Darien Lake is a large amusement park and resort in Darien Center, New York, roughly midway between Buffalo and Rochester and about 45 minutes from Niagara Falls. The park opened in May 1981 as Darien Lake Fun Country on a sprawling property that today covers around 1,200 acres, making it one of the biggest theme park footprints in the country by land area.
Now operating as Six Flags Darien Lake, the park is owned by EPR Properties and has been operated by Six Flags since 2018. Over more than four decades it has cycled through several names and operators, including Darien Lake Theme Park Resort under Palace Entertainment, but the local shorthand “Darien Lake” has stuck through every era.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Darien Center, New York
- Opened: May 1981
- Owner: EPR Properties
- Operator: Six Flags (since 2018)
- Size: About 1,200 acres
- Roller coasters: About 8
- Water park: Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Darien Lake
- Amphitheater capacity: About 20,000 seats
The Ride Lineup
The park’s signature coaster is Ride of Steel, an Intamin steel hypercoaster that opened in 1999 as Superman: Ride of Steel before losing its licensed theming in 2007. It climbs 208 feet, drops at a 68-degree angle, and reaches about 73 mph across a layout with two helixes and multiple airtime hills.
Darien Lake also runs Predator, a wooden coaster designed by Curtis D. Summers and built by Dinn Corporation that opened in 1990, standing about 95 feet tall with a top speed near 50 mph. Rounding out the lineup are Viper, Mind Eraser, Boomerang, Moto Coaster, Hoot N Holler, and the Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter Tantrum, added in 2018.
Beyond the Rides
Admission includes Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Darien Lake, a water park with slides and a wave pool, and the grounds also host a large campground with RV sites and cabins alongside the Lodge on the Lake Hotel, a 161-room property that opened in 1998.
The park’s amphitheater, long known as the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, seats about 20,000 and has hosted major touring concerts for decades, making Darien Lake as much a regional concert destination as a coaster park.
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Darien Lake FAQs
Is Darien Lake a Six Flags park?
Yes. The park is owned by EPR Properties and has been operated by Six Flags since 2018 under the name Six Flags Darien Lake.
What is the tallest ride at Darien Lake?
Ride of Steel is the park’s tallest coaster, an Intamin hypercoaster that climbs 208 feet and reaches about 73 mph.
Does Darien Lake have a water park?
Yes, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Darien Lake is included with regular park admission.
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Photo by ROBERT MORROW on Pexels.