Theme Park & Attraction News, Tours and Reviews
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Howl-O-Scream, SeaWorld San Antonio's Halloween event, has returned in 2024 on select dates through October 27. This year's spooky festivities include the return of six free haunted houses, along with new terror-tories that feature unique monsters and creepy creatures. Follow us through all eight terror-tories, along with a couple of the park's premier haunted houses.
Join us for an in-depth tour and review of Six Flags Over Texas' fall food offerings. Both Oktoberfest Food Festival and Fright Fest feature several specialty items this year, including German favorites, hauntingly spicy entrees and enough dessert to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth. Oktoberfest Food Festival and Fright Fest both take place through the beginning of November.
SeaWorld San Antonio recently announced the new Rescue Jr. area for 2025 and work is already well under way for the transformation. Super Grover's Box Car Racers has been demolished to make way for the new Beach Rescue Racer roller coaster, while other structures within the area have also been removed.
Kids Boo Fest returns to Six Flags Over Texas for another season of family-friendly, daytime Halloween fun. This year's event includes the return of several interactive activities, including scream and costume contests. Kids Boo Fest visitors can also trek down the expansive trick or treat trail, enjoy daily foam parties in Bugs Bunny Boomtown and catch the Looney Tunes Halloween dance party at Silver Star Carousel Stage.
Fright Fest is jam-packed in 2024 at Six Flags Over Texas with the return of live entertainment, monster-filled scare zones and haunted houses. This year's haunted house line-up features several popular horror themes, including Stranger Things, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, SAW and Trick 'r Treat. Dr. H.H. Holmes' Freak Show has come back to Southern Palace Theatre, while shows at the park entrance have seen a refresh. Other themed entertainment, including Dia de los Muertos and a spooky rendition of the gunfighters, have also debuted for this year's Fright Fest.
Decade in Review Series
Join us for an in-depth look at each decade of both Six Flags Over Texas and Fiesta Texas. Episodes, broken up by each decade, highlight major milestones and areas of historical significance for both theme parks.
Decade in Review Video Series
The original Six Flags theme park, Six Flags Over Texas, officially opened on August 5, 1961. Themed around the six flags that had flown over Texas, the park's original concept featured first-of-its-kind attractions, heavily-themed areas and a major focus on entertainment and guest experience. Six Flags Over Texas saw tremendous growth in the 1960s. Marquee attractions, such as the El Aserradero log flume, the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into entertainment, highlighted the decade. Join us for this Decade in Review for a look at the park's planning, construction, grand opening and first decade of operation.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas officially opened its doors on March 14, 1992 with a small collection of record-breaking attractions, such as The Rattler, and a plethora of world-class live entertainment. Though the 1990s, Fiesta Texas evolved with massive ride and water park expansions, the addition of several marquee roller coasters and even a new themed area. Join us for a trip through the 1990s as we explore the park's opening seasons, along with its acquisition and transformation into a flagship Six Flags park.
Our next episode in the Six Flags Over Texas Decade in Review Series takes a look at 1970 through 1979. Several transformations happened around the park, including a change in the skyline with the addition of Texas Chute Out and the debut of Good Time Square. Other prime attractions included the Big Bend and Shock Wave roller coasters, along with marquee flat rides like Spinnaker. Entertainment was also a big focus in the 1970s with the construction of Music Mill Amphitheater and People Mover Theatre and several Broadway-style productions in Southern Palace Theatre.
The 1980s were a decade of multiple ownerships, original removals, licensed characters, high-thrill attractions and more. Six Flags Over Texas introduced mainstream figures into the park, including Pac-Man and the Looney Tunes. Major roller coaster additions included the Flashback!, Avalanche Bobsled and Judge Roy Scream. The Six Flags Over Texas skyline also saw numerous changes, such as Texas Cliffhanger and the Great Six Flags Air Racer.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas heads into their second decade of operation in the 2000s with the addition of the record-breaking Superman Krypton Coaster. Other large additions to Fiesta Texas during this decade include multiple water slide attractions, Tony Hawk's Big Spin and Goliath. Live entertainment was a staple of the park during the 2000s as they'd produce over a dozen shows each season and take home Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Award for "Best Theme Park Shows" on numerous occasions.
Six Flags Over Texas saw massive expansions throughout the 1990s. Roller coasters like Mr. Freeze and Batman: The Ride, along with the addition of the Gotham City park area, highlight this decade. Six Flags Over Texas also experienced multiple owners, including Time Warner and Premier Parks. Seasons full of jam-packed events and high-quality live entertainment created an environment for guests of all ages.
History of Six Flags Series
Six Flags Over Texas is full of many iconic moments and attractions, including the first-ever log ride, the Big Bend roller coaster and more. Stroll down memory lane with a look at several attractions from Six Flags Over Texas’ past and present.
Six Flags History Video Series
Six Flags Fiesta Texas saw an unprecedented $30 million expansion for the 1999 season. This included multiple roller coasters, such as Poltergeist, several flat rides and children's rides and the iconic Lone Star Lagoon Texas-shaped wave pool. Join us for another episode in the Fiesta Texas Flashback Series, which takes a look at the largest expansion in Six Flags Fiesta Texas history.
Big Bend, a Schwarzkopf Speed Racer roller coaster, called Six Flags Over Texas home from 1971 to 1979. When it opened, it was the park's tallest and fastest roller coaster. Big Bend reached a top speed of 52 miles per hour, climbed up to 81 feet tall and featured 2,876 feet of track. The attraction also included cutting-edge technology with multiple electric spiraling lift hills. Join us for a look at back the iconic Big Bend roller coaster.
After being acquired by Six Flags, Inc. in the 90s, Fiesta Texas underwent several yearly expansions to provide a well-rounded theme park experience. These included the addition of four marquee roller coasters from 1997 to 2000, several children's and flat rides, new waterpark attractions and more. Join us as we navigate the 2000 season and look at the two coasters that never happened.
The Joker's Revenge, a steel Vekoma Hurricane coaster, called Six Flags Fiesta Texas home from 1996 to 2001 (SBNO in 2002). Standing 79 feet tall, The Joker's Revenge reached speeds of 40 miles per hour and also featured 3 inversions. The roller coaster was eventually transported to Six Flags New Orleans in 2003 where it operated as The Jester. What is the status of the former Joker's Revenge roller coaster today?
La Salle's River Adventure was an interactive boat ride at Six Flags Over Texas from 1961, the park's opening season, through 1982. Equipped with riverboats, boat captain, and animated scenes, guests would learn about La Salle and his journey to find the Mississippi River in the 1600s. Join us as we take a look back at this staple attraction from Six Flags Over Texas' past.
Our first episode in the History of Six Flags Series highlights the world's first-ever log ride: El Aserradero. Built in 1963 by Arrow Dynamics, El Aserradero would go on to revolutionize the theme park landscape around the world!
Parks & Attractions Index
See a full collection of news and reviews from our visits to theme parks, zoos, aquariums, mountain coasters and other attractions across the United States.
Additional Parks & Attractions
Worlds of Fun theme park, located in Kansas City, MO, originally opened in 1973, themed to the book, "Around the World in Eighty Days." The unique park features themed areas not commonly found in North America, such as Scandinavia and East Asia. Worlds of Fun is home to Patriot, which opened as the tallest, fastest and longest inverted coaster in the region. In 2009, the park opened the Prowler wooden roller coaster, which was awarded "Best New Ride of 2009" by Amusement Today. In 2023, Zambezi Zinger opened as the world's first ground-up GCI Titan Track wooden coaster.
Adventureland Resort, located in Altoona, IA, opened in 1974, marking this year as its 50th anniversary celebration. The theme park's design has several nods to Disneyland, such as the entrance area train station with two tunnels and a full Main Street thoroughfare. Adventureland is home to seven roller coasters and a total of fifty attractions, water park included. Over the last decade, the park has seen a high level of investment in new attractions, including The Monster, Dragon Slayer, Flying Viking and a major refurbishment of The Underground roller coaster.
Lost Island Theme Park, one of North America's newest parks, opened in 2022 in Waterloo, Iowa. The park is themed to an enchanted tropical island with incredibly immersive areas and rides to match. To date, Lost Island is home to three roller coasters, including Nopuko Air Coaster and Matugani and an award-winning dark ride, Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol. During our visit, the park announced their 2025 addition, a RMC Raptor roller coaster named Fire Runner.
Valleyfair theme park, located in Shakopee, Minnesota, first opened in 1976 with one roller coaster being its star attraction. In 1978, Cedar Point purchased Valleyfair and would go on to create the Cedar Fair theme park chain. Today, Valleyfair is home to eight roller coasters, including Wild Thing and Renegade, several flat rides and the Soak City water park.
Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, is a large indoor theme park that originally opened in 1992 as Knott's Camp Snoopy. In 2008, the park would transform into Nickelodeon Universe that overhauled its theme. Today, Nickelodeon Universe features five roller coasters, a heavily themed log ride, and over two dozen other rides and attractions.
Hurricane Harbor Arlington, the largest water park in North Texas, is thrilled to announce its largest investment in park history with the debut of Splash Island and a variety of new guest amenities set for 2025. This expansion introduces a vibrant coastal-themed area featuring colorful slides and a multi-level interactive play structure, perfect for young guests.
Six Flags Over Texas will receive an array of theme park enhancements in 2025 and Hurricane Harbor Arlington will debut the largest investment in park history with the introduction of a massive interactive kids area, Splash Island. In a groundbreaking announcement, Six Flags also revealed that a record-breaking dive roller coaster will launch at the Arlington theme park in 2026.