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Six Flags Great America

Amusement park in Illinois, USA
Six Flags Great America
Gurnee, Illinois, USA
Status
Opened
May 29, 1976
Area
123 acres (49.8 hectares)
History
Six Flags Great America
1985 - present
Marriott's Great America
1976 - 1984
1985 - present
Marriott Corporation
1976 - 1984

Six Flags Great America, originally known as Marriott's Great America, is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois, USA. As of 2024, the park has nine themed sections, a 20-acre (65,000 m²) water park, three specially themed children's areas, and various other forms of entertainment.

History

The park opened on May 29, 1976. A near-identical sister park of the same name (now known as California's Great America) in Santa Clara, California, USA opened earlier in the month.[1]

Six Flags purchased the Illinois park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984.[1]

While Six Flags Great America was closed for the entire 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hurricane Harbor operated that year.[2] The dry park then reopened on April 24, 2021.[3]

Roller coasters

View of most of the park as of pre-2022.

Upcoming

Name Manufacturer Type Opening
Wrath of Rakshasa Bolliger & Mabillard Dive 2025

Present (15)

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Status
American Eagle Intamin Wooden
Twin
May 23, 1981 Operating
Batman The Ride Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted May 9, 1992 Operating
Demon Arrow Development Sit-Down May 29, 1976 Operating
Flash: Vertical Velocity Intamin Launched
Inverted
Shuttle
May 18, 2001 Operating
Goliath Rocky Mountain Construction Wooden June 19, 2014 Operating
Joker S&S Worldwide 4th Dimension
Winged
May 27, 2017 Operating
Little Dipper Philadelphia Toboggan Company Wooden
Family
May 27, 2010 Operating
Maxx Force S&S Worldwide Launched July 4, 2019 Operating
Raging Bull Bolliger & Mabillard Hyper May 1, 1999 Operating
Sprocket Rockets Vekoma Sit-Down 1998 Operating
Superman Ultimate Flight Bolliger & Mabillard Flying May 3, 2003 Operating
The Dark Knight Coaster Mack Rides Wild Mouse
Enclosed
May 21, 2008 Operating
Viper Six Flags Wooden April 29, 1995 Operating
Whizzer Schwarzkopf Sit-Down 1976 Operating
X-Flight Bolliger & Mabillard Winged May 16, 2012 Operating

Past (8)

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Déjà Vu Vekoma Inverted
Shuttle
October 7, 2001 October 28, 2007 Relocated to Silverwood Theme Park
Gulf Coaster Bradley & Kaye Kiddie 1976 1976 Unknown
Iron Wolf Bolliger & Mabillard Stand-Up April 28, 1990 September 5, 2011 Relocated to Six Flags America
Ragin' Cajun Zamperla Spinning
Wild Mouse
May 28, 2004 October 27, 2013 Relocated to Six Flags America
Rolling Thunder Intamin Bobsled 1989 1995 Relocated to Great Escape
ShockWave Arrow Dynamics Sit-Down June 3, 1988 2002 Scrapped
Tidal Wave Schwarzkopf Launched
Shuttle
May 6, 1978 1991 Relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia
Z-Force Intamin Sit-Down July 10, 1985 1987 Relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia

Attractions

Operating

Name Manufacturer Type Opened
Aquaman Splashdown Arrow Development Log Flume 1976
Big Easy Balloons Zamperla Balloon Race 2004
Bouncer Zamperla Junior Drop Tower 2007
Chubasco Zamperla Teacups 1996
Columbia Carousel Chance Rides Carousel 1976
Condor HUSS Condor 1991
Crazy Bus Zamperla Crazy Bus 1998
DC Super Villains Swing Zierer Waveswinger 1976
Fiddler's Fling Schwarzkopf Calypso 1976
Giant Drop Intamin Drop Tower 1997
Hometown Fun Machine Eli Bridge Company Scrambler 1976
Justice League: Battle for Metropolis Oceaneering Entertainment Systems Tracked Dark Ride 2016
Krazy Kars Zamperla Track Ride 2007
Krazy Kups Zamperla Junior Teacups 2007
Lady Bugs Modern Products Roundabout 1976
Lobster Schwarzkopf Polyp 1976
Logger's Run Arrow Development Log Flume 1976
Red Baron Chance Rides Junior Jets 1976
Ricochet HUSS Ramba Zamba/Swingaround 1977
River Rocker Zamperla Pirate Ship 1996
Roaring Rapids Intamin River Rapids 1984
Rue Le Dodge Soli Dodgems 1976
Scenic Railway G.E. Custom Fabricators Miniature Railway 1976
Sky Striker Zamperla Frisbee 2024
Sky Trek Tower Intamin Observation Tower 1977
Tot's Livery Carousels USA Roundabout 1976
Triple Play HUSS Troika 1976
Up, Up & Away Zamperla Balloon Tower 2007
Winner's Circle Go Karts J&J Amusements Go-Karts 1999
Yahoo River Theel Brothers Manufacturing Roundabout 1976
ZoomJets Zamperla Jets 2007

Closed

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Bottoms Up Chance Rides Trabant 1976 1983 Unknown
Buccaneer Battle Mack Rides Splash Battle 2009 2021 Scrapped
Cajun Cliffhanger Chance Rides Rotor 1976 2000 Scrapped
Dare Devil Dive Sky Fun 1 Inc. Skycoaster 1997 2023 Stored in Employee Parking Lot
Davey Jones Dinghies Intamin Flying Dutchman 1977 1982 Unknown
Delta Flyer Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve 1976 1990 Scrapped
Edge Intamin Freefall 1983 1986 Relocated to Rocky Point Park
Great America Raceway Arrow Development Track Ride 1976 2010 Scrapped
Jester's Wild Ride Zamperla Rockin' Tug 2004 2016 Relocated to Six Flags Mexico
King Chaos HUSS Top Spin 2004 2017 Stored in boneyard, later relocated to Indiana Beach
Mardi Gras Hangover Larson International Super Loop 2018 2023 Relocated to Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World
Orbit Schwarzkopf Enterprise 1976 2016 Scrapped
Power Dive Intamin Ranger 1987 2001 Scrapped
Revolution HUSS Frisbee 2004 2023 Relocated to Niagara Amusement Park and Splash World
Sky Whirl Waagner-Biro Triple-Wheel 1976 2000 Scrapped
Splashwater Falls Hopkins Shoot The Chute 1986 2007 Scrapped
Trailblazer Zamperla Rainbow 1996 2006 Scrapped
Eagle's Flight Von Roll Cableway 1976 1984 Cars relocated to Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Over Georgia[4]
Southern Cross Von Roll Cableway 1977 1983 or earlier[5] Cars relocated to Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Over Georgia[6]

Non-ride attractions

Sky Trail

Sky Trail was a ropes course which operated from 2010 to 2014.

Themed Sections (Work In Progress)

Section Description
Carousel Plaza Carousel Plaza is the first section of the park that all guests walk into through the main entrance. To the left is the building for Guest Relation Services, allowing easy access to any new guests of the park.

In the middle of the section, and the main part of Carousel Plaza. Is a wide, long pool of water with trees on the left and right side. At the end of the pool is the iconic Colombia Carousel, the world record breaking tallest carousel along with its sister the Carousel Colombia. The Colombia Carousel opened with the park in 1976, and is regarded by the guests and workers to be one of the main sights of the park.

Other notable places of Carousel Plaza are the entrance to the attraction Sky Trek Tower, yet another iconic sight of the park, which offers riders a wide view of the park. The entrance of Maxx Force is also notable, as it is the fastest roller coaster in the United States of America in terms of acceleration.

To the left and right past the pool are gift shops, and to the left are restrooms, baby strollers for rent, and lockers to store personal belongings during a guests' visit at the park.

Hometown Square Hometown Square is primarily entered through the right of Carousel Plaza. As the name suggests, Hometown Square is themed around the idea of being a town square. Because of this the buildings in this area are designed similar to buildings in a town square or downtown area.

Many notable buildings are located in this area, such as the Flash Pass headquarters, a first aid building for injuries, a theater used for live performances such as dancing or plays, and a large building from where floats for parades in the park emerge from. In the middle of Hometown Square is an open area where cartoon characters from Looney Tunes are often able to be seen and greeted.


Notable rides and attractions are plenty in this area, this is because every ride and attraction located in Hometown Square has been operating since the park first opened. A notable attraction is Whizzer, the last remaining Speed-racer coaster in the United States of America, and an ACE historical coaster landmark. Another is the Scenic Railway, which takes riders on a slow moving train throughout the entire park. There is also a sub-section of Hometown Square themed to kids by the name of Hometown Park. Hometown park contains three kiddie rides.

Southwest Territory Southwest Territory is located in the eastern part of the park and is primarily entered through the top right part Hometown Square. Southwest Territory is a frontier themed section of the park, with the design of buildings that of western architecture in media, related to things such as the genre of Wild West.

Notable buildings include the gift shop El Mercado, which is a building that guests who've just ridden Viper exit from. Another notable building is located in the middle of Southwest Territory, and is a large bell tower building with a courtyard, where the attraction Chubasco is located.


Notable rides are the wooden-coaster Viper, built to be a larger, smoother, and more exciting version than Cyclone at Luna Park. Viper's entrance is also directly located to the park entrance of Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Chicago. Another notable ride is Raging Bull, which since it's opening in May 1st, 1999, it has been the tallest and longest roller coaster in the park. Holding those titles, and being unique in going underground makes it the main point of interest of Southwest Territory.

Metropolis Plaza Metropolis Plaza is primarily entered through the top of Southwest Territory. Metropolis Plaza is themed after the fictional city of Metropolis in D.C. Comics. However the size of the section limits the theme, as it is the smallest themed section of the entire park. Looking at the official park map there are only two points of any interest in the entire section.

The main point of interest it the ride Justice League: Battle for Metropolis, BoM (Battle for Metropolis shortened for convenience) Is an interactive dark ride that shares it's model across multiple Six flags parks. The ride replaced the Southwest Amphitheater in 2016 for the parks 40th anniversary, and is the reason the Metropolis Plaza section of the park exists. The only other point of any interest in the entire section is a Dippin' Dots stand for guests to enjoy the frozen dessert.

County Fair W.I.P.
Yukon Territory W.I.P.
DC Universe W.I.P.
Mardi Gras W.I.P.
Orleans Place W.I.P.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Six Flags Great America - Part 1: Marriott in the Midwest". Themerica. 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  2. "Hurricane Harbor opens in Gurnee with coronavirus measures in place".
  3. "They're back! Six Flags Great America opens April 24 and Hurricane Harbor opens May 29".
  4. "Sky Ride At Six Flags Great Adventure". GreatAdventureHistory.com. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  5. "DELTA FLYER / EAGLE'S FLIGHT". Great America Parks. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  6. "Sky Ride At Six Flags Great Adventure". GreatAdventureHistory.com. Retrieved 2022-01-02.

External links


Amusement parks operated by Six Flags