Six Flags and Cedar Fair complete merger

[bcla]

Seems like when the city of Vallejo took ownership in late 1996 was when they added the trill rides, and moved away from the animals. That would be about the right time frame as my kids were 5 and 9 then, and within a few years there was little reason for us to go there. My son went a few times in high school with friends, but I don't think we went as a family after about 2000. I have some great pictures of my trip to the OLD location in Redwood City in the 1960's.

Yeah - I'd been to the original location in Redwood City several times, including one company picnic for my mom. We even went on a field trip there when I was in elementary school on the premise that it was "educational". I remember back then they had water slides. Might have been called Tiger Rapids or something similar.

I'd gone there once in the early 90s before they added thrill rides. They might have had some kiddie rides though. The lake was fine for the water ski show, but now that stadium is mostly unused. They had separate orca and dolphin shows. I'm pretty sure they brough Yakka and Vigga from the original park, although I think one eventually died and the other was moved out before they acquired another orca.

They still feature some animals, like the shark exhibit, the stingray pool, and the penguins. One corner is effectively a zoo. My kid got to pet a lion cub once, and we got to see them grow over two years. I think they still have giraffes, mountain lions, Mexican wolves, and butterflies. A lot of the animal exhbits are randomly located.

They used to have paid elephant rides, and the area they used for that is mostly just left there unused but still well manicured. I do remember once they used it for some sort of off-road experience with Toyota (a big sponsor) that was free, but required a reservation.

 

[tvguy]

Yeah - I'd been to the original location in Redwood City several times, including one company picnic for my mom. We even went on a field trip there when I was in elementary school on the premise that it was "educational". I remember back then they had water slides. Might have been called Tiger Rapids or something similar.

I'd gone there once in the early 90s before they added thrill rides. They might have had some kiddie rides though. The lake was fine for the water ski show, but now that stadium is mostly unused. They had separate orca and dolphin shows. I'm pretty sure they brough Yakka and Vigga from the original park, although I think one eventually died and the other was moved out before they acquired another orca.

They still feature some animals, like the shark exhibit, the stingray pool, and the penguins. One corner is effectively a zoo. My kid got to pet a lion cub once, and we got to see them grow over two years. I think they still have giraffes, mountain lions, Mexican wolves, and butterflies. A lot of the animal exhbits are randomly located.

They used to have paid elephant rides, and the area they used for that is mostly just left there unused but still well manicured. I do remember once they used it for some sort of off-road experience with Toyota (a big sponsor) that was free, but required a reservation.

Yeah, my wife and kids road the elephants. My son is 37 and still has his stuffed Yakka plush animal.

 

[bcla]

I will say the oddest experience there was Christmas 2020. We actually went on Christmas Day, but with COVID they were only having "The Marine World Experience" at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom starting around March 2020. For a few weeks they set up Christmas decorations around the park like they normally would, but this time it was completely by driving through in your own vehicle. It required a reservation, but we still had an active membership. I think there was an optional food purchase at the start.

I heard that Magic Mountain had a similar experience.

As far as the food goes, I also remember when we would go to a water park, followed by the theme park. And we might use up the maximum food, which was (per day) four meals and two snacks that could cost anywhere from $50-70 if we paid the regular price. A lot of the food wasn't that great, but it was OK and the leftovers could feed us for the next day at home. I think I even packed some of it for my kid's lunch to take to school. But I remember Johnny Rockets was available and probably had the best burger in in the Vallejo park. At the water park I remember when they had burgers on an outdoor gas grill and those were great. I saw what they were using - Schweid & Sons beef patties and Kings Hawaiian buns. We waited a long time for those, but it was an almost perfect cheeseburger. And when we went for chicken wings, they still had real bone-in wings and not little formed things they called "boneless wings". Also had some great items like a member-only event where we could use one regular meal for all you can eat burgers and hot dogs. Also one special time when they had Jamaican style jerk chicken for a few weeks.

I think some of the sponsorships changed though while I went to Six Flags regularly. They had a sponsorship with a condiment company called Red Gold, although they pretty much only provided ketchup. Any other condiment seemed to be from Sysco, including ketchup sometimes. And the snack chips were primarily Barcel (Takis), although it gave me pause when I saw a lot of Tais bags on shelves past the sell by date. They did eventually switch sponsoships to Heinz and Frito-Lay.

And some of the giveaways at the exit were crazy. I don't remember how many bags of Malteasers we got. Maybe Takis but sometimes I had a bag and they shoved a dozen small bags of them. And a local Dairy (Clover Sonoma) was literally giving half gallons of ice cream, and the three of us got one each where they were really soft by the time we got home.

But yeah I think they have to have all these promotions and sponsorships in order the stay in business.

 

[bcla]

Yeah, my wife and kids road the elephants. My son is 37 and still has his stuffed Yakka plush animal.

I think I went on the camel ride. Could have been the elephant ride though.

When I saw some elephant handlers there, I was a bit disturbed that they were using bullhooks back in the 90s for the elephants. I'd seen them used on vacation in Thailand at an elephant show. However, they justified using them claiming that the elephants couldn't feel a normal prod and it wasn't painful with their tough skin.

 

[gardenrooms]

Great America was state of the art when it opened, with top of the line rides. And I remember it was very, very clean. It had a an aeriel skyway very similar to what Disneyland had. They even had a real steam-powered railway and a dolphin show.

Still has the aerial skyway. They also had the first IMAX in the area. I was just there and impressed with how well maintained it was. I was afraid they were already going to be ignoring it, but it was very nice - nice plantings, clean, rides looked well maintained, pleasant employees. The only thing that needed some work was the cubbies where you leave your bags at the rides. I liked how they have one for each train and close it off so people can't walk off with your things. I was a little worried about that, bringing a small purse. But the doors didn't open too well for the staff on some. GoldStriker (another poster said he was looking forward to it) rattled my brains - I really enjoyed it when it was new, but I'm older now, and so is it. I was only a "youngster" of 64 when it opened 11 years ago. The newer RailBlazer was quite smooth. Really enjoyed it. Surprising air time. Back when Great America was built, there was NOTHING between it and Highway (now freeway) 237. You could see the Triple Wheel - long gone - from the road.

 

[gardenrooms]

I think I went on the camel ride. Could have been the elephant ride though.

When I saw some elephant handlers there, I was a bit disturbed that they were using bullhooks back in the 90s for the elephants. I'd seen them used on vacation in Thailand at an elephant show. However, they justified using them claiming that the elephants couldn't feel a normal prod and it wasn't painful with their tough skin.

I loved it when it was MarineWorld and was more about the animals. There was a lot of concern about how the ride noises would impact the animals, so that has somewhat limited what they have done ridewise. They had a lot more wildlife, including Orcas, and they had waterski shows.

 

[irlandaise]

I loved it when it was MarineWorld and was more about the animals. There was a lot of concern about how the ride noises would impact the animals, so that has somewhat limited what they have done ridewise. They had a lot more wildlife, including Orcas, and they had waterski shows.

And penguins! I knew someone who worked at the nearby radio station transmitter and discovered an escaped penguin one day.

 

[bcla]

I will say that when I had a Six Flags membership, the only time I'd used it outside our primary parks was one trip to Magic Mountain on the weekend after Christmas 2019. It was insane just trying to get in. I think we waited about 45 minutes just for a kiddie ride and more or less gave up on using our dining passes with lines that long. Might have gone on three total rides (including a carousel) and none of the featured rides like Twisted Colossus. Ended up going to Orange County for dinner anyways since we were going to Disneyland the next day. I was definitely a very different experience than back home where the rides might not be the greatest.

 

[tvguy]

I will say that when I had a Six Flags membership, the only time I'd used it outside our primary parks was one trip to Magic Mountain on the weekend after Christmas 2019. It was insane just trying to get in. I think we waited about 45 minutes just for a kiddie ride and more or less gave up on using our dining passes with lines that long. Might have gone on three total rides (including a carousel) and none of the featured rides like Twisted Colossus. Ended up going to Orange County for dinner anyways since we were going to Disneyland the next day. I was definitely a very different experience than back home where the rides might not be the greatest.

When I was in College two friends and I got up at 3 am to drive to Magic Mountain to make it there when it opened. Had a tire blow the exit before! Spent about 6 hours there before heading to Disneyland. Only time I have been to Magic Mountain. This would have been 1975-79. We used to go to Disneyland for 3 days, on a budget of $100 each. Stayed at the KOA, which is where the parking garage is now.

 

[SC Minnie]

We live about 2 miles from the park in Charlotte. It is technically split by the state line-- part in NC, part in SC. We haven't been to that park in prob 20 years.

 

[Moliphino]

There aren’t parks in Chicago, St.Louis, Atlanta, DC, or Baltimore either. They’re really playing loose with geography.

Not one in Springfield, MA, either. It's in Agawam.

 

[DodgerGirl]

I remember going to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington when I visited my godfather when I was a kid and I thought it was cool and I think Six Flags Over Texas copied Epcot's World Showcase because it had sections with Spain Mexico France and so on minus international employees and I can say that Six Flags Over Texas was better at entertainment because their shows were better than Disney Parks shows. When I went to Six Flags Over Texas the only show my family and godfather and I saw was the Batman Stunt Show and it was amazing and had neat special effects and I wondered why Disney doesn't do amazing entertainment like this. But I think what Six Flags was doing was planning an all DC Superheroes park because Warner Bros owns DC Comics and a DC Comics park would be smart for Six Flags to develop . But the only time I went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom when it was Marine World Africa USA in Vallejo I wasn't impressed with it and I can see why Six Flags brought Marine World Africa USA and changed it's name because they thought they could attract a new audience. But I think Cedar Fair will become the top amusement park chain in the world second to Disney Parks due to this merger

 

[RedAngie]

Six Flags St. Louis is in the St. Louis metro and St. Louis county but not the city of St. Louis

It appears that the only two major parks actually located within city limits are Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) and Worlds of Fun (Kansas City).

 

[irlandaise]

It appears that the only two major parks actually located within city limits are Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) and Worlds of Fun (Kansas City).

And California's Great America.

 

[bcla]

And California's Great America.

I think the subject is the previous Six Flags parks given way off location names, like San Francisco or Los Angeles, compared to being a long ways from the specific location. I know Magic Mountain is in unincorporated Valencia, but I think most of these parks are in cities.

 

[DodgerGirl]

I think I remember seeing the elephant rides at Marine World Africa USA when I went there when I was a kid and my cousin and I watched the elephant rides and I wondered how they did that by letting the people ride the elephants because I would think the elephants would get spooked at strange people riding them? I do remember buying myself a plush whale as a souvenir and I still have it with me and when I bought that whale it was scarce to find but my mom found it for me. Six Flags Fiesta Texas I have heard about because my aunt likes to take her grandchildren and her kids there and my aunt says it's a cool park. Is Cedar Fair gonna expand Six Flags Fiesta Texas now with this merger with more rides and new shows?

 

[gardenrooms]

I think I remember seeing the elephant rides at Marine World Africa USA when I went there when I was a kid and my cousin and I watched the elephant rides and I wondered how they did that by letting the people ride the elephants because I would think the elephants would get spooked at strange people riding them? I do remember buying myself a plush whale as a souvenir and I still have it with me and when I bought that whale it was scarce to find but my mom found it for me. Six Flags Fiesta Texas I have heard about because my aunt likes to take her grandchildren and her kids there and my aunt says it's a cool park. Is Cedar Fair gonna expand Six Flags Fiesta Texas now with this merger with more rides and new shows?

My DS and I both rode the elephants when he was young and he had a big Shouka (the orca when we went) stuffed toy, too. I know it is nice the world is a kinder place now so we can no longer have those but I do miss them. When I was a kid they had elephant rides at what was to become The Oakland Zoo (it was Knowland Park then). The elephant's name was Effie. I loved her. The animal encounters are still pretty fun imho, we've done several of those with our grandkids. When the boys were younger we had season passes one year. And I love feeding the giraffes. One year they had great entertainment scattered around the park - I remember a particularly enjoyable group from Africa who liked to interact with the guests. And one year, one night the older grandson got to light the Christmas Tree. Fun times.

 

[bcla]

I think I remember seeing the elephant rides at Marine World Africa USA when I went there when I was a kid and my cousin and I watched the elephant rides and I wondered how they did that by letting the people ride the elephants because I would think the elephants would get spooked at strange people riding them? I do remember buying myself a plush whale as a souvenir and I still have it with me and when I bought that whale it was scarce to find but my mom found it for me. Six Flags Fiesta Texas I have heard about because my aunt likes to take her grandchildren and her kids there and my aunt says it's a cool park. Is Cedar Fair gonna expand Six Flags Fiesta Texas now with this merger with more rides and new shows?

Asiatic Elephants are used as working animals and can be trained quite well. There is controversy over the use of bullhooks though.

 

[irlandaise]

It appears that the only two major parks actually located within city limits are Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) and Worlds of Fun (Kansas City).

And California's Great America.

I think the subject is the previous Six Flags parks given way off location names, like San Francisco or Los Angeles, compared to being a long ways from the specific location. I know Magic Mountain is in unincorporated Valencia, but I think most of these parks are in cities.

I thought the subject was all of the parks affected by these mergers, not just the ones currently owned by Six Flags.

 

[Planogirl]

I remember going to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington when I visited my godfather when I was a kid and I thought it was cool and I think Six Flags Over Texas copied Epcot's World Showcase because it had sections with Spain Mexico France and so on minus international employees and I can say that Six Flags Over Texas was better at entertainment because their shows were better than Disney Parks shows. When I went to Six Flags Over Texas the only show my family and godfather and I saw was the Batman Stunt Show and it was amazing and had neat special effects and I wondered why Disney doesn't do amazing entertainment like this. But I think what Six Flags was doing was planning an all DC Superheroes park because Warner Bros owns DC Comics and a DC Comics park would be smart for Six Flags to develop . But the only time I went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom when it was Marine World Africa USA in Vallejo I wasn't impressed with it and I can see why Six Flags brought Marine World Africa USA and changed it's name because they thought they could attract a new audience. But I think Cedar Fair will become the top amusement park chain in the world second to Disney Parks due to this merger

Actually Six Flags over Texas opened in 1961 and didn’t copy anyone. The different areas represent the different Flags that flew over Texas historically.