Six Flags Over Texas opened this weekend for its 65th anniversary. The park in Arlington has updated several rides and attractions; the newest ride, "Tormenta: Rampaging Run" will open later this year.
"This year is special, and it's not just because of the milestone," Park Manager Mark Boyer told the crowd just before Six Flags Over Texas opened. "It's because of the tremendous work the team has completed over the past few months to bring a refreshed Six Flags to life."
Six Flags Over Texas typically does not have a winter off-season. This year, the park closed January 5 to make changes to rides and attractions.
"An opening day in Six Flags Over Texas history is actually rather rare," says Regional General Manager Jeff Siebert. "Most of our seasons are truly year-round, but this year, for our 65th anniversary, we actually took a brief pause so we could get more transformative work done in our park."
The park repaved its entry drive and set up pergolas to provide shade near the admission gates. Six Flags Over Texas also installed new pavers and bricks around the front entrance and added new signs and themes.
For rides, Mr. Freeze now has an updated entryway where people will pass by scenes and can be shot by the Freeze Gun. The line for Batman has also been enhanced.
Improvements have also been made to El Aserradero, the log flume; Runaway Mine Train; Silver Star Carousel; La Fiesta de las Tazas; Runaway Mountain; and Six Flags and Texas Railroad.
"Are you guys ready for our biggest and boldest season yet?" Siebert asked the crowd.
He also pointed out a roller coaster that is scheduled to open later this year. Tormenta Rampaging Run is expected to break six world records: tallest dive coaster at 309 feet, highest 95 degree "beyond vertical" drop at 285 feet, fastest dive at 87 miles an hour, highest "Immelman inversion" at 218 feet, tallest vertical loop at 179 feet and longest diver coaster at 4,199 feet.
"The biggest and best is looming over the skyline of Arlington, changing the great profile of the Metroplex and, of course, the largest attraction ever built in the great State of Texas," Siebert said.
"I've been coming since I was a kid, so this is kind of like me sharing my childhood with my own kids," one mom who had come with her husband and kids said. "I'm excited about the new rides. My boys are tall enough now so they can ride some of the bigger ones, and they're excited, too."
A dad from Tulsa says he wanted to make the drive with his kids for opening day since the weather has been warm and sunny.
"It's beautiful out here," he said.
"I like riding the rides with my brother and my dad," his daughter said. "I don't like the big rides, but I'll try them. It's kind of an experience to try it once."
Boyer, the park manager, says he enjoys hearing from adults who came as kids now bringing their own children.
"That's what we're here for. It's about making memories," he says. "For some folks, it might be one visit a summer, some might be once a week. Whatever that experience is, we want to make sure it's the best and magical."
Southern Palace Theater has also been upgraded with new seating, audio, lighting and interior design.
Six Flags Over Texas is also serving new items at concessions stands and bringing back popular items from last season. Smoked chicken wings were first featured during Holiday in Park and will be served all year.
The "Outlaw Dog" is a jalapeno and cheese sausage.
"It's got a nice, smooth creaminess on the inside from the cheese and then a good kick of heat from the jalapeno. Just enough to keep you wanting more," says Executive Chef Nico Vitale.
He says stands will continue serving brisket, chicken tenders and the "All American Burger."
"People have asked me if it's the same as Johnny Rockets. No it is not the same. I think it beats Johnny Rockets by far," Vitale says.
He says the hand-dipped corn dogs are made at the park.
"We are spending the time to make that batter, a little bit of honey in it to make it sweet," he says. "We're hand-dipping them, frying them in-house."
Details about construction, improvements and passes at Six Flags Over Texas are available at https://www.sixflags.com/overtexas.