Need honest review of Six Flags - America in MD

[Tigger&Belle]

Here's the article that I mentioned from the Washington Post. I'm not sure how long the article is available online. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/07/AR2006040701875.html

 

[DaisyD]

For those of you who are out-of-towners, Six Flags America is located right smack dab in the middle of a suburb of Washington D.C. It is not far outside of the city (maybe 20 minutes). It is also right in Prince George's County which has long held the notorious title of being the crime epicenter of the Maryland area.

Whoever it was who said that they are busing in "inner city" kids. I doubt that. The kids come right from the surrounding neighborhoods. I used to live in P.G. County and it would really take an act of Congress to get me back there. Hate the place.

Anyway, I remember when Six Flags America used to be "Lion Country Safari" back in the 70s. It was an animal park that you could drive your car through--much like the Kilamanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom. It then went out of business and went through a couple iterations of privately owned theme parks--I can't even remember the names. About 12 years ago, I think, it was bought by Six Flags. I think that has always been part of it's problem--it never started out as a Six Flags-designed park. That and the crappy neighborhood that it's in.

They are busing in kids from the inner city. My uncle owns a major bus compnany and he buses them in all weekend and and most weekdays. They just mix in with the other riffraff that live nearby. The place is bad. I've been there in the last year and it just gets worse. One gang kicked the side of my van in while we waited to leave. We got the police involved but of course no one saw a thing. I would stay far far away from that place. I loved it it was Key Largo animal safari.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We were there a few years ago and vowed never to return. It was dirty and it was not a family atmosphere at all. Groups of teens were running wild everywhere. We got in for free with passes from AOL, and we still thought that it was not worth the price of parking and food. We had no big expectations (Read: We *know* it's not Disney) and we were disappointed.

Although it's more of a drive, we really enjoy Hershey Park. It is much cleaner than Six Flags and has more of a family atmosphere. Dutch Wonderland is great for younger kids. We also like Knoebels, but that's even more of a drive than Hershey and almost requires an overnight stay.

Given a choice of "local" parks, I'd go for Hershey. No contest.

 

[NC Belle]

Anyway, I remember when Six Flags America used to be "Lion Country Safari" back in the 70s. It was an animal park that you could drive your car through--much like the Kilamanjaro Safari in Animal Kingdom. It then went out of business and went through a couple iterations of privately owned theme parks--I can't even remember the names. About 12 years ago, I think, it was bought by Six Flags. I think that has always been part of it's problem--it never started out as a Six Flags-designed park. That and the crappy neighborhood that it's in.

The park used to be Wild World in the 80s then it became Adventure World. When I lived in MD and VA...my favorite parks were Kings Dominion and Hershey Park.

 

[daisyduck123]

Six Flags, Largo Maryland....so gross it's almost indescribable...a teacher I work with went about 5 years ago...when I asked her about it once, the 1st thing she remembered were the "extensions". You know, the long extensions some people wear in their hair...we'll evidently water slides & hair extensions don't mix. The extensions were lying all over the place..the ground, floating in pools, etc. GROSS!

I used to go to the Animal Kingdom park there back in the 70's...I only lived 10 minutes from it....don't live there anymore.... That was then...I haven't driven thru that area (Largo, etc. in over 10 years)...I do read about it in the paper everyday....the CRIME section of the paper. (And I'm not kidding).

 

[geffric]

We were at the Six Flags outside of DC last summer and ti was very run down and a lot of rides were not working. It was a very unpleasant experience. We have six flags annual passes and so we can go to any six flags in the us with them. We got to the Six Flags in Gurnee Ill ( outside of Chi) all of the time and it is not Disney but the coasters are fun. We went to the Six Flags in St L=ouis last year and it was dirtier than the one in Chicago but the rides worked and it was fun. But the one in maryland.. we only stayed 2 hours it was so bad...

 

[tmt martins]

Small trip report Arrived at 11:30 on Sat 4-15.


1.Is it SAFE > Yes if not I would not have stayed with my DD12 as she is my one and only as well as my last (thanks DOC )

2.Did They Disney it >well at least they tried .

3.We had a great day weather wise

4.Rides most up and running (superman went down & skull mt.)Train never runs except for private parties.

5. No crowd at all but still long waits as they only had 1 car running at most places and they just don't have the getem on getem off thing down.

6.CM's yes definite change most happy 45th welcome and so forth (we will see as it gets buzier)

7.Non Cm's were everywhere even doing some video of things asking questions.

8.It was clean but not Disney clean 20 years of gum doesn't come out over night.

9 Food better ,Papa johns pizza, Subway ,Panda Express,Still cost but this is everywhere so we don't mind paying.

10 I will end on this as we left DD said "Thanks Mom & DAD I had a great time" with only 1 souvie (Fairy Dust necklace) You just can't beat that.

If weather holds we will be going back Monday.Just me & DD

 

[Christine]

Small trip report Arrived at 11:30 on Sat 4-15.


1.Is it SAFE > Yes if not I would not have stayed with my DD12 as she is my one and only as well as my last (thanks DOC )

2.Did They Disney it >well at least they tried .

3.We had a great day weather wise

4.Rides most up and running (superman went down & skull mt.)Train never runs except for private parties.

5. No crowd at all but still long waits as they only had 1 car running at most places and they just don't have the getem on getem off thing down.

6.CM's yes definite change most happy 45th welcome and so forth (we will see as it gets buzier)

7.Non Cm's were everywhere even doing some video of things asking questions.

8.It was clean but not Disney clean 20 years of gum doesn't come out over night.

9 Food better ,Papa johns pizza, Subway ,Panda Express,Still cost but this is everywhere so we don't mind paying.

10 I will end on this as we left DD said "Thanks Mom & DAD I had a great time" with only 1 souvie (Fairy Dust necklace) You just can't beat that.

If weather holds we will be going back Monday.Just me & DD

Thanks. Glad to hear it. As I said, my DS is going there for a band trip on May 12th and I had sort of wished they had just gone to King's Dominion. But maybe the place has improved.