History of Six Flags in Timeline

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world's largest regional theme park company, boasting 42 locations, including 27 amusement parks and 15 water parks, alongside nine resort properties. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, it was formed in July 2024 through a merger valued at US$8 billion between Cedar Fair and the former Six Flags company. Following the merger, Cedar Fair stockholders now hold a 51.2% majority stake in the newly combined entity. Despite the merger, the Six Flags name was retained, and the company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under Cedar Fair's original ticker symbol, FUN.

August 1961: Opening of Six Flags Over Texas

In August 1961, The Great Southwest Corporation opened Six Flags Over Texas, the original park in the Six Flags chain.

1978: Cedar Point Purchases Valleyfair

In 1978, the Cedar Point amusement park purchased the Valleyfair amusement park.

1983: Formation of Cedar Fair Limited Partnership

In 1983, Cedar Fair Limited Partnership was formed, derived from Cedar Point and Valleyfair.

1984: Acquisition of Great America and Looney Tunes rights

In 1984, Six Flags acquired Marriott Corporation's Great America theme park and obtained the rights to feature Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes animated characters at its properties.

April 29, 1987: Cedar Fair Goes Public

On April 29, 1987, Cedar Fair went public.

1993: Time Warner sole owner

From 1993, Time Warner (now Warner Bros. Discovery) was the sole owner of Six Flags.

1995: Time Warner sole owner

Until 1995, Time Warner (now Warner Bros. Discovery) was the sole owner of Six Flags.

1997: Acquisition of Knott's Berry Farm

In 1997, Cedar Fair acquired Knott's Berry Farm, gaining rights to use Peanuts intellectual properties.

April 1, 1998: Premier Parks Acquisition

On April 1, 1998, Premier Parks acquired Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. for $1.86 billion.

2000: Premier Parks Assumes Six Flags Brand

In 2000, Premier Parks fully assumed the Six Flags brand name, applying it to several of its existing properties.

2004: Asset Sales

In 2004, Six Flags sold off assets including its European parks and Worlds of Adventure due to growing debt.

2005: Red Zone gains control

In 2005, Daniel Snyder's Red Zone, LLC gained control of Six Flags' board of directors through a proxy battle.

2006: Acquisition of Paramount Parks

In 2006, Cedar Fair acquired all five Paramount Parks amusement parks for US$1.24 billion.

2006: Amusement Park Locations Sold

Throughout 2006, new management continued to sell off various American amusement park locations.

2007: Amusement Park Locations Sold

Throughout 2007, new management continued to sell off various American amusement park locations.

2008: Financial Crisis

In 2008, Six Flags was affected by the financial crisis and the Great Recession.

2009: Bankruptcy Filing

In 2009, Six Flags filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to the financial crisis, but continued to operate the parks.

2009: Apollo Global Management Takeover Attempt

In late 2009, Apollo Global Management announced plans to take over Cedar Fair and make it a private company.

May 3, 2010: Re-emergence as Six Flags Entertainment Corp.

On May 3, 2010, Six Flags re-emerged from bankruptcy as Six Flags Entertainment Corp., moving its headquarters to Grand Prairie, Texas.

August 13, 2010: Jim Reid-Anderson Appointed CEO

On August 13, 2010, Jim Reid-Anderson was appointed as chairman, president, and CEO of Six Flags.

2010: Takeover Derailed

In 2010, Cedar Fair's unitholders did not support the acquisition, which derailed the transaction with Apollo Global Management.

2014: Revival of Six Flags Dubai

In 2014, the previously cancelled Six Flags Dubai project was revived.

2018: Cancellation of Six Flags Dubai

In 2018, the Six Flags Dubai project was called off again.

2018: Original Announcement of Six Flags Qiddiya City

Six Flags Qiddiya City theme park was originally announced in 2018 under the former Six Flags company.

2019: Six Flags Acquisition Offer Rejected

In 2019, Six Flags approached Cedar Fair with a cash-and-stock acquisition offer, which was quickly rejected.

2019: Mike Spanos Succeeded Jim Reid-Anderson

In late 2019, Mike Spanos succeeded Jim Reid-Anderson as CEO of Six Flags.

2019: Unsuccessful Acquisition Offer for Cedar Fair

Roughly four years before the merger, Six Flags made an unsuccessful acquisition offer for Cedar Fair in 2019.

2020: COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered Six Flags' operations, forcing many parks to remain closed.

2021: Selim Bassoul Assumes CEO Role

In 2021, Mike Spanos stepped down as CEO, and chairman Selim Bassoul assumed the role.

June 27, 2022: Sale of California's Great America

On June 27, 2022, Cedar Fair sold California's Great America to Prologis for US$310 million.

November 2022: Abandonment of New Strategy

In November 2022, Six Flags abandoned a new strategy focusing on guest experience over capital investments after park attendance plummeted by 33%.

November 2, 2023: Merger Announcement

On November 2, 2023, Cedar Fair and Six Flags announced a merger, citing the need for financial stability and cost efficiency.

December 2023: Neuberger Berman Accusation

In December 2023, Neuberger Berman accused Cedar Fair and Six Flags of structuring the merger to disenfranchise Cedar Fair unitholders.

2023: Marilyn Spiegel Board Member

Marilyn Spiegel served as a board member since 2023 for both the former Six Flags company and current company.

January 22, 2024: DOJ Antitrust Review

On January 22, 2024, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an antitrust review process of the merger.

January 25, 2024: Mexican Federal Competition Commission Approval

On January 25, 2024, the Mexican Federal Competition Commission approved the merger.

March 12, 2024: Six Flags Shareholder Approval

On March 12, 2024, approximately 80% of Six Flags shareholders voted to approve the merger.

June 26, 2024: DOJ Approval

On June 26, 2024, the DOJ approved the merger between Cedar Fair and Six Flags.

July 1, 2024: Merger Completion

On July 1, 2024, the merger between Cedar Fair and Six Flags was completed.

July 2, 2024: New Entity Commences Trading

On July 2, 2024, the newly formed entity commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FUN, and the stocks for both Cedar Fair and the former Six Flags company ceased trading.

December 17, 2024: Filing with SEC

On December 17, 2024, Six Flags filed plans with the SEC to acquire the remaining limited partnership units of Six Flags Over Georgia, Hurricane Harbor Atlanta, and Six Flags White Water by January 12, 2027.

2024: Merger of Cedar Fair and Six Flags

In 2024, Cedar Fair and Six Flags merged to form Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. This merger created the largest regional amusement park company in North America, hosting 50.3 million guests in 2024.

May 1, 2025: Closure Announcement of Six Flags America

On May 1, 2025, Six Flags announced it would permanently close the Six Flags America theme park and Hurricane Harbor Maryland.

May 2025: Workforce Reduction

In late-May 2025, Six Flags announced plans to reduce 10% of its full-time employees, approximately 500 employees, including eliminating the park president role at all of its amusement parks.

August 6, 2025: Zimmerman to step down

On August 6, 2025, Six Flags announced that Richard Zimmerman, president and CEO of the company, would step down.

September 6, 2025: Hurricane Harbor Maryland Closure

Hurricane Harbor Maryland closed on September 6, 2025.

October 10, 2025: Bassoul to step down

On October 10, 2025, it was announced that Selim Bassoul, executive chairman, would step down by the end of 2025, but would stay to consult for the upcoming Six Flags Qiddiya City.

November 2, 2025: Six Flags America Closure

Six Flags America closed on November 2, 2025.

December 8, 2025: John Reilly Assumes CEO Position

On December 8, 2025, John Reilly assumed the president and CEO position, replacing Zimmerman.

2025: Institutional Investors

As of 2025, the largest investors in the company were BlackRock (15.16%), The Vanguard Group (9.41%), and Morgan Stanley (9.34%).

December 31, 2025: Six Flags Qiddiya City Opens

Six Flags Qiddiya City opened on December 31, 2025.

January 1, 2026: Marilyn Spiegel Appointed Non-Executive Chair

On January 1, 2026, Marilyn Spiegel replaced Bassoul as a non-executive chair.

January 5, 2026: No Intention to Acquire Remaining Stake

On January 5, 2026, the company announced that it did not intend to acquire its remaining stake in Six Flags Over Texas.

January 2026: Six Flags parks transition to Cedar Fair's Fast Lane system

In January 2026, following the 2024 merger, all legacy Six Flags parks transitioned to Cedar Fair's Fast Lane system, replacing the virtual queuing system The Flash Pass.

January 2026: Properties Operated

As of January 2026, Six Flags operates 42 properties: 27 amusement parks and 15 separately gated water parks, with nine on-site resorts.

January 12, 2027: Target Date for Increased Ownership

Six Flags aims to acquire the remaining limited partnership units of Six Flags Over Georgia, Hurricane Harbor Atlanta, and Six Flags White Water by January 12, 2027, increasing ownership from 31.5% to full ownership.