Six Flags Over Georgia

Six Flags Over Georgia



Main entrance
Location near Austell, Georgia, United States
Coordinates 33°46′04″N 84°33′02″W / 33.76787°N 84.55065°W / 33.76787; -84.55065Coordinates: 33°46′04″N 84°33′02″W / 33.76787°N 84.55065°W / 33.76787; -84.55065
Owner Six Flags Over Georgia, Ltd.[1]
Operated by Six Flags
General Manager Dale Kaetzel[2]
Opened June 16, 1967
Operating season March through January
Area 290 acres (120 ha)[3]
Rides
Total 40+
Roller coasters 11
Water rides 4
Website www.sixflags.com
/overgeorgia

Six Flags Over Georgia is a 290-acre (120 ha) theme park located west of Atlanta in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. Featuring characters and themes from a variety of Warner Bros. properties such as Looney Tunes and DC Comics, the park opened to the public in 1967 as the second of three theme parks built by Six Flags. It features eleven roller coasters, including top-ranked Mind Bender and Goliath that have been recognized annually by Amusement Today, and over 30 other rides, shows, and attractions. Hurricane Harbor, a 7-acre (2.8 ha) water park included in the price of admission to the amusement park, was added in 2014.

History

Main gate

After the success of his original Six Flags park in Arlington, Texas, park founder Angus Wynne began searching for a location for a second park. He settled upon a parcel of land located along the Chattahoochee River just west of the city of Atlanta, and design work started in 1964. As the park opened in 1967, Six Flags became the first multi-gate theme park operator in the United States.[4]

Like its sister park in Texas and others, the initial design and theming of Six Flags Over Georgia was inspired by six different flags that have flown over the lands that have comprised present-day Georgia during its history. The six flags in question are those of Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Confederate States, and the state of Georgia. It can be argued that France's involvement in Georgia's history was very limited, at best; it can be further argued that Georgia's existence as sovereign nation did not bear the same significance as Texas' nationhood. Over the years most of the original historical themes have been dropped in favor of cartoon and superhero themes.

Six Flags Over Georgia is not owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp. In an arrangement similar to that for Six Flags Over Texas, it is owned by a group of approximately 120 limited partners—some the heirs of Angus G. Wynne—and is managed by the corporation. In years past, this has caused significant friction, including legal action. Starting in 1991, the park was managed by Time Warner Entertainment. The partners sued Time Warner in 1997, claiming that they had neglected to invest in the park and overcharged the partners for the improvements it did receive. A Gwinnett County civil court jury agreed and awarded the partners damages in excess of US$600 million. In 1998, Time Warner sold its interests in the Six Flags parks to Premier Parks of Oklahoma City, which later changed its name to Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc.

In late 2010, Six Flags began the process of removing licensed theming from attractions. They terminated several licenses including their license with Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas Town was renamed and rethemed to Whistlestop Park in time for the 2011 season.[5][6]

On August 29, 2013, Six Flags officially announced that they would add a Hurricane Harbor water park next door to the park for the 2014 season.[7] In late April 2014 the park announced that it will expand their season from October to January, to include the new Christmas event, Holiday in the Park for years to come.[8]

As part of Six Flags' 2015 capital investment program, Six Flags Over Georgia received two rides in its Gotham City section. The first, "The Joker: Chaos Coaster" is a Larson Giant Loop ride approximately 70 feet in height, while the second, "Harley Quinn Spinsanity", is a more traditional Tilt-A-Whirl family ride.[9] Both attractions are part of a broader renovation of Gotham City, which will also include a new character meet-and-greet area and improvements to the existing Gotham City Eatery restaurant.[9]

In 2016, Six Flags added two new children areas to the park – "Bugs Bunny Boomtown" and "DC Super Friends", the first in the Six Flags chain. On June 16, 2016, it was announced that Dodge City Bumper Cars would be closed and removed from the park to make room for a new ride in 2017.[10]On September 1, 2016, the park announced that an all new dark ride named Justice League: Battle For Metropolis would replace Dodge City Bumper Cars.

Rides and attractions

Six Flags Over Georgia, like most amusement parks, prides itself on its roller coaster collection. Goliath and Mind Bender routinely rank among the top steel roller coasters listed by Amusement Today magazine in its Golden Ticket Awards. The collection expanded in 2011 with the addition of Dare Devil Dive, a Euro-Fighter roller coaster from German designer Gerstlauer.[11]

Aside from the roller coasters, Six Flags Over Georgia maintains a large number of other rides and attractions. Two attractions of note are Acrophobia, installed in 2001 as the world's first "floorless" freefall tower ride, and the Riverview Carousel.

Riverview Carousel is one of only three remaining five-abreast carousels known to exist. Located in an area of the park commonly referred to as Carousel Hill, The Riverview Carousel opened at the park in 1972. It is a 1908 PTC Carousel and is located in the Cotton States section after being moved from Riverview Park (Chicago). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 27, 1995.

Roller coasters

Ride name Picture Year opened Manufacturer/Ride type Current location Other notes
Dahlonega Mine Train 1967 Arrow Dynamics steel "mine train" roller coaster. Update to track by Hopkins Rides Peachtree Square The original design was a wood supporting structure with steel tubular rails; now, much of the wood is ornamental.
Great American Scream Machine 1973 John C. Allen designed wooden roller coaster, built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Cotton States Opened as the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster at a height of 105 feet (32 m) and speeds of 57 miles per hour (92 km/h).
Mind Bender 1978 Anton Schwarzkopf terrain-following looping steel coaster, has two vertical loops and a third horizontal helix "loop" Gotham City The park has claimed that it was the world's first triple-loop coaster. However, the second "loop" is actually an inclined helix and does not turn riders upside-down. In 1997, it was remodeled after The Riddler to fit the new Gotham City theme.
Georgia Cyclone 1990 Summers and Dinn Corp. wooden roller coaster British Design is a mirror image of the Coney Island Cyclone, with some minor differences.
Blue Hawk 1992 Vekoma looping roller coaster Cotton States Ride moved from Wildwood, New Jersey's defunct Dinosaur Beach boardwalk. Inherited the Arrow trains from the Great American Scream Machine formerly located at Six Flags Great Adventure. Formerly named Ninja, it has had a full refurbishment and is now named Blue Hawk as of the 2016-2017 season.
Batman: The Ride 1997 B&M inverted steel coaster Gotham City Is one of several identical rides operated by Six Flags Theme Parks using the same name.
Georgia Scorcher 1999 B&M stand-up roller coaster Georgia Last new B&M stand-up built to-date and is one of only two in the Southeast.
Superman: Ultimate Flight 2002 B&M flying roller coaster. Cotton States It was the Southeast's first flying roller coaster, and the first B&M flying coaster in North America.
The Joker Funhouse Coaster 2004 Chance-Morgan custom-designed family roller coaster DC Super Friends Re-themed to The Joker Funhouse Coaster in 2016 with green tracks and purple supports. Originally known as Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster (2004-2015)
Goliath 2006 B&M hypercoaster USA One of the first hypercoasters in the Southeastern United States.
Dare Devil Dive 2011 Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter USA 95-foot-tall vertical lift and three inversions.

Former roller coasters

Ride name Picture Year opened Removed in Manufacturer/Ride type Other notes
Mini Mine Train 1969 1988 Arrow Dynamics mini mine train kiddie roller coaster Originally named the Yahoola Hooler.
Z-Force 1988 1991 Intamin Space Diver roller coaster Moved from Six Flags Great America, moved to Six Flags Magic Mountain and renamed Flashback. Was scrapped in 2008.
Viper 1995 2001 Anton Schwarzkopf shuttle loop roller coaster, formerly Greezed Lightnin’ Moved from Six Flags Great America, moved to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, operated as Greezed Lightnin' until the park was closed in 2010.
Déjà Vu 2001 2007 Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang It was one of only five GIB's in the world. Purchased by Mirabilandia in Brazil in 2009

Other rides and attractions

Ride Name Year Opened Manufacturer/Ride Type Current Location Other Notes
Six Flags Railroad - Marthasville and Rabun Gap 1967 Train ride around the park Peachtree Square and French 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge;[12] The Engines have been converted to Diesel hydraulic power and used to run on steam.
Hanson Cars 1967 Arrow Antique Cars Cotton States Moved to current location in 1990; originally located where Georgia Cyclone is in British section.
Sky Bucket 1968 (Von Roll sky way ride) Lickskillet and Peachtree Square
Log Jamboree 1968 Arrow Dynamics Log Flume Georgia Originally operated with two separate flumes, current ride is the second flume.
The Riverview Carousel 1972 1908 PTC Carousel Cotton States Moved from Riverview Park; listed on National Register of Historic Places
Thunder River 1982 Intamin river rapids ride Lickskillet
Splashwater Falls 1986 Hopkins Shoot-the-Chutes water ride Lickskillet Boats glide on a 50 ft (15 m) tall flume and then drop down to a soaking
Acrophobia 2001 Intamin stand-up gyro drop tower Peachtree Square
Gotham City Crime Wave 2004 Zierer Wave Swinger Gotham City Purchased from Thrill Valley Amusement Park in Japan (along with 4 rides that went to Six Flags New Orleans).
Rockin' Tug 2004 Zamperla Rockin' Tug Cotton States
Up, Up & Away 2004 Zamperla Balloon Race Cotton States
Skull Island 2005 SCS Interactive Discovery Treehouse/WaterColors with slides from Proslide Technology Inc. Cotton States Only open during summer season.
Monster Mansion 2009 Water dark ride French Ride was originally Tales Of The Okefenokee (1967–1980) and Monster Plantation (1981–2008).
SkyScreamer 2013 Funtime StarFlyer Lickskillet Park's tallest ride standing at 242-foot (74 m) tall.
Harley Quinn Spinsanity 2015 Tilt-A-Whirl Gotham City A modern twist on a classic tilt a whirl
The Joker: Chaos Coaster 2015 Larson SuperLoop Gotham City A Larson fireball ride.
Justice League: Battle For Metropolis 2017 Sally Corp Dark Ride Cotton States A 4D shooting dark ride.Replaced Dodge City Bumper Cars.

Children's rides and attractions

Ride Name Year Opened Manufacturer/Ride Type Current Location
Tweety's Tweehouse 2001 Zamperla Jumpin’ Star – kiddie drop tower. Originally known as Tweety's Clubhouse until 2015. Bugs Bunny Boomtown
Bugs Bunny High Sea Adventure Intamin Flying Dutchman, swing ride. Originally known as Santa Maria until 2015. Bugs Bunny Boomtown
Yosemite Sam's Wacky Wagons 2016 Zamperla Mini Ferris Wheel - kiddie ride Bugs Bunny Boomtown
Acme Trucking Co. Zamperla Convoy - kiddie truck ride. Originally known as Convoy Grande until 2015. Bugs Bunny Boomtown
Daffy Duck's Bucket Blasters 2016 Spinning flat ride where riders are equipped with water blasters Bugs Bunny Boomtown
Speedy Gonzales Speed Boats 2016 Spinning flat ride with riders in miniature speed boats Bugs Bunny Boomtown
Looney Tunes Adventure Camp 2010 Moved from Whistlestop Park to Bugs Bunny Boomtown in 2016. Originally known as Whistlestop Park Playground. Bugs Bunny Boomtown
Superman: Tower of Power 2016 Zamperla tower ride DC Super Friends
Batman Batcopters 2016 Spinning flat ride where riders can change the altitude of their vehicles during the ride DC Super Friends
Wonder Woman Flight School 2016 Larson Flying Scooters DC Super Friends

Pay-per-ride attractions

Ride Name Year Opened Manufacturer/Ride Type Current Location
Sky Coaster 1996 Skycoaster Cotton States
Goldtown Racer 1999 J & J Amusements go-karts Lickskillet

Timeline

Incidents

Over the years, a number of incidents have occurred at the park, including some fatalities. Batman The Ride has been the scene of two fatal incidents nearly identical in nature, where individuals were underneath the attraction while it was operational and were struck and killed by the train itself or by the riders' exposed legs.

Portions of Six Flags Over Georgia lie within the flood plain of the Chattahoochee River, which has caused occasional problems whenever the river overflows its banks. Most recently, in September 2009, the park suffered severe flooding, as did much of the surrounding area. The bulk of the flooding occurred during the week, at a point in the season when the park was closed on weekdays. The park managed to clean up the damage and open as normal the following weekend.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Six Flags - Investor Relations - SEC Filings". Investors.sixflags.com. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  2. ↑ "Contact Us". Six Flags. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
  3. ↑ "Six Flags 2010 Annual Report". p. 8. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  4. ↑
    • O'Brien, Tim (1996). The Essential Guide to Six Flags Theme Parks. Birmingham, Alabama: Oxmoor House, Inc. ISBN 0-8487-1247-1.
  5. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (25 November 2010). "Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers". LA Times. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Kids' Rides: Six Flags Over Georgia". Sixflags.com. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  7. ↑ "New for 2014". August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ Six Flags Magic Mountain (April 28, 2014). "Six Flags Over Georgia's Holiday in the Park". Six Flags. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 Tom Kelley (August 28, 2014). "Thrills times three: Six Flags gets ready for 2015". accessatlanta.com. Cox Newspapers. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Poole, Shelia (June 16, 2016). "Say goodbye to the Dodge City Bumper Cars ride at Six Flags". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Dare Devil Dive". Six Flags. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  12. ↑ "Railway Preservation News • View topic - Six Flags Over Georgia".
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Six flags Ride Information Pamphlet 1984
  14. ↑ "Amusement & Theme Parks".
  15. ↑ "Six Flags Over Georgia Newsroom". Theme Park.
  16. ↑ Six Flags Over Georgia (February 23, 2012). "Remove Whistlestop Train...". Facebook. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Monster Mansion". www.sixflags.com. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  18. ↑ "Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags White Water Announce New Thrills for 2013" (PDF). SixFlags.com. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  19. ↑ J. Scott Trubey (August 29, 2013). "Six Flags to add water park". ajc.com. Cox Newspapers. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  20. ↑ Tom Kelley (September 3, 2015). "Six Flags Over Georgia plans new family-friendly rides for 2016". ajc.com. Cox Newspapers. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  21. ↑ Kristi E. Swartz (2009-09-23). "Six Flags still hopes to open this weekend, will make decision before Saturday". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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