originally posted on 9/8/2023
For many years, the melancholy accompanying the end of the summer season was mildly offset by Six Flags announcing the details of additions and improvements to all of its properties on the same day. Following a brief hiatus, the tradition continues as the company prepares to spend $600 million on park additions and improvements between now and 2025, with a third of that being spent in preparation for the 2024 season.
While it’s expected that further details concerning these announcements will be provided at a later date (with perhaps even other minor announcements as well), ACE News will provide an overview of everything that’s currently known to be taking place at Six Flags properties across North America in 2024.
Frontier City (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Nothing announced as of publication, although the park’s Schwarzkopf Silver Bullet finally reopened following a February 2022 fire in the park’s maintenance shop that destroyed most of the components for its train that was in the midst of an overhaul. With the train rebuilt and the coaster’s programmable logic system replaced, park guests have been reporting the coaster — installed at Frontier City in 1986 following stops at the State Fair of Texas (Dallas, Texas) and Jolly Roger Amusement Park (Ocean City, Maryland) — is operating in top form.
La Ronde (Montréal, Québec, Canada)
Nothing announced as of publication, though the park has started teasing something happening with Le Monstre on its Instagram account.
Six Flags America (Upper Marlboro, Maryland)
In celebration of the park’s 25th year as a Six Flags property (the park opened as Wild World in 1982 and Adventure World in 1994), a section of the park will be developed as SteamTown. This area will include a new Zamperla NebulaZ called SteamWhirler as well as three reimagined and yet-to-be-renamed rides — the former Mind Eraser Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster highlighted by new trains, an enhanced operating system and a completely refreshed look; the former Renegade Rapids, featuring new theming, features and surprises; and former Coyote Creek Crazy Cars (bumper cars). The return of a popular stunt show, reopening of a large, air-conditioned restaurant and new quick-service dining experience will round out the improvements to the Washington, D.C.-area theme park.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, California)
Nothing announced as of publication.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio, Texas)
The 2024 season will not feature a new roller coaster, although following 2022’s addition of a Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster called Dr. Diabolical’s Cliffhanger, the park is preparing to open Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster — a two-tracked Skyline Attractions P’Sghetti Bowl Model E & F — that replaces the Fender Bender bumper cars.
All renderings courtesy of Six Flags. View full-sized image.
For the 2024 season, Six Flags Fiesta Texas will debut the largest DC Universe of any park in the United States, featuring three family-friendly rides: Cyborg Cyber Revolution (Zamperla NebulaZ), Shazam! Tower of Eternity (70-foot-tall rotating drop tower) and Metropolis Transit Authority featuring two Art Deco-style monorails.
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View full-sized image.
These are in addition to improvements that have been made (and are being made) to some of the park’s existing roller coasters. Boomerang and Iron Rattler each recently received additional trains to improve operations related to maintenance requirements, and the Rocky Mountain Construction single-rail Raptor prototype Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster recently saw the installation of a new control system. Further, it will shut down for a brief period next year for the replacement of its original trains with improved second-generation models.
Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey)
In anticipation of the park’s 50th anniversary season in 2024, a plethora of improvements will punctuate its largest investment in more than two decades:
The return of Safari Offroad Adventure following its hiatus that began when the park first reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic (and replacing the original Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure that itself was closed for the introduction of Safari Offroad Adventure in 2013).
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A Luxury Safari Experience at the new Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa located within the 350-acre Wild Safari Park, where overnight guests will enjoy ultraluxurious “glamping” accommodations, scenic vistas, spa services and VIP dining.
Improvements to two beloved rides: The 1974 Arrow Development Log Flume and Schwarzkopf Big Wheel, which originated at the Holland Tulip Festival as the centerpiece of the fair before being transported to New Jersey for Great Adventure’s inaugural year.
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Finally, of particular interest to roller coaster enthusiasts will be the introduction of The Flash: Vertical Velocity. To be located in the Movie Town section of the park, it will be the second worldwide (and first North American) installation of a Vekoma Super Boomerang. Filling a gap in a sizable roller coaster lineup that features but one launched machine — Intamin’s 2005 Accelerator coaster, Kingda Ka — it will thrust riders forward and backward at nearly 60 mph through a 180-degree twisted drop and zero-G roll.
Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois)
Sky Striker, a Zamperla Giga Discovery, will take the place of the former Dare Devil Dive. The park currently has a smaller ride of this type called Revolution, and it is unknown whether this will replace it or if it will continue to operate alongside this addition.
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Six Flags Great Escape (Queensbury, New York)
Following the announcement made over the summer that Alpine Bobsled would close forever on September 4, speculation commenced about the future of the site with enthusiasts guessing everything from a roller coaster from another Six Flags property to an expansion of the nearby Hurricane Harbor water park. Neither was accurate.
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In what may be the biggest surprise of all the Six Flags’ 2024 announcements, its modest property in the Adirondacks of New York will add Bobcat — a medium-sized wood coaster designed by The Gravity Group (TGG) and constructed by Gravitykraft. It will be the first time Six Flags — one of the world’s largest theme park operators — has worked with the companies on a new project and the first time in more than 20 years the park has added a roller coaster. It will join a handful of steel coasters and the legendary and highly rated Comet, the Herbert Schmeck/Philadelphia Toboggan Company double-out-and-back formerly of Crystal Beach (Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada).
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“The all-natural wood and quintessential coaster design make it the perfect fit in the current Bobsled location,” said Marketing & Sales Manager Jennifer Mance. “Bobcat [will bring] a thrilling family coaster addition to the Six Flags Great Escape coaster lineup for both coaster beginners and long-time enthusiasts, and it was also important that we find an attraction that was not so weather dependent,” she added, referencing Alpine Bobsled’s penchant for not being able to operate in adverse conditions.
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View full-sized image.
With a height of 55 feet and 1,412 feet of track, Bobcat will be slightly larger than nearby TGG/Gravitykraft coasters such as Wooden Warrior (Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, Connecticut) and Roar-O-Saurus (Story Land, Glen, New Hampshire). It will feature two six-car, 12-passenger Timberliner trains with a low height requirement.
“Bobcat’s 42-inch height restriction [will allow] for new coaster enthusiasts to fall in love with wooden roller coasters before taking on Comet,” stated Mance.
Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California)
Nothing announced as of publication, although Apocalypse the Ride — the park’s 2009 Great Coasters International, Inc. wood coaster — is currently receiving some attention.
Six Flags Mexico (Mexico City, Mexico)
Nothing announced as of publication.
Six Flags New England (Agawam, Massachusetts)
Nothing announced as of publication.
Six Flags Over Georgia (Austell, Georgia)
Satisfying the need for a thrilling new roller coaster as well as a water ride, the park previously announced the addition of a first-of-its-kind Intamin Ultra Surf. Not entirely unlike the company’s Half Pipe Coaster, the new concept will launch a ride vehicle composed of two sets of spinning seats at 60 mph to a maximum height of 144 feet and through a splash pool along 590 feet of track. A contest is currently being held to name the new coaster.
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View full-sized image.
Additionally, Six Flags Over Georgia is preparing to open Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster — a two-tracked Skyline Attractions P’Sghetti Bowl Model E & F, similar to the ride of the same name being installed at Six Flags Fiesta Texas — before the end of the 2023 season. With a 36-inch height requirement, it will serve as one of the park’s family-oriented attractions.
Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington, Texas)
The world’s first log flume, El Rio Lento (also known as El Aserradero) will undergo renovations that will turn the 1963 Arrow Development landmark into one of the longest in the world at more than 2,500 feet with an additional lift hill and two large drops. The new lift will join the 1963 original to the 1968 Flume II, making it the longest Arrow flume in the world. Thematic enhancements will also upgrade the ride.
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Six Flags St. Louis (Eureka, Missouri)
The Joker: Carnival of Chaos, a Zamperla Giga Discovery, will essentially replace Xcalibur, a rare Nauta Bussink & Baily Evolution relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure for the 2003 season.
— Rob Ascough, ACE News Editor
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