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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
1967: June 16 opening day. Rides included: Log Jamboree #1, The Astro Lifts (Von Roll sky way ride), Jean Ribaut's Adventure, Six Flags Railroad, Happy Motoring Freeway, Two Satellite (Trabant) rides (each flanking the entrance to the Krofft Puppet Theatre), Dahlonega Mine Train, the Tales of the Okefenokee, The Flying Jenny (A ride powered by a real mule named "Joe"), and the Hanson cars.
1968: Added the Lickskillet area which includes the Spindletop (rotor ride), the Wheel Burrow (Chance Tumbler), several craft shops and a shootout show performed on the street. Sky Buckets added between Confederate and Lickskillet sections making the second sky ride in the park. Log Jamboree gets a second flume (with a tunnel over the final plunge). Casa Loco tilt house is relocated outside the Spanish fort and renamed Casa Magnetica. The Horror Cave (haunted house) debuts inside the fort in the former location of the tilt house. Satellite Ride #1 (Trabant) moved behind #2 to the right side of the Krofft Puppet Theatre. Chevy Show Cinema is built (painted red) on the original site of Satellite #1.
1969: Added Sky Hook to USA section relocated from Six Flags over Texas. Added Yahoola Hooler.
1970: Chevy Show Cinema is painted blue. Wheel Burrow is removed from the Lickskillet section at the end of the season.
1971: The Drunken Barrels ride replaces The Wheel Burrow. The Flying Jenny is renamed Mule-Go-Round and moved in front of The Casa Magnetica.
1972: The Riverview Carousel is relocated from Riverview Park in Chicago added to a new area north of the Spanish section commonly referred to as Carousel Hill.
1973: Added the Cotton States Exposition area, featuring the Great American Scream Machine. Yahoola Hooler renamed Mini-Mine Train. The Dual Satellite Rides are removed at the end of the season.
1974: Added Phlying Phlurpus to Cotton States Exposition section. Mo-Mo Monster replaces Dual Satellite Rides. Mule-Go-Round is removed at the end of the season. The Krofft brothers exit the park at the end of the season.
1975 Happy Motoring Freeway removed at the end of the season. The Ferris Wheel, Gusano Contento (The Caterpiller), Regata De Botes (boat ride), rides and the Children's Theatre are added to the "Kiddie sub-section" of the Spanish Section. The American Pie Jamboree show moves into the Krofft Theatre.
1976: Added Great Gasp Parachute Ride on April 9 at a cost of 1.5 million dollars. Jumping Frijolies ride is added to the "Kiddie sub-section" of the Spanish Section. The Lickskillet Mill is added at the foot of the Lickskillet train trestle. The former Krofft theatre's exterior is remodeled adding a water feature along the outside walls and renamed "The Bicentennial Theatre".
1977: Added Wheelie (Schwarzkopf Enterprise) to U.S.A section in March at a cost of 1/2 million dollars. Removed Phlying Phlurpus & Sky Hook at the end of the season. Plaza De Toros (The Matador ride) is added to the "Kiddie sub-section" of the Spanish Section. The Matador Ride replaced the Fort Cannons where guests would fire wax cannonballs out of cannons in front of the fort at a model of another fort in the little stream that flowed in front of the fort. Part of the stream was partially filled in (with a small pedestrian bridge crossing the remaining part of the stream) to place this ride in the park. This allowed for a new pathway (going between The Matador and Jumping Frijolies rides) that tied the kiddie section into Carousel Hill. On this path a Puppet Show wagon (similar to the Buford Buzzard wagon) was added. The petting Zoo was altered removing the Pyramid structure from over the entrance way.
1978: Added Mind Bender at a cost of 2.5 million dollars. Mind Bender was designed by Anton Schwartzkopf of Musterhausen, West Germany (builder). The creator was W Stengel of Munich, Germany. "The World's only triple-loop rollercoaster is a one-of-a-kind thrill ride, each train, holding 28 passengers, catapults through 3 loops (two verticular) and travels up to 50 miles per hour. It has a "G" force of 5.4. Height of loops-56 linear feet and track length-3,370 linear feet. Weight of steel structure is 400,000 lbs. Length of ride 2 minutes 33 seconds". Mo-Mo The Monster ride is relocated to the former site of the Sky Hook.
1979: Added Highland Swings (Chance Yo-Yo). The Bicentennial Theatre is renamed the Contemporary Theatre.
1980: Added Jolly Roger's Island, a new pirate themed area featuring The Flying Dutchman pirate ship. The Flying Dutchman opened March 13 at a cost of 1/2 million dollars. It was designed by A.G. Giovanola Freres for Intamin AG, Zurich, Switzerland. The Dutchman traveled 86 feet through a 150 degree arc reaching a maximum height in swing of 66 feet. The ship was 46 foot long, 9 foot wide, and sat 50 guests with a ride time of 2 minutes.
1981: Jean Ribaut's Adventure riverboat ride is closed. The Tales of the Okefenokee is remodeled and renamed The Monster Plantation at a cost in excess of 3 million dollars. The ride was designed by Gary Goddard Productions of Los Angeles, CA and the technical side handled by AVG Productions of Valencia, CA. The original cable car ride, The Astro Lifts, that traveled from the Confederate to U.S.A. sections were removed at the end of the season.
1982: Added Thunder River, made by Intamin AG (in the area formerly occupied by Jean Ribaut's Adventure ride) at a cost of 4 million dollars. The design began in 1979 with the structure being done by Bernard Johnson, INC (Atlanta).
1983: Added Freefall in the spring. Ten stories tall, made by Intamin AG at a cost of 3.3 million dollars. Relocated Mo-Mo the Monster to Cotton States Exposition Section in the former spot of The Phlying Phlurpus. Six Flags was purchased by the video game manufacturer Bally, as a result the Spanish fort was turned into the Pac-Man Playfort. The playfort opened in March and was designed by Jack Pentes. It included Pipeline Crawl, Boppity Bags, Walk On Water, Ball Bath, King of the Mountain, and more. The cost was a half million dollars.
1984: Added The Great Six Flags Air Racer in the British section in the spring at a cost of 2 million (1984) dollars. This ride took riders to a height of 100 feet (the tower was 135 ft (41 m) tall). The 12 six passenger planes traveled at a mere 35 mph (56 km/h). It was an Intamin Super Racer ride. The length of the ride was 2 minutes 30 seconds. Hallmark's "Shirt Tales" characters are the park mascots for the season (apparently hanging in the next season as well even though the Looney Tunes start their takeover), as a result they move into the Character Theatre in the kiddie section. The Contemporary Theatre is renamed the Olympic Theatre.
1985: Added Looping Starship. The attraction was removed after the end of the season because it was on a ride rotation schedule with other Six Flags parks. Relocated Wheelie to the Lickskillet section on the former spot of the Drunken Barrels. Horror Cave is removed at the end of the season. Looney Tunes characters become the park mascots. As a result, the Pac-Man Playfort is renamed Yosemite Sam Playfort. The Olympic Theatre is renamed The Looney Tunes Theatre.
1986: Added Splashwater Falls, a "shoot-the-chutes"-style water ride. Due to a lightning strike SFOG temporarily replaced Mo-Mo The Monster with "The Great American Force", a trailer version of a Morgan Super Round-Up. It was removed before Halloweekends began, serving only 2–3 months in the park. As the Shirt Tales exited at the end of last season, the theatre is turned over to the Bill Clary Show.
1987: Mo-Mo The Monster was returned to the park. The Dahlonega Mine Train is refurbished by the O.D. Hopkins Corporation during the season. Bally sells its Six Flags interest to Wesray Capitol and a group of Six Flags managers (Wesray 80% and Managers 20%). Total sale 610 million dollars.
1988: Added Z-Force which is relocated from Six Flags Great America. Attraction opened late spring. The Mini-Mine Train is removed at the end of the season.
1989: Looping Starship is returned to the park in its original location. This was not the same exact ride but a sister ship. This ride was purchased from a park in Canada. The Convoy replaces the Mini-Mine Train.
1990: Added Georgia Cyclone. Hanson Cars (made by Arrow Dynamics) relocated to Carousel Hill. Log Flume #1 is removed at the end of the season.
1991: Ragin Rivers, a wet-dry waterslide tower, is added in place of Log Jamboree flume #1. Z-Force 'is removed and relocated to Six Flags Magic Mountain at the end of the season. Mo-Mo The Monster is removed at the end of the season.
1992: Added Ninja, relocated from Conko's Party Pier in New Jersey.
1993: Added Axis Arena. Initially home to a Batman-themed stunt show, the arena now hosts concerts and other events.
1994: Looney Tunes Land becomes Bugs Bunny World, renaming all the rides in the area and removing Road Runner Runaround.
1995: Added Viper, the former Tidal Wave from Six Flags Great America. Ultrazone indoor laser tag added to Jolly Rogers Island.
1996: Added Feerless Freep's Daredevil Dive (Skycoaster).
1997: Added Batman: The Ride. Jolly Roger's Island transforms into Gotham City, including a repaint for Mind Bender in green/black paint scheme to match the Riddler. Highland Swings and Flying Dutchman pirate ship removed. Black Friar restaurant becomes Whistlin' Dixie.
1998: Park entrance remodeled to become The Promenade. Back park entrance closes. Ragin' Rivers removed.
1999: Added Georgia Scorcher. Goldtown Racers (go-karts) added to former location of the park back entrance.
2000: The Great Six Flags Air Racer is removed at the end of the season.
2001: Added Acrophobia and Déjà Vu. Removal of Viper. Log Jamboree #2 renamed Deer Park Plunge. Tweety's Clubhouse added to Bugs Bunny World.
2002: Added Superman Ultimate Flight.
2003: Viper is relocated from storage to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom and renamed Greezed Lightnin'. Viper has now been cut-up and sold for scrap.
2004: A group of five family-style rides is added throughout the park, including the Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster roller coaster; Rockin' Tug; Up, Up & Away; The Gotham City Crime Wave & Shake, Rattle and Roll (in the former Chevy Show Cinema building) .
2005: Added Skull Island, a water-park play fort. Removal of Great Gasp and Looping Starship. Whistlin' Dixie restaurant becomes Panda Express.
2006: Added Goliath. Deer Park Plunge renamed Log Jamboree. Removal of Free Fall after end of season.
2007: Déjà Vu closed after the end of the season.
2008: Adds Thomas Town, based on Thomas the Tank Engine. Which was rethemed in 2011 as Whistlestop Park. Before 2012, Whistlestop Train was removed from the park. Tondee's Tavern becomes Johnny Rockets.
2009: Renovation of The Monster Plantation into The Monster Mansion, with new characters and storyline.
2010: Batman the Ride repainted cobalt blue with dark blue supports. Shake Rattle And Roll removed for installation of Dare Devil Dive. "Fearless Freeps Dare Devil Dive" is renamed the "Sky Coaster" to prevent confusion with the New Dare Devil Dive coaster planned for the following year.
2011: Adds Dare Devil Dive Euro-Fighter roller coaster.
2012: Wheelie removed at the end of the season.
2013: SkyScreamer, a 242-foot-tall swing ride, is added in place of the Wheelie. Six Flags removes the 'Southern Star Amphitheater' at the end of the season.
2014: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and Holiday in the Park added. Hurricane Harbor is a new water park area replacing the Southern Star Amphitheater and included with park admission. Hurricane Harbor will feature an 800,000 US gallons (3,000,000 l) wave pool and two slide towers, along with new dining facilities and the existing Skull Island complex. Hurricane Harbor represents the first phase of a multi-year expansion program for the park. Holiday in the Park is a new Christmas event that will extend the park's season through January.
2015: Improvements to Gotham City, including a pair of flat rides: "The Joker: Chaos Coaster", a Larson Giant Loop; and "Harley Quinn Spinsanity", a Tilt-A-Whirl.
2016: Bugs Bunny World re-themed into Bugs Bunny Boomtown. DC Super Friends area added adjacent to Boomtown. Combined 12 new and re-themed attractions. Toro Toro, Swing Seville and Little Aviator removed. Ninja repainted blue and gray and renamed Blue Hawk in June 2016. The Dodge City Bumper Cars attraction closes permanently on June 16, 2016.
2017: Justice League: Battle for Metropolis, an interactive dark ride adjacent to Superman Ultimate Flight, scheduled to open late May. Cotton States Exposition re-themed to Metropolis, with Great American Scream Machine and Blue Hawk roller coasters becoming part of Lickskillet.
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.
