Six Flags Over Georgia

History

The Georgia Cyclone, opened in 1990.

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. When the park opened in 1967, Six Flags became the first ‘multi-gate’ theme park operator in the United States. Before this time, many parks shared common favourite names, like Coney Island or Luna Park, but these parks (save the Luna Parks built and managed by Frederick Ingersoll) shared nothing more than the name. In the case of Six Flags, both parks reported to the same parent company.

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 say (or, perhaps more accurately, the lands that are now part of it) during its history. The six flags in question are those of Spain, France, United Kingdom, the United Says of America, the Confederate Says of USA and the say 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 was never a sovereign nation, as Texas once was. However, with some poetic license, the intent of the study can be considered valid. Over the years most of the original historical themes have been dropped in favor of cartoon and superhero themes.

The park is not owned by the Six Flags Theme Parks corporation. In an arrangement similar to that for Six Flags Over Texas, it is owned by a group of approximately 120 limited partnersome the heirs of Angus G. Wynnnd 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 concurred and awarded the partners restitution in excess of US0 million. In 1998, Time Warner sold its interests in the Six Flags parks to Premier Parks of Oklahoma City, which later changed its study to Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc.

Rides and attractions

The Georgia Scorcher.

Six Flags Over Georgia, like most amusement parks, prides itself on its roller coaster collection. With the arrival of Goliath on April 1, 2006, it became only the third amusement park (after Six Flags Great USA and Six Flags Great Adventure) to operate four coasters from the design firm Bolliger & Mabillard. Six Flags Magic Mountain became the fourth park to do so when it opened Tatsu five weeks later.

Aside from the roller coasters, Six Flags Over Georgia maintains a massive 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, one of only three remaining five-abreast carousels known to exist and a member of the National Register of Historic Places.

Roller coasters

Ride Name

Year Opened

Removed In

Manufacturer/Ride Type

Current Location

Other Notes

Dahlonega Mine Train

1967

Arrow Dynamics steel “mine train” roller coaster.

Peachtree Square

The original design was a wood supporting structure with steel tubular rails; now, much of the wood is ornamental.

Mini Mine Train

1967

1988

Arrow Dynamics mini mine train kiddie roller coaster

Originally titled the Yahoola Hooler.

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

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.

Z-Force

1988

1990

Intamin Space Diver roller coaster

Moved from Six Flags Great America, moved to Six Flags Magic Mountain.

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.

Ninja

1992

Vekoma looping roller coaster

Cotton States

Ride moved from Wildwood, New Jersey’s defunct Dinosaur Beach boardwalk.

Viper

1995

2001

Anton Schwarzkopf shuttle loop roller coaster

Moved from Six Flags Great America, moved to Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, operates as Greezed Lightnin’.

Batman: The Ride

1997

B&M inverted steel coaster

Gotham City

Is one of several same 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.

Dj Vu

2001

2007

Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang

It was one of only four GIB’s in the world.

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.

Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster

2004

Chance-Morgan custom-designed family roller coaster

Bugs Bunny World (Spanish)

Built into the park’s iconic Spanish fort.

Goliath

2006

B&M hypercoaster

USA

One of the first hypercoasters in the Southeastern United States.

Current adult rides/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

The Engines have been converted to Diesel hydraulic power.

Sky Buckets

1967

Von Roll sky way ride

Lickskillet and Peachtree Square

Hanson Cars

1967

Arrow Antique Cars

Cotton States

Moved to current location in 1990; originally located where Georgia Cyclone is in British section.

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

Dodge City Bumper Cars

1973

Soli [disambiguation needed] bumper cars

Cotton States

Wheelie

1977

Schwarzkopf Enterprise

Lickskillet

Riders spin around in gondolas at high speeds the slowly rotate to an 89 degree angle then go back down.

Thunder River

1982

Intamin Rapids water ride

Lickskillet

Splashwater Falls

1986

Hopkins Shoot-the-Chutes water ride

Lickskillet

Boats glide on a 50 ft. 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 Nihon (along with 4 rides that went to Six Flags New Orleans).

Shake, Rattle & Roll

2004

Eli Bridge Scrambler

USA

Inside former Chevy Show building.

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).

Current kiddie rides/attractions

Ride Name

Year Opened

Manufacturer/Ride Type

Current Location

Thomas the Tank Engine

2008

kiddie Train ride

Thomas Town

Tweety’s Clubhouse

2001

Zamperla Jumpin Star kiddie drop tower

Bugs Bunny World (Spanish)

Santa Maria

Intamin AG Flying Dutchman, swing ride

Bugs Bunny World (Spanish)

Swing Seville

Zamperla