, glad to see all the posts and reports from people who attended. I've been there a couple times in the past but never was personally WOWed by the place (Jokers Jinx in the last row was special, though). That said, I can understand how it would be to people more local. Glad to hear people make the best of it all.
I was amazed at how much housing has sprang up there. My first visit was in 2006 and there has been a big boom in real estate. Makes sense to me - I'd love to see more attractions (another waterpark?) but not holding my breath as there just is not money to pour into these kinds of project right now. Comcast seems to be the only one building parks right now, and I'm not convinced that they are ready to jump into another one so soon with (* gestures to economy *).