The largest amusement park operator in the country is going on a billion dollar spending spree to "redefine the park experience" with new roller coasters, thrill rides, family attractions and water slides.
Following this year's merger with Cedar Fair, the new Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is planning to invest more than $1 billion on rides, themed areas, dining upgrades and technology enhancements at its 42 amusement parks and water parks in North America over the next two years.
Plans include 11 new roller coasters, kids play areas, water rides, water park improvements, new seasonal events and a wide array of new food and beverage offerings.
With the investment, Six Flags will offer "unmatched thrills, immersive entertainment and lifelong memories to guests of all ages," said president and CEO Richard Zimmerman.
"The new Six Flags has a unique opportunity to refresh and renew the guest experience, one so compelling that a visit to one of our parks will be viewed as an indispensable choice in family entertainment," Zimmerman said in a statement.
Roller coasters to debut in 2025 include:
• Illinois' Six Flags Great America -- Wrath of Rakshasa
The steepest of any dive coaster in the world with a beyond-vertical, 171-foot drop. But the initial 96-degree drop is just the beginning as Wrath of Rakshasa reaches speeds up to 67 mph, shattering a second world record with five total inversions, the most of any dive coaster in the world.
• Canada's Wonderland -- AlpenFury
The tallest, fastest and longest launch coaster in Canada, blasting riders vertically 164 feet and through nine inversions – the most for any launch coaster in North America, at 71 mph, spanning 3,281 feet across the park.
• Massachusetts' Six Flags New England -- Quantum Accelerator
A multi-launch roller coaster, is set to be New England's first straddle coaster. Experience 11 moments of "airtime" while riding side-by-side on coaster cars designed as futuristic motor bikes.
• Virginia's Kings Dominion -- Rapterra
Standing at 145 feet tall and stretching 3,086 feet long, it's the world's tallest and longest launched wing coaster, filled with heights, speed and exhilarating maneuvers.
• North Carolina's Carowinds -- Snoopy's Racing Railway
This family-friendly steel launch coaster accelerates from 0 to 31 mph in seconds, with exciting dips and wild turns. Riders get double the fun as they race through the course twice.
• Six Flags Over Georgia -- Georgia Surfer
A first-of-its-kind attraction featuring the ultimate combination of a roller coaster and a water ride. Riders will launch forward and backward along nearly 590 feet of U-shaped track, reaching speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and hitting the ride's 144-foot peak before splashing down in a scenic splashing pad. Free-spinning seats ensure no two rides are alike.
• New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure -- Flash: Vertical Velocity
The first-of-its-kind super boomerang coaster in North America and only the second in the world. Launching both forward and backward, riders ascend a towering 172 feet before speeding off into micro gravity as they're turned upside down, nearly 100 feet off the ground, and zoom through a 180-degree twisted drop followed by a Zero-G roll that leads to the end of the track. But that's not the end -- the train then goes backwards to experience it all over again in reverse.
Three parks will get water park upgrades in 2025, including:
• Kings Island's Soak City Water Park in Ohio
RiverRacers, the first and only dual-racing water coaster in Ohio, sends riders down a three-story first drop, propels them uphill through a mirrored race course of enclosed and open tubes and 180-degree high-bank turns before hitting a gravity-defying final straightaway drop to the finish line pool below. The new Splash River Junction will also feature seven new kids water slides, a splash lagoon and parent oasis.
• Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles
A major transformation with comprehensive upgrades includes expanded shaded areas, seating, cabanas, and a wider range of amenities, along with colorful slide and structure refurbishments, added landscaping and upgraded food and beverage options and locations.
• Hurricane Harbor in Arlington, Texas
The largest expansion in water park history with a massive 58,000-square-foot, multi-level interactive kids play structure with 110 water features, seven water slides and a 1,000-gallon tipping water bucket. An additional seven-water-slide complex will include a mini-tornado water slide and mini wave slide, and a new self-play Splash Pad.
For 2026, the company plans to open four roller coasters, including:
• California's Six Flags Magic Mountain will debut a first-of-its-kind coaster in North America
• New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure will unveil a record-breaking launch coaster
• Six Flags Over Texas will unleash a record-breaking dive coaster
• Six Flags Mexico will introduce a family thrill boomerang coaster
Other investments for 2026 include:
• Illinois' Six Flags Great America will celebrate its 50th anniversary, debuting a new kids' area, commemorative events and park enhancements
• North Carolina's Carowinds will introduce a record-breaking water ride
• Canada's Wonderland will add a new record-breaking water attraction
• Ohio's Kings Island will introduce a new family thrill attraction
• Knott's Berry Farm Soak City in California will receive a water park refresh and aesthetic enhancements
The company said more information on these attractions and other investments will be shared by the individual parks as details and timetables are formalized.
Beyond new rides, Six Flags is spending more than $80 million of the overall two-year investment on food and beverage upgrades, including new restaurant concepts and improved menu offerings.
"This is an incredibly exciting time as we lay the foundation for growth for the new Six Flags and focus on what our team does best: make people happy by delivering the best possible experience and value to our guests each and every day," Zimmerman added.