The Heartbreaking Reason This Six Flags Location Is Closing For Good

Residents of the DMV — or Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia metro area — will have just one final summer to enjoy the Six Flags America amusement park and Hurricane Harbor water park. That's because these two attractions — both located in Bowie, Maryland — will be closing permanently on November 2, 2025. In a recent press release, Six Flags president and CEO Richard A. Zimmerman stated, "As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company's long-term growth plan."

Though sad, this news isn't surprising considering the 2024 merger between park operators Cedar Fair and Six Flags — the latter having successfully rebounded from bankruptcy following the Great Recession. The combined company, which operates under the name Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, now has a massively larger number of parks in its portfolio — with some of those properties being rendered redundant. In the case of Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor, these parks have been struggling to compete with nearby Kings Dominion in Virginia, which is now part of the Six Flags empire via the merger.

The land that Six Flags America currently occupies was founded as a wildlife center in 1974 by former presidential candidate Ross Perot. In the ensuing years, the 500 acres were slowly transitioned into a theme park, which was made official in 1992 — though Six Flags didn't have an ownership interest until 1999.

Currently, Six Flags America is home to nine roller coasters, a few of which were relocated from Six Flags Great America in the Chicagoland area to make room for new attractions at that venue. Six Flags America also has bragging rights by having the third oldest wooden roller coaster in the entire world. Called Wild One, the vintage thrill ride dates back to 1912 and was relocated from Paragon Park in New England when that venue closed in 1986.

Six Flags America employs approximately 70 full-time staffers who will be eligible to receive severance pay and other benefits after the park shuts down. However, the park also provided summer jobs for hundreds of local residents, including teenagers job hunting during one of the best job seasons of the year.

As for what will become of the land after the Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor attractions shutter their doors, Six Flags' parent company stated, "After reviewing a number of options, we believe that marketing the property for redevelopment will generate the highest value and return on investment." According to the real estate news outlet The Real Deal, Six Flags has already brought in real estate firm, CBRE, to try and market and pitch the property as a redevelopment opportunity.

A natural instinct would be to assume that means some mix of housing and retail but it's also being reported that the land isn't currently zoned for any other purpose besides an amusement park. A residential development would require the support of Prince George County, where the land is located. However, at least a few members of the county council are resistant to large-scale residential development and would prefer some type of family entertainment venue instead. There is no word as to what will become of the current rides at Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor after the parks close. Similar circumstances have led to rides being sold and relocated, but scrapping them altogether is also on the table.