Theme Park & Attraction News, Tours and Reviews
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Holiday in the Park is back at Six Flags Fiesta Texas on select dates through December 23. The festive event features several Christmas light displays, specialty food offerings, a huge line-up of live entertainment and holiday activities. Join us for an in-depth look and review of this year's Holiday in the Park event.
Work continues to take place on Six Flags Fiesta Texas' DC Universe expansion. Trains for the Metropolis Transit Authority have been installed, while Shazam! Tower of Eternity is now vertical and Poison Ivy Toxic Spin has reopened. On top of a behind-the-scenes tour of DC Universe, we also take a look at the Batman: The Ride refurbishment, the updates coming soon to Goliath and the return of higher-end food offerings in the park's VIP Lounge.
Holiday in the Park has returned to Six Flags Over Texas now through December 31. This year's event features nearly a dozen new entertainment offerings, including FROST in Southern Palace Theatre and Holly Jolly Trolley. Family activities feature visits and photos with Santa Claus, the new North Pole Post Office and interactions with Mrs. Claus. For older guests, brave the Krampus in Paradise haunted house and enjoy an adult beverage in the reimagined Merry Marketplace.
North Texas’ premier Christmas event, Holiday in the Park®, returns to Six Flags Over Texas bigger, brighter, and better than ever. This year’s festival will feature seven new shows and four new seasonal activities for the whole family, partnered with fan favorites such as photos with Santa, thrilling rides and dazzling lights. Holiday in the Park opens Sunday, Nov. 24 and runs weekends and select weekdays through Dec. 31.
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.
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.
Few legends strike as much terror and curiosity as the Chupacabra, a shadowy creature from Texas folklore said to stalk the night. Brace yourself for the ultimate transformation as Six Flags Fiesta Texas unveils its latest ride project. Chupacabra, an iconic suspended rollercoaster that brings myth and adrenaline together for an unforgettable themed ride experience.