Six Flags America closing after 50 years; water park Hurricane Harbor also set to shut down

After thrilling generations of households, Six Flags America, a Maryland staple since 1974, is set to shut, ending a 50-year run of rollercoasters, cotton sweet, and summer time reminiscences. The 500-acre resort, which started as a safari park earlier than its 1999 rebrand, will quickly be up on the market for redevelopment, with executives saying it now not aligns with the corporate’s long-term technique.
The shutdown will influence greater than 70 full-time staffers, and its common Hurricane Harbor water park will also shut for good.
CEO Selim Bassoul and actual property govt Gary Zimmerman confirmed the closure, noting the choice was pushed by a want to “unlock the full value” of the corporate’s property portfolio. “We anticipate strong interest in the land,” Zimmerman added.
Local leaders reacted with shock and disappointment.
“This is a significant loss,” mentioned (*50*) George’s County Council Chair Edward Burroughs, who lamented the impact on working households and the lack of leisure area for youngsters. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also expressed her dismay: “This one was the more shocking one. We did not expect this.”
The closure comes simply days after one other regional bombshell, the Washington Commanders saying they are going to go away Maryland for a brand new stadium in D.C., ending a 30-year presence within the state.
For now, season passes stay legitimate by the top of the working season, however the countdown to the top of an period has begun.