Six Flags New England
Encyclopedia
Six Flags New England formerly Riverside Amusement Park, is a Six Flags
theme park, named for the New England
region, in which it is located. Located off of Massachusetts State Route 159, Six Flags New England is located less than 3 miles (4.8 km) from the major City of Springfield, Massachusetts
, in the nearby town of Agawam, Massachusetts
. Six Flags New England is less than a mile from the Connecticut
border, making it very popular with Connecticut residents as well as Massachusetts residents. Like most Six Flags parks, SFNE consists of a theme park and a water park. Technically speaking, it's the oldest of the Six Flags parks, though it did not originally open as such. It is, by far, the largest amusement park in New England
.
Edward Carroll Sr. purchased the abandoned park in 1939 and after making improvements, reopened Riverside Park on May 29, 1940. Carroll is credit with rescuing Riverside and turning it into the largest theme park in New England. He purchased the plans and cars of the 1939 New York World's Fair Cyclone Roller Coaster and opened a new coaster in 1941. That coaster, now known as Thunderbolt, is currently operating at the park, and is the oldest coaster within the Six Flags Chain of theme parks. Carroll built the Riverside Park Speedway
in 1948, replacing an open air bandstand. Edward Carroll Sr. took a liking to auto racing, a sport that was gaining popularity in the Northeast after World War II
, and added it to his slate of attractions at Riverside.
The park continued to add new rides and removed some older ones. The theater and bowling alley were removed in the late 1950s, making Riverside Park a seasonal attraction. The 1960s was a popular period for stock car racing at Riverside Park. NASCAR
began to hold events at Riverside Park Speedway in 1976. The winner of the first NASCAR-organized event at Riverside was Bob Polverari.
In 1977, Riverside Park added its first looping roller coaster, The Loop Coaster, later known as Black Widow. The park continued to be a successful park throughout the 1970s, and a log flume ride was added in that period. By the 1980s, the park stopped selling individual ride tickets and began charging a "pay one price" admission. In 1983, Riverside Park added its third roller coaster, which was also the park's second wooden coaster. The owners originally wanted a coaster exactly like the Coney Island Cyclone
, but space was limited, so the coaster would need to take up less space and would have sharp twists and turns. It became known as the Riverside Cyclone
.
In 1987, Riverside attempted to build a white water rafting ride called the Lost River Water Ride. Plagued with problems, the attraction never opened and was subsequently abandoned. A majority of the ride was demolished in 1989 to make way for Wild River Falls, a waterslide complex consisting of three sets of slides: Riptide, Blue Lightning, and Pipeline. A popular attraction, Wild River Falls remained in operation until the opening of the Island Kingdom waterpark in 1997.
During the 1996 season, the track on the Musik Express was damaged and the attraction remained closed for a portion of the year. A Chance Chaos was ordered and was scheduled to open for the 1997 season. During the winter of 1996, the Carroll family was approached by Premier Parks of Oklahoma City, OK, who subsequently purchased the park.
For the 1997 season, the new owners invested upward of $20 million on general improvements and several new attractions. Attractions included the Island Kingdom Waterpark which featured children's water play area, several tube slides, a couple of body slides and a wave pool. Other attractions included a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster, The Mind Eraser
, Shipwreck Falls (a shoot the chutes ride), Time Warp (a Vekoma Air Jumper), and Chaos which was quickly replaced by Twister, (a Huss TopSpin), and the northern kiddieland was rethemed and renovated as Startoon Studios. In the process, some older rides such as the Bayern Kurve
were removed. In addition to new attractions, many parts of the park were renovated and themed. Main Street U.S.A. was given a makeover, the Southern Center midway was themed to a 1950's city called Rockville. In the North section of the park, a Balloon Race attraction was installed, replacing the Wave Swinger which was relocated to the center of the park in the former location of the Park Offices. Other improvements were a children's play structure called Paul Bunyan's Buzzsaw Company which included to kiddie rides, a new entrance plaza and the Carousel
was moved to the front gate and received a new building covering the ride.
In 1998 the park added several more attractions improving the water park which included lazy river, another children's play structure named Hook's Lagoon, a speed slide tower called Cannonball, a family raft slide named Swiss Family Tobaggan, and a multi-slide tower called Big Kahuna. The water park expansion was added to the South End of the park next to the parks log flume replacing two rides, Tri Star and Swiss Bobs, and relocated the Spider next to Mind Eraser and the Mind Scrambler (which was enclosed) to the North End under the park's Sky Ride where it sits now. With The Spider being moved next to Mind Eraser the parks Sea Dragon was moved next to the Antique Cars.
Aside from the water park 1998, the park also added The Hellevator, a S&S Turbo Drop tower that is 21 stories tall, which was originally painted red. The park also brought back Chaos and located it next to Mind Eraser, and a (Huss Breackdance) named Barrels of Fun next to the kiddie bumper cars and the entrance to the waterpark. The park also added a new kiddie area dubbed Startoon Studios which removed a lot of the aging kiddie rides from the park and leaving only the Bumper Buggies (kiddie bumper cars) in what was Kiddie Land South and the Flying Elephants, Kiddie Himilaya and Rickie's Little Twister coaster in Kiddie Land North. Startoon Studies took over what once was Kiddie Land North and added several rides from Zamperla; Speedtrap, Rio Grande train, Bigfoot Trucks, Crazy Bus, and Kiddie Swings. A new food court was added to the North End and was partially in Startoon Studios and the North End areas in the park.
On April 1, 1998, Premier Parks acquired the larger Six Flags
chain of parks from Time Warner
. The park continued to be known as "Riverside" until the end of the 1999 season.
In 1999 the park made a 50% expansion to the water park adding a new slide tower named Shark Attack and a second wave pool called Hurricane Bay. The park added a (Hopkins River Raft) named Blizzard River ride to the North End replacing a set of Dry Slides, the old Bumper Cars. Blizzard River was themed to incorporate the Penguin character from the Batman Franchise but the name of the ride was never changed when the park was allowed to use characters from DC Comics on their rides. An example can be seen at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
. A new western area was added on a hill behind Shipwreck Falls named Crack Axle Canyon. Crack Axle Canyon included 4 rides three which were new to the park. Barrels of Fun was moved and renamed Rodeo which resided on the top of the hill next to the Tomahawk (Huss Frisbee) and Houdini's Great Escape (Vekoma Madhouse.) The fourth ride to the area was a new floor powered Bumper Cars from (Zamperla.) The park added new additional rides to the South End of the park. The first was a (Chance Double Inverter) named Double Trouble located next to the newly placed Chaos and a (Zamperla) Tea Cups which replaced the parks Slingshot (Flying Carpets) in front of the Colossus Ferris Wheel. Kontiki a (Chance Alipine Bobs) replaced Barrels of Fun.
At the end of the 1999 season, the racetrack was destroyed at that point for a major expansion in the very near future.
The turn of the millennium marked a huge change in the park. Riverside, like many Premier Parks was "flagged" or re-branded as a Six Flags Park. Some of the other parks kept their names with Six Flags branding. Others, like The Great Escape in Lake George, never did get re-branded, but are still Six Flags properties. Riverside Park, though, was re-branded as "Six Flags New England". The main street running through the park was renamed "Carroll Drive" in honor of the family which had owned it for much of its rise to a major New England park. With the re-branding of Six Flags the park added a new front gate plaza.
After the Riverside Park Speedway
was removed in 1999, a brand new section of the park was built, themed to DC Comics
. The area had several new rides including "Superman: Ride of Steel", the parks premier attraction, which was later rethemed to Bizarro, a steel hyper-coaster. It was designed by Intamin AG
. The layout differs vastly from the other versions of Superman – The Ride Of Steel at sister parks Six Flags America
and Darien Lake. A Batman Stunt Show arena was added to the area, a second coaster named Poison Ivy's Tangled Train from (Zierer), Nightwing (Huss Flyaway), and Joker's Wildcard (Indoor Chance Wipeout.)
Besides the DC Comics area the park added a third Coaster called Flashback
(Vekoma
Boomerang
) which replaced the Black Widow and Rotor in the North Area. Flashback was actually built on the site of the kiddie coaster Rolling Thunder. Rolling Thunder, now named Great Chase, replaced the aging Rickie's Little Twister coaster in the renamed/rethemed Startoon Studios which had been giving the name and theme of Looney Tunes Movie Town. The Flying Elephants were replaced by a similar ride themed to Marvin the Martian and a live stage show replaced the Kiddie Himilaya. Other additions were an expansion to the Hellevator adding two additional towers which were capable of a three mode operating mode which included the Turbo Drop, Space Shot, and Double Shot modes. Only the original Hellevator tower can only operate in Turbo Drop mode. The parks Slingshot was brought back with a new paint job, theme and name of Buzzsaw.
In 2001, the parking lot was moved across the road, and a bridge was built to allow access to the entrance of the park. There were a few changes with the Paul Bunyan
's play structure becoming a small kiddie area called Tiny Timber Town with the addition of three new kiddie rides; a kiddie ferris wheel and helicopter built within the play area and a third (Zamperla LoliSwing) replacing the Sea Dragon. Buzzsaw's theme helped to blend in the theme of Tiny Timber Town which had a logger theme.
Batman – The Dark Knight (B&M Floorless coaster) was added in 2002, the water park was doubled in size and renamed Hurricane Harbor in 2003, and two new rides were introduced for the 2005 season: the spinning coaster Pandemonium
(originally themed to Mr. Six
) and a water coaster named Typhoon.
For the 2006 season, the SWAT flat ride from the now-defunct Six Flags Astroworld
(now re-named Catapult) and Diablo Falls, also from Astroworld (now re-named Splash Water Falls) were added to the park's ride lineup.
In 2007 two new kids areas were added, The Wiggles
(Wiggles World) and Thomas the Tank Engine
(Thomas Town). Wiggles World took over the Tiny Timber Town area retheming some of the existing rides and removing the play structure. Wiggles World also added new rides, wet and dry play elements, and a live stage show. Thomas Town was added next to the main entrance and included a train ride on Thomas and two new kiddie rides. The Hall of Justice was also built into the vacant building of the Joker's Wildcard near the Bizarro coaster.
In 2008, Six Flags New England was to open The Dark Knight
, an indoor MACK
Wild Mouse coaster based on the upcoming film
of the same name. The park's other Batman-based attraction had its named changed from Batman – The Dark Knight to Batman: The Ride to avoid confusion. However, due to permit issues, the ride was cancelled and dismantled. The ride would have cost the park $7.5 million in exchange for bringing $280,000 in taxes for the state of Massachusetts. Thus the cancellation angered the city of Agawam, which stated the issues with the ride were not present. Instead, the park announced the new "Glow in the Park" parade. On November 8, 2008 the Town of Agawam approved Six Flags the right to build roller coasters up to the height of 200 feet (61 m). This will pave the way for many new roller coasters in the future.
On September 15, 2008, Six Flags announced a makeover to the Superman roller coaster, adding an in-ride soundtrack and special effects, a makeover also undergoing with Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure
and similar to what was done with X in its conversion to X² in 2008 at Six Flags Magic Mountain
. The ride is now called Bizarro, named after Superman's enemy. The makeover has included a re-paint of the track, which it is now purple. It is the same high-tech qualities of the old ride, just upgraded with pyrotechnics
and special effects.
In February 2010, it was announced that there would be a kiddie water park section added. It is called Mr. Six's Splash Island, which includes 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) of drenching thrills and relaxation for the entire family. It features a 30,000 gallon shaded wave pool designed specifically for little ones, and a 150 feet (45.7 m) interactive lazy river with dumping coconuts, rain curtains and squirting water to keep the whole family cool. It also includes ten private cabanas. However at the end of 2010, Six Flags dropped Mr. Six from rides in parks again and Mr. Six's Splash Island, just became Splash Island.
On September 1, 2010 the park announced that they would be receiving a new roller coaster to be added to the DC Comics section of the park. It is a standard wild mouse coaster that previously resided at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. They announced "Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum" on February 7, 2011.
In late 2010, Six Flags began the process of removing licensed theming from attractions. They terminated several licenses including their licenses with The Wiggles
and Thomas the Tank Engine
. Thomas Town will be removed, instead of being rethemed to Whistlestop Park
, like at other parks. Wiggles World will be rethemed to KIDZOPOLIS
, all in time for the 2011 season.
In August 2011, several media sources
reported that the park is going on building Déjà Vu
from Six Flags Magic Mountain
, a Vekoma
Giant Inverted Boomerang for the park's 2012 season
. Then on September 1, 2011, Six Flags New England officially announced Goliath
for the 2012 season, a Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang roller coaster, that will be located where the former Shipwreck Falls
was.
themed section found throughout Six Flags parks.
Rides
characters were added to the park. The line-up of Looney Tunes characters includes: Bugs Bunny
, Daffy Duck
, Tweety Bird, Sylvester
, Foghorn Leghorn, Porky Pig
, Petunia Pig
, Pepe Le Pew
, Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian
, Taz, Granny, Lola Bunny
, Elmer Fudd
, Speedy Gonzalez, Yosemite Sam
, and Gossamer.
In 2006, the park underwent a massive expansion in the entertainment department when Mark Shapiro took control of Six Flags. With this Six Flags New England has added Justice League
characters, along with the Hall of Justice. In 2007 enemies of the Justice League
known as the Legion of Doom came to Six Flags. This addition brought the following characters to the park: Batman
, Robin, Aquaman
, Wonder Woman
, Hawk Girl, Green Lantern
, The Flash, The Joker, The Riddler, Sinestro
, Cheetah, Lex Luther, and Captain Cold
. The Hall of Justice was were the Jokers Wild Card flat ride used to be, which was transformed into a secret lair. Times are posted outside indicating when guests will be able to meet the characters and pose for pictures. Halfway through the 2010 season, the Hall of Justice closed; a park employee stated it that it would reopen in 2011 as something different, having to do something with the new attraction for the chain's fiftieth anniversary. A sign reads outside of it to go to the newly built meet and greet stages at the entrance to CrackAxle Canyon and behind Route 66.
The park also has some of the characters from Mystery Inc including the great dane detective himself Scooby Doo, his best friend Shaggy Rogers
, and his nephew Scrappy Doo. Additionally, the park also features two non-Looney Toons themed kids' areas: Wiggles World, and Thomas the Tank Engine Town. Within these areas a variety of Wiggles characters (Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus,and Captain Feathersword) and Sir Topham Hatt (from Thomas the Tank Engine) can be found for kids to meet and take photos with.
Mr. Six, the chain's mascot, roams around the park dancing and interacting with park guests. When We Like to Party
comes over the loudspeakers he breaks out in his signature dance. Mr. Six also hosts a show in the Rockville Gym called Mr. Six's Funtastic Gameshow. Another show inside the Rockville Gym is called, "Dick Clark's: Face the Music," an interactive trivia show.
In the 2008 season, the Glow in the Park Parade was introduced. It is the unique brainchild of world renowned creative director Gary Goddard
and features five custom-designed floats, 65 performers and over 35 support staff members and technicians. Each float is adorned with vibrant-multicolored lights that illuminate the park and surround the streets with custom-composed cirque-inspired music. The parade features drummers, puppeteers, singers, dancers and kinetic stilt walkers to create an unparalleled nighttime spectacular. The parade didn't return in the 2009 season, but it did return in 2010.
In 2009 the park created their own original characters that pick up trash. They are coined the "Mop Squad." They are a group of improv artists who clean, throw dance parties, and play games with guests.
complex, respectively. In addition several shows and attractions are added, including Mayhem Mission and The Trick-o-Treat Trail for kids, Dead Legends Live on Main St., Haunting Illusions, Wheel of Fright, and three up-charged "haunts". Dead Legends Live has all past singers together and parody their songs about being dead. "Haunting Illusions" is a magic show in the Rockville Gymnasium Theater featuring illusionist David Garrity. The Wheel of Fright is a wheel and whatever you spin it to land on you have to eat or do. Such things to eat are cockroaches or worms. Prizes include season passes.
The three haunts are called Wicked Woods, Slayer’s Lair, and Midnight Mansion. Wicked Woods is in the picnic groves wooded area and it is a trail with people popping out at you and chasing you, and Slayer’s Lair is in Hurricane Harbor. Midnight Mansion takes place on the ride Houdini. They transform the whole ride building into a haunted mansion. In early 2009 Six Flags New England received an award within the chain for the best Fright Fest of 2008.
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
theme park, named for the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region, in which it is located. Located off of Massachusetts State Route 159, Six Flags New England is located less than 3 miles (4.8 km) from the major City of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, in the nearby town of Agawam, Massachusetts
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
. Six Flags New England is less than a mile from the Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
border, making it very popular with Connecticut residents as well as Massachusetts residents. Like most Six Flags parks, SFNE consists of a theme park and a water park. Technically speaking, it's the oldest of the Six Flags parks, though it did not originally open as such. It is, by far, the largest amusement park in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
History
Throughout most of the 20th century, the park was known as Riverside Park. It started out as a picnic grove called Gallup's Grove in 1840, and was eventually renamed to Riverside Grove, then Riverside Park. Prior to 1900 most of the park's patrons arrived via steamship. The Springfield Street Railway extended its line to the park in 1900 and although Riverside was at the end of the Springfield Street Railway, it was not owned by the railway and is therefore not considered a trolley park, contrary to published reports. In the early 1900s a few mechanical rides and a carousel were added. The park was purchased, in 1911, by Henry J. Perkins who is responsible for transforming the park from a picnic grove to an amusement park. He built the park's first coaster, The Giant Dip in 1912, which proved to be so popular that another coaster, The Greyhound, was added in 1915. Under Perkins ownership, the park continued to prosper, and additional amusements were added including a 300-foot-diameter pool that became known as Lake Takadip. The original Giant Dip coaster was replaced in 1920 by a new, more thrilling coaster that was twice the size of the Giant and was eventually named Lightning. A third coaster, Whirlwind Racer was added in 1928. By the following year, the Stock Market crash of 1929 took its toll on the park and by 1931 it had gone into foreclosure. For the 1932 season the park operated only Wednesday through Sunday, and in 1933 it closed. Several attempts to reopen the park failed and it remained closed through 1939, although the grounds were occasionally used for company picnics. A drive-in movie theater was operated in the parking lot from 1937 to 1939.Edward Carroll Sr. purchased the abandoned park in 1939 and after making improvements, reopened Riverside Park on May 29, 1940. Carroll is credit with rescuing Riverside and turning it into the largest theme park in New England. He purchased the plans and cars of the 1939 New York World's Fair Cyclone Roller Coaster and opened a new coaster in 1941. That coaster, now known as Thunderbolt, is currently operating at the park, and is the oldest coaster within the Six Flags Chain of theme parks. Carroll built the Riverside Park Speedway
Riverside Park Speedway
Riverside Park Speedway was a 1/4 mile oval race track, located inside of Riverside Amusement Park in Agawam, Massachusetts, one mile north of the Massachusetts/Connecticut state line....
in 1948, replacing an open air bandstand. Edward Carroll Sr. took a liking to auto racing, a sport that was gaining popularity in the Northeast after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and added it to his slate of attractions at Riverside.
The park continued to add new rides and removed some older ones. The theater and bowling alley were removed in the late 1950s, making Riverside Park a seasonal attraction. The 1960s was a popular period for stock car racing at Riverside Park. NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
began to hold events at Riverside Park Speedway in 1976. The winner of the first NASCAR-organized event at Riverside was Bob Polverari.
In 1977, Riverside Park added its first looping roller coaster, The Loop Coaster, later known as Black Widow. The park continued to be a successful park throughout the 1970s, and a log flume ride was added in that period. By the 1980s, the park stopped selling individual ride tickets and began charging a "pay one price" admission. In 1983, Riverside Park added its third roller coaster, which was also the park's second wooden coaster. The owners originally wanted a coaster exactly like the Coney Island Cyclone
Coney Island Cyclone
The Coney Island Cyclone is a historic hybrid roller coaster in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York City. On June 18, 1975, Dewey and Jerome Albert, owners of Astroland Park, contracted to operate the Cyclone under an agreement with New York City...
, but space was limited, so the coaster would need to take up less space and would have sharp twists and turns. It became known as the Riverside Cyclone
Cyclone (Six Flags New England)
Cyclone, formerly called the Riverside Cyclone, is a wooden roller coaster currently located at Six Flags New England. It was originally opened in 1983, and modifications to the first hill were made in 2001. More intense than the other wooden roller coaster, Thunderbolt, it shakes and rattles much...
.
In 1987, Riverside attempted to build a white water rafting ride called the Lost River Water Ride. Plagued with problems, the attraction never opened and was subsequently abandoned. A majority of the ride was demolished in 1989 to make way for Wild River Falls, a waterslide complex consisting of three sets of slides: Riptide, Blue Lightning, and Pipeline. A popular attraction, Wild River Falls remained in operation until the opening of the Island Kingdom waterpark in 1997.
During the 1996 season, the track on the Musik Express was damaged and the attraction remained closed for a portion of the year. A Chance Chaos was ordered and was scheduled to open for the 1997 season. During the winter of 1996, the Carroll family was approached by Premier Parks of Oklahoma City, OK, who subsequently purchased the park.
For the 1997 season, the new owners invested upward of $20 million on general improvements and several new attractions. Attractions included the Island Kingdom Waterpark which featured children's water play area, several tube slides, a couple of body slides and a wave pool. Other attractions included a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster, The Mind Eraser
The Mind Eraser
The Mind Eraser is a steel inverted roller coaster at 4 different Six Flags & PARC theme parks. Built by Vekoma, they are of the most common and standard Suspended Looping Coaster model that is found in many theme parks; at least fifteen other parks around the world have exactly the same ride...
, Shipwreck Falls (a shoot the chutes ride), Time Warp (a Vekoma Air Jumper), and Chaos which was quickly replaced by Twister, (a Huss TopSpin), and the northern kiddieland was rethemed and renovated as Startoon Studios. In the process, some older rides such as the Bayern Kurve
Bayern Kurve
The Bayern Kurve is an amusement park and carnival ride made in both a portable and park model that debuted in 1965 and was invented by Anton Schwarzkopf, a legendary German engineer of amusement rides. During the ride, riders sit in one of the sixteen bobsled-themed cars that travel at a...
were removed. In addition to new attractions, many parts of the park were renovated and themed. Main Street U.S.A. was given a makeover, the Southern Center midway was themed to a 1950's city called Rockville. In the North section of the park, a Balloon Race attraction was installed, replacing the Wave Swinger which was relocated to the center of the park in the former location of the Park Offices. Other improvements were a children's play structure called Paul Bunyan's Buzzsaw Company which included to kiddie rides, a new entrance plaza and the Carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
was moved to the front gate and received a new building covering the ride.
In 1998 the park added several more attractions improving the water park which included lazy river, another children's play structure named Hook's Lagoon, a speed slide tower called Cannonball, a family raft slide named Swiss Family Tobaggan, and a multi-slide tower called Big Kahuna. The water park expansion was added to the South End of the park next to the parks log flume replacing two rides, Tri Star and Swiss Bobs, and relocated the Spider next to Mind Eraser and the Mind Scrambler (which was enclosed) to the North End under the park's Sky Ride where it sits now. With The Spider being moved next to Mind Eraser the parks Sea Dragon was moved next to the Antique Cars.
Aside from the water park 1998, the park also added The Hellevator, a S&S Turbo Drop tower that is 21 stories tall, which was originally painted red. The park also brought back Chaos and located it next to Mind Eraser, and a (Huss Breackdance) named Barrels of Fun next to the kiddie bumper cars and the entrance to the waterpark. The park also added a new kiddie area dubbed Startoon Studios which removed a lot of the aging kiddie rides from the park and leaving only the Bumper Buggies (kiddie bumper cars) in what was Kiddie Land South and the Flying Elephants, Kiddie Himilaya and Rickie's Little Twister coaster in Kiddie Land North. Startoon Studies took over what once was Kiddie Land North and added several rides from Zamperla; Speedtrap, Rio Grande train, Bigfoot Trucks, Crazy Bus, and Kiddie Swings. A new food court was added to the North End and was partially in Startoon Studios and the North End areas in the park.
On April 1, 1998, Premier Parks acquired the larger Six Flags
Six Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
chain of parks from Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
. The park continued to be known as "Riverside" until the end of the 1999 season.
In 1999 the park made a 50% expansion to the water park adding a new slide tower named Shark Attack and a second wave pool called Hurricane Bay. The park added a (Hopkins River Raft) named Blizzard River ride to the North End replacing a set of Dry Slides, the old Bumper Cars. Blizzard River was themed to incorporate the Penguin character from the Batman Franchise but the name of the ride was never changed when the park was allowed to use characters from DC Comics on their rides. An example can be seen at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom is an amusement park located in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The park is located on of land which includes a collection of 27 amusement rides and a water park named Splashwater Kingdom...
. A new western area was added on a hill behind Shipwreck Falls named Crack Axle Canyon. Crack Axle Canyon included 4 rides three which were new to the park. Barrels of Fun was moved and renamed Rodeo which resided on the top of the hill next to the Tomahawk (Huss Frisbee) and Houdini's Great Escape (Vekoma Madhouse.) The fourth ride to the area was a new floor powered Bumper Cars from (Zamperla.) The park added new additional rides to the South End of the park. The first was a (Chance Double Inverter) named Double Trouble located next to the newly placed Chaos and a (Zamperla) Tea Cups which replaced the parks Slingshot (Flying Carpets) in front of the Colossus Ferris Wheel. Kontiki a (Chance Alipine Bobs) replaced Barrels of Fun.
At the end of the 1999 season, the racetrack was destroyed at that point for a major expansion in the very near future.
The turn of the millennium marked a huge change in the park. Riverside, like many Premier Parks was "flagged" or re-branded as a Six Flags Park. Some of the other parks kept their names with Six Flags branding. Others, like The Great Escape in Lake George, never did get re-branded, but are still Six Flags properties. Riverside Park, though, was re-branded as "Six Flags New England". The main street running through the park was renamed "Carroll Drive" in honor of the family which had owned it for much of its rise to a major New England park. With the re-branding of Six Flags the park added a new front gate plaza.
After the Riverside Park Speedway
Riverside Park Speedway
Riverside Park Speedway was a 1/4 mile oval race track, located inside of Riverside Amusement Park in Agawam, Massachusetts, one mile north of the Massachusetts/Connecticut state line....
was removed in 1999, a brand new section of the park was built, themed to DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The area had several new rides including "Superman: Ride of Steel", the parks premier attraction, which was later rethemed to Bizarro, a steel hyper-coaster. It was designed by Intamin AG
Intamin AG
Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
. The layout differs vastly from the other versions of Superman – The Ride Of Steel at sister parks Six Flags America
Six Flags America
Six Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations...
and Darien Lake. A Batman Stunt Show arena was added to the area, a second coaster named Poison Ivy's Tangled Train from (Zierer), Nightwing (Huss Flyaway), and Joker's Wildcard (Indoor Chance Wipeout.)
Besides the DC Comics area the park added a third Coaster called Flashback
Flashback (Six Flags New England)
Flashback is a steel roller coaster of shuttle design currently in use at Six Flags New England. The ride has one train with a capacity of twenty-eight riders, two across in each row. When the coaster starts, the train is pulled backwards up the lift hill, then dropped through the loading gate...
(Vekoma
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
Boomerang
Boomerang (roller coaster)
Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians...
) which replaced the Black Widow and Rotor in the North Area. Flashback was actually built on the site of the kiddie coaster Rolling Thunder. Rolling Thunder, now named Great Chase, replaced the aging Rickie's Little Twister coaster in the renamed/rethemed Startoon Studios which had been giving the name and theme of Looney Tunes Movie Town. The Flying Elephants were replaced by a similar ride themed to Marvin the Martian and a live stage show replaced the Kiddie Himilaya. Other additions were an expansion to the Hellevator adding two additional towers which were capable of a three mode operating mode which included the Turbo Drop, Space Shot, and Double Shot modes. Only the original Hellevator tower can only operate in Turbo Drop mode. The parks Slingshot was brought back with a new paint job, theme and name of Buzzsaw.
In 2001, the parking lot was moved across the road, and a bridge was built to allow access to the entrance of the park. There were a few changes with the Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan is a lumberjack figure in North American folklore and tradition. One of the most famous and popular North American folklore heroes, he is usually described as a giant as well as a lumberjack of unusual skill, and is often accompanied in stories by his animal companion, Babe the Blue...
's play structure becoming a small kiddie area called Tiny Timber Town with the addition of three new kiddie rides; a kiddie ferris wheel and helicopter built within the play area and a third (Zamperla LoliSwing) replacing the Sea Dragon. Buzzsaw's theme helped to blend in the theme of Tiny Timber Town which had a logger theme.
Batman – The Dark Knight (B&M Floorless coaster) was added in 2002, the water park was doubled in size and renamed Hurricane Harbor in 2003, and two new rides were introduced for the 2005 season: the spinning coaster Pandemonium
Pandemonium (roller coaster)
Pandemonium is a Gerstlauer steel spinning roller coasters located at several Six Flags theme parks including Six Flags New England, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Six Flags St. Louis, Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Its design consists of several cars holding four riders each...
(originally themed to Mr. Six
Mr. Six
Mr. Six is an advertising character, first featured in a 2004–05 advertising campaign by the theme park chain Six Flags. Appearing as a bald, decrepit, wrinkled old man wearing a tuxedo and thick-framed glasses, he invites stressed and over-worked people to Six Flags by performing a frenetic dance...
) and a water coaster named Typhoon.
For the 2006 season, the SWAT flat ride from the now-defunct Six Flags Astroworld
Six Flags Astroworld
AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA...
(now re-named Catapult) and Diablo Falls, also from Astroworld (now re-named Splash Water Falls) were added to the park's ride lineup.
In 2007 two new kids areas were added, The Wiggles
The Wiggles
The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
(Wiggles World) and Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
(Thomas Town). Wiggles World took over the Tiny Timber Town area retheming some of the existing rides and removing the play structure. Wiggles World also added new rides, wet and dry play elements, and a live stage show. Thomas Town was added next to the main entrance and included a train ride on Thomas and two new kiddie rides. The Hall of Justice was also built into the vacant building of the Joker's Wildcard near the Bizarro coaster.
In 2008, Six Flags New England was to open The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight Coaster
The Dark Knight Coaster is the name of three enclosed steel roller coasters that are currently operating at Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Great America and Six Flags México. They opened in 2008 and 2009, timed closely to the theatrical release of The Dark Knight...
, an indoor MACK
MACK Rides
Mack Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. The family that owns the company also owns Europa Park.-History:The creation of the Mack company goes back to 1780, by Paul Mack, when he started building carriages. The Mack company started to design roller coasters in 1920....
Wild Mouse coaster based on the upcoming film
The Dark Knight (film)
The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins...
of the same name. The park's other Batman-based attraction had its named changed from Batman – The Dark Knight to Batman: The Ride to avoid confusion. However, due to permit issues, the ride was cancelled and dismantled. The ride would have cost the park $7.5 million in exchange for bringing $280,000 in taxes for the state of Massachusetts. Thus the cancellation angered the city of Agawam, which stated the issues with the ride were not present. Instead, the park announced the new "Glow in the Park" parade. On November 8, 2008 the Town of Agawam approved Six Flags the right to build roller coasters up to the height of 200 feet (61 m). This will pave the way for many new roller coasters in the future.
On September 15, 2008, Six Flags announced a makeover to the Superman roller coaster, adding an in-ride soundtrack and special effects, a makeover also undergoing with Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
and similar to what was done with X in its conversion to X² in 2008 at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
. The ride is now called Bizarro, named after Superman's enemy. The makeover has included a re-paint of the track, which it is now purple. It is the same high-tech qualities of the old ride, just upgraded with pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics
Pyrotechnics is the science of using materials capable of undergoing self-contained and self-sustained exothermic chemical reactions for the production of heat, light, gas, smoke and/or sound...
and special effects.
In February 2010, it was announced that there would be a kiddie water park section added. It is called Mr. Six's Splash Island, which includes 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) of drenching thrills and relaxation for the entire family. It features a 30,000 gallon shaded wave pool designed specifically for little ones, and a 150 feet (45.7 m) interactive lazy river with dumping coconuts, rain curtains and squirting water to keep the whole family cool. It also includes ten private cabanas. However at the end of 2010, Six Flags dropped Mr. Six from rides in parks again and Mr. Six's Splash Island, just became Splash Island.
On September 1, 2010 the park announced that they would be receiving a new roller coaster to be added to the DC Comics section of the park. It is a standard wild mouse coaster that previously resided at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. They announced "Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum" on February 7, 2011.
In late 2010, Six Flags began the process of removing licensed theming from attractions. They terminated several licenses including their licenses with The Wiggles
The Wiggles
The Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
and Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas the Tank Engine is a fictional steam locomotive in The Railway Series books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher. He became the most popular character in the series, and the accompanying television spin-off series, Thomas and Friends.Thomas is a tank engine, painted blue...
. Thomas Town will be removed, instead of being rethemed to Whistlestop Park
Whistlestop Park
Whistlestop Park is a themed kid's area with various rides at several Six Flags amusement parks.-History:Before being named Whistlestop Park, these themed areas were named Thomas Town from 2007 to 2010....
, like at other parks. Wiggles World will be rethemed to KIDZOPOLIS
KIDZOPOLIS
KIDZOPOLIS is a themed kid's area with various rides at several Six Flags amusement parks.-History:Before being named KIDZOPOLIS, these themed areas were named Wiggles World from 2007 - 2010....
, all in time for the 2011 season.
In August 2011, several media sources
News media (United States)
Mass media are the means through which information is transmitted to a large audience. This includes newspapers, television, radio, and more recently the Internet. Those who provide news and information, and the outlets for which they work, are known as the news media.Some high-quality news media...
reported that the park is going on building Déjà Vu
Giant Inverted Boomerang
A Giant Inverted Boomerang is a type of steel shuttle roller coaster manufactured by Vekoma. The ride is a larger, inverted version of Vekoma's popular Boomerang sit down roller coasters...
from Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
, a Vekoma
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
Giant Inverted Boomerang for the park's 2012 season
Giant Inverted Boomerang
A Giant Inverted Boomerang is a type of steel shuttle roller coaster manufactured by Vekoma. The ride is a larger, inverted version of Vekoma's popular Boomerang sit down roller coasters...
. Then on September 1, 2011, Six Flags New England officially announced Goliath
Giant Inverted Boomerang
A Giant Inverted Boomerang is a type of steel shuttle roller coaster manufactured by Vekoma. The ride is a larger, inverted version of Vekoma's popular Boomerang sit down roller coasters...
for the 2012 season, a Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang roller coaster, that will be located where the former Shipwreck Falls
Shipwreck Falls
Shipwreck Falls is a typical "Shoot-the-Chutes" style water attraction at many Herschend, and Six Flags Theme Parks, and Water Parks in the USA. The attraction is themed to sharks and shipwrecks, and all feature an exit bridge over the ride so guests can get wet while exiting...
was.
Rides & attractions
Six Flags New England is home to many rides and attractions, including Bizarro. It is 208 feet (63.4 m) tall and drops 221 feet (67.4 m) into a tunnel, reaching a top speed of 77 mi/h. It is considered one of the best steel roller coasters in the world according to the trade magazine Amusement Today, which awarded it the prestigious Golden Ticket award in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.Current roller coasters
| Ride Name | Opened | Manufacturer/Type | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbolt Thunderbolt (Six Flags New England) Thunderbolt is a wooden roller coaster currently located at Six Flags New England. Opened in 1941, Thunderbolt is currently the oldest roller coaster at Six Flags New England. It is also the oldest roller coaster in any Six Flags park... |
1941 | Joseph E. Drambour Coaster | Operating | Main Street |
| Cyclone Cyclone (Six Flags New England) Cyclone, formerly called the Riverside Cyclone, is a wooden roller coaster currently located at Six Flags New England. It was originally opened in 1983, and modifications to the first hill were made in 2001. More intense than the other wooden roller coaster, Thunderbolt, it shakes and rattles much... |
1983 | William Cobb Coaster | Operating | North End |
| The Great Chase | 1996 | Miler Coasters Inc. Coaster | Operating | Looney Tunes Movie Town |
| The Mind Eraser The Mind Eraser The Mind Eraser is a steel inverted roller coaster at 4 different Six Flags & PARC theme parks. Built by Vekoma, they are of the most common and standard Suspended Looping Coaster model that is found in many theme parks; at least fifteen other parks around the world have exactly the same ride... |
1997 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... Suspended Looping Coaster |
Operating | South End |
| Bizarro | 2000 | Intamin Megacoaster Coaster | Operating | DC Superhero Adventure |
| Catwoman's Whip | 2000 | Zierer Zierer Zierer is a German company located close to Deggendorf. Zierer manufactures Tivoli and Force line of roller coasters, as well as panoramic wheels, wave swingers, flying carpets, Hextentanz and Kontiki rides... family coaster |
Operating | DC Superhero Adventure |
| Flashback Flashback (Six Flags New England) Flashback is a steel roller coaster of shuttle design currently in use at Six Flags New England. The ride has one train with a capacity of twenty-eight riders, two across in each row. When the coaster starts, the train is pulled backwards up the lift hill, then dropped through the loading gate... |
2000 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... Boomerang Coaster |
Operating | North End |
| Batman – The Dark Knight | 2002 | Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president... Floorless Coaster |
Operating | South End |
| Pandemonium Pandemonium (roller coaster) Pandemonium is a Gerstlauer steel spinning roller coasters located at several Six Flags theme parks including Six Flags New England, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Six Flags St. Louis, Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Its design consists of several cars holding four riders each... |
2005 | Gerstlauer Gerstlauer Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH is a German manufacturer of stationary and transportable amusement rides and roller coasters, located in Münsterhausen, Germany.-History:... Spinning Coaster |
Operating | North End |
| Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum | 2011 | Maurer Söhne Maurer Söhne Maurer Söhne is a steel construction company and roller coaster manufacturer. Founded in Munich, Germany in 1876, the company has built many styles of steel buildings, ranging from bridges, industrial buildings, and even art structures. While known for building various wild mouse coasters, Maurer... Wild Mouse Coaster |
Operating | DC Superhero Adventure |
| Goliath Giant Inverted Boomerang A Giant Inverted Boomerang is a type of steel shuttle roller coaster manufactured by Vekoma. The ride is a larger, inverted version of Vekoma's popular Boomerang sit down roller coasters... |
2012 | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... Giant Inverted Boomerang Coaster |
Under Construction | Crack Axle Canyon |
Current adult rides
| Ride Name | Opened | Manufacturer/Type | Status | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 Illions Carousel Carousel A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders... |
1940 | M.C. Illions Carousel | Operating | Main Street | |
| Balloon Race | 1989 | Zamperla Balloon Race | Operating | North End | |
| Blizzard River | 1999 | OD Hopkins white water rapids | Operating | North End | |
| Buzzsaw | 1983 | Zierer Flying Carpet | Operating | South End | Original named the Screamer and the Slingshot |
| Catapult | 2006 | S&S Sky Swatter | Operating | North End | Relocated from Six Flags Astroworld Six Flags Astroworld AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA... |
| Crime Wave | 1979 | Zamperla Swings | Operating | South End | Location moved in 2007, was named Adult Wave Swinger. |
| Houdini – The Great Escape | 1999 | Vekoma Mad House | Operating | Crack Axle Canyon | |
| Joker's Wildcard | 2000 | Chance Wipeout | Operating | DC Superhero Adventures | Removed in 2004. It was located in the Justice League building and put into storage since 2009. It is now currently in operation located at the former location of Nightwing. |
| Kontiki | 1985 | Chance Alpine Bobs | Operating | South End | |
| New England Sky Way | 1974 | Von Roll Sky-Ride | Operating | North End | |
| Scrambler | 1973 | Eli Bridge Scrambler | Operating | North End | |
| Scream Scream! (Freefall Attraction) Scream! is a tower ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas and Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts. Designed by S&S Power, Scream! shoots riders up in the air, drops them half of the way, brings them back up and drops them again... |
1998 | S&S S&S Power S&S Worldwide is a company known for its pneumatically powered amusement rides and roller coaster designing.-History:S&S Worldwide was founded by Stan Checketts as S&S Sports, Inc. S&S Sports manufactures bungee jumping and trampoline equipment. S&S Sports was sold in 1996... 3-tower Combo Complex |
Operating | Main Street | |
| Splash Water Falls | 2006 | Whitewater West Spinning Rapids | Operating | South End | Relocated from Six Flags Astroworld |
| Stampede Bumper Cars | 1997 | Zamperla Bumper Cars | Operating | Crack Axle Canyon | |
| Taz's Dare Devil Dive | Sky Coaster | Operating | North End | Extra Charge | |
| The Tea Cups | 1999 | Zamperla Tea Cups | Operating | South End | |
| Slingshot | 2009 | Slingshot | Operating | South End | Formerly The Blitz; Extra Charge. Located in the DC Superhero Adventures section but was moved to the South End in 2011. |
| Tomahawk | 1999 | Huss Frisbee | Operating | Crack Axle Canyon | |
| Twister | 1997 | Huss Top Spin | Operating | Rockville USA | |
Looney Tunes Movie Town
A Looney TunesLooney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
themed section found throughout Six Flags parks.
Rides
- Animation Department: Zamperla kiddie swings ride – opened in 1998
- Foghorn Leghorn's Tinsel Town Train: Kiddie train ride – opened in ?
- Marvin the Martian's Earthbound Journey: Zamperla kiddie spaceship ride – opened in 2000
- Wile E. Coyote's Speed Trap: Zamperla kiddie whip ride – opened in 1998
- Taz's Prop Delivery Company: Battery powered truck ride – opened in ?
- Daffy's Hollywood Tours: Zamperla Crazy Bus – opened in 1998
- Tweety's Clubhouse: Zamperla Jumpin' Star – kiddie drop ride – opened in 1999
KIDZOPOLIS
(Formerly Wiggles World and Tiny Timber Town)- Krazy Kars: Zamperla Convoy – (Originally Big Red Cars) – opened in 2007
- Krazy Kups: (Originally Tiny's Tea Party and later Dorothy's Rosy Tea Cups) SBF kiddy tea cups – opened in 2001.
- Route 66: Arrow Dynamics antique cars – opened in 1962.
- Ship's Ahoy!: Zamperla Rockin' Tug – (Originally Captain Feathersword's Rockin' Pirate Ship) – opened in 2007
- Splish Splash Zone: Kiddy playground area and water play area – (Originally Henry's Splish Splash) – opened in 2007
- Wacky Wagons: (Originally Chuck Wagon Wheel and later Cold Spaghetti Western Wheel) kiddy Ferris wheel – opened in 2001
- Whirlybirds: SBF kiddy ride – (Originally Timber Town Sky Patrol and later Wags' Doggie Copters) – opened in 2001
- Zinger Swings: SBF kiddy ride – (Originally Flight of the Bumble Bees and later Henry's Underwater Swing Band) – opened in 2001
- ZoomJets: Zamperla Telecombat – (Originally Big Red Planes) – opened in 2007
Hurricane Harbor
Slides- Swiss Family Toboggan: Proslide Technology Inc. “Mammoth” – family raft ride – opened in 1998
- Adventure River: Lazy river – opened in 1998
- Big Kahuna: Proslide Technology Inc. “Pipeline” (4 enclosed tube slides) – opened in 1998
- Cannonball Falls: Proslide Technology Inc. “Speed Zone” – 3 speed slides – opened in 1998
- Hook's Lagoon: SCS Interactive “Discovery Treehouse” with Proslide Technology Inc. “Twisters’ Zone” slides; Family activity area, area includes Octopus Toddler Slide & Kiddie Pirate Ship – opened in 1998
- Commotion Ocean: Wave pool – opened in 1999
- Shark Attack: Proslide Technology Inc. “Atomic Coasters” (4 half enclosed, half open tube slides) – opened in 1999
- Hurricane Bay: Wave pool with family activity area – opened in 2003
- Tornado: Proslide Technology Inc. Tornado “Rattler” (funnel shaped tube slide that uses four person “cloverleaf” or two person “whirly wheel” tubes) – opened in 2003
- Monsoon Lagoon: Family wave pool – opened in 2003
- Hurricane Falls: 6 slide Proslide Technology Inc. Twisters complex – opened in 2003
- Geronimo Falls and Zooma Falls: 2 Proslide Technology Inc. Mammoths – opened in 2003
- Typhoon: Proslide Technology Inc. "Rocket" slide – opened in 2005
- Splash Island: Kids Area. Opened in 2010. Featuring a wave pool, lazy river, and much more just for the kids.
Shows and parades
- Vocal Accelaration: Kids Karaoke since 2011 located in KIDZOPOLIZ – (Originally Get Ready to Wiggle from 2007–2010) – The stage opened in 2007
- Looney Tunes Talent Show – The competition is heating up in the finals in this wild and wacky Looney Tune version of American Idol located in Looney Toons Movie Town.
- Six Flags Party – Come and join your favorite Looney Tune stars and join in all the fun and games located on Main Street.
- Mr. Six's Dance Party – Come and show Six Flags high spirit rater of fun your very best dance moves in his very own dance party located on Main Street.
- Survivor: LIVE! – A brand new choreography and music-filled stage show based on the hit reality series, located in the Rockville Gym Arena. It can be assumed that this has officially replaced the short-lived Show Stoppin', as ads for the new show make no references to the former. Also, no showtimes for the former are listed outside the Rockville Gym Arena, and there is no mention whatsoever of the original show anywhere in the park.
- Wii Bowling with the Characters – Come and face off against your favorite looney tune stars in a game of Wii bowling located at the Wii Experience in Rockville.
- Main Street Mega Party – Come and see all of your favorite characters from all around the park in this fun and exciting mega party located on Main Street.
- DDR Showdown – Come and see the fastest feet compete in a game of Dance Dance Revolution located in Crackaxle Canyon across from Big Bens BBQ.
- Story Time in Thomas Town – Gather round as Sir Tophamhat and his trusty engineer tell stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends located outside of Thomas Town.
- Best of Dick Clark's Bloopers – Come and see some of the funniest moments in Sports, news casting, and animal mishaps ever submitted to Dick Clark Bloopers in this live hosted show located in the Rockville gym arena.
- Hall of Justice – Come and meet your favorite DC superheros in their hightech headquarters and get a behind the scenes look at crime fighting in action located in the DC Superhero Adventure Area. As of the 2010 season the Hall of Justice is closed.
- Looney Tunes Dance Off – The Looney Tunes serve up their best in dance and song! Don’t miss Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester and their Looney Tune pals as they compete for the top spot in this wild and wacky dance competition.
Park entertainment
During the park's branding as a Six Flags in 2000, the Looney TunesLooney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
characters were added to the park. The line-up of Looney Tunes characters includes: Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny is a animated character created in 1938 at Leon Schlesinger Productions, later Warner Bros. Cartoons. Bugs is an anthropomorphic gray rabbit and is famous for his flippant, insouciant personality and his portrayal as a trickster. He has primarily appeared in animated cartoons, most...
, Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, often running the gamut between being the best friend and sometimes arch-rival of Bugs Bunny...
, Tweety Bird, Sylvester
Sylvester (Looney Tunes)
Sylvester J. Pussycat, Sr., Sylvester the Cat or simply Sylvester, is a fictional character, a three-time Academy Award-winning anthropomorphic Tuxedo cat in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies repertory, often chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales, or Hippety Hopper...
, Foghorn Leghorn, Porky Pig
Porky Pig
Porky Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. He was the first character created by the studio to draw audiences based on his star power, and the animators created many critically acclaimed shorts using the fat little pig...
, Petunia Pig
Petunia Pig
Petunia Pig is an animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros. She looks much like her significant other, Porky Pig, except that she wears a dress and now has braided black hair, although the character did not originally have...
, Pepe Le Pew
Pepé Le Pew
Pepé Le Pew is a fictional character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, first introduced in 1945. A French skunk that always strolls around in Paris in the springtime, when everyone's thoughts are of "love", Pepé is constantly seeking "l'amour" of his own...
, Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin the Martian
Marvin the Martian
Marvin the Martian is a fictional character appearing in the Looney Tunes cartoons. Marvin's likeness appears in miniature on the Spirit rover on Mars.-Conception and creation:...
, Taz, Granny, Lola Bunny
Lola Bunny
Lola Bunny is a cartoon character from Warner Bros. Studios. She is an anthropomorphic rabbit and has been established as having a romantic involvement with Bugs Bunny, as well as being his main love interest and girlfriend.-Space Jam:...
, Elmer Fudd
Elmer Fudd
Elmer J. Fudd/Egghead is a fictional cartoon character and one of the most famous Looney Tunes characters, and the de facto archenemy of Bugs Bunny. He has one of the more disputed origins in the Warner Bros. cartoon pantheon . His aim is to hunt Bugs, but he usually ends up seriously injuring...
, Speedy Gonzalez, Yosemite Sam
Yosemite Sam
Yosemite Sam is an American animated cartoon character in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The name is somewhat alliterative and is inspired by Yosemite National Park...
, and Gossamer.
In 2006, the park underwent a massive expansion in the entertainment department when Mark Shapiro took control of Six Flags. With this Six Flags New England has added Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
characters, along with the Hall of Justice. In 2007 enemies of the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
known as the Legion of Doom came to Six Flags. This addition brought the following characters to the park: Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Robin, Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, Hawk Girl, Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
, The Flash, The Joker, The Riddler, Sinestro
Sinestro
Thaal Sinestro is a fictional character, an alien supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Sinestro is the former mentor of Hal Jordan and the arch-nemesis of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Sinestro first appears in Green Lantern #7 . In 2009, Sinestro was...
, Cheetah, Lex Luther, and Captain Cold
Captain Cold
Captain Cold, real name Leonard Snart, is a comic book villain created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino as one of the archenemies of Flash. He is a leader of the Rogues...
. The Hall of Justice was were the Jokers Wild Card flat ride used to be, which was transformed into a secret lair. Times are posted outside indicating when guests will be able to meet the characters and pose for pictures. Halfway through the 2010 season, the Hall of Justice closed; a park employee stated it that it would reopen in 2011 as something different, having to do something with the new attraction for the chain's fiftieth anniversary. A sign reads outside of it to go to the newly built meet and greet stages at the entrance to CrackAxle Canyon and behind Route 66.
The park also has some of the characters from Mystery Inc including the great dane detective himself Scooby Doo, his best friend Shaggy Rogers
Shaggy Rogers
Norville "Shaggy" Rogers is a fictional character from the American animated television series Scooby-Doo, about the adventures of four crime-solving teenagers and Shaggy's pet great dane, Scooby-Doo. Shaggy is a cowardly slacker more interested in eating than solving mysteries. He is the only...
, and his nephew Scrappy Doo. Additionally, the park also features two non-Looney Toons themed kids' areas: Wiggles World, and Thomas the Tank Engine Town. Within these areas a variety of Wiggles characters (Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus,and Captain Feathersword) and Sir Topham Hatt (from Thomas the Tank Engine) can be found for kids to meet and take photos with.
Mr. Six, the chain's mascot, roams around the park dancing and interacting with park guests. When We Like to Party
We Like to Party
"We Like to Party" is a popular 1998 electronica dance song by Dutch music group Vengaboys. It is played in A-flat major. The song became their biggest hit in the United States, peaking at #26 in the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 and selling 405,000 copies....
comes over the loudspeakers he breaks out in his signature dance. Mr. Six also hosts a show in the Rockville Gym called Mr. Six's Funtastic Gameshow. Another show inside the Rockville Gym is called, "Dick Clark's: Face the Music," an interactive trivia show.
In the 2008 season, the Glow in the Park Parade was introduced. It is the unique brainchild of world renowned creative director Gary Goddard
Gary Goddard
Gary Goddard is the Founder and CEO of The Goddard Group- an entertainment design firm based in North Hollywood, California.- Work in Theater :...
and features five custom-designed floats, 65 performers and over 35 support staff members and technicians. Each float is adorned with vibrant-multicolored lights that illuminate the park and surround the streets with custom-composed cirque-inspired music. The parade features drummers, puppeteers, singers, dancers and kinetic stilt walkers to create an unparalleled nighttime spectacular. The parade didn't return in the 2009 season, but it did return in 2010.
In 2009 the park created their own original characters that pick up trash. They are coined the "Mop Squad." They are a group of improv artists who clean, throw dance parties, and play games with guests.
Fright Fest
During the month of October, the park gets transformed for its annual Halloween festival, Fright Fest. This transformation includes the addition of Halloween decorations to its Crackaxle Canyon, Main Street, and Rockville areas, making them Haunt Zones with roaming characters to give the areas the themes of a ghost town, a graveyard and an Area 51Area 51
Area 51 is a military base, and a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base. It is located in the southern portion of Nevada in the western United States, 83 miles north-northwest of downtown Las Vegas. Situated at its center, on the southern shore of Groom Lake, is a large military airfield...
complex, respectively. In addition several shows and attractions are added, including Mayhem Mission and The Trick-o-Treat Trail for kids, Dead Legends Live on Main St., Haunting Illusions, Wheel of Fright, and three up-charged "haunts". Dead Legends Live has all past singers together and parody their songs about being dead. "Haunting Illusions" is a magic show in the Rockville Gymnasium Theater featuring illusionist David Garrity. The Wheel of Fright is a wheel and whatever you spin it to land on you have to eat or do. Such things to eat are cockroaches or worms. Prizes include season passes.
The three haunts are called Wicked Woods, Slayer’s Lair, and Midnight Mansion. Wicked Woods is in the picnic groves wooded area and it is a trail with people popping out at you and chasing you, and Slayer’s Lair is in Hurricane Harbor. Midnight Mansion takes place on the ride Houdini. They transform the whole ride building into a haunted mansion. In early 2009 Six Flags New England received an award within the chain for the best Fright Fest of 2008.