Six Flags America: Why It Closed & What’s Next (1974-2025)

Six Flags America opened its gates in 1974 as a wildlife park east of Washington, D.C., and by the time it closed 51 years later it had grown into one of the mid-Atlantic’s larger theme parks, home to a 108-year-old wooden coaster and seven other thrill rides. On November 2, 2025, Six Flags America shut down for good, and in April 2026 the 515-acre property was sold to a development group backed by NBA star Kevin Durant for a decade-long mixed-use redevelopment.

This guide covers the park’s full history and name changes, why Six Flags pulled the plug, what happened to fan-favorite rides like The Wild One and Firebird, and what’s coming next for the Bowie, Maryland site — plus where Maryland families are heading for their theme-park fix now that it’s gone.

Quick Answer

Six Flags America, located at 13710 Central Ave in Bowie, Maryland (Prince George’s County), permanently closed on November 2, 2025, after 51 years in operation. Six Flags shut it down as part of a post-merger portfolio review that favored redeveloping the property over continued theme-park use; in April 2026 the 515-acre site was sold to Kevin Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures and TPA Group for a phased, mixed-use project.

A Park Built on Decades of History

Few American theme parks carried as much layered history as Six Flags America. The property first opened on July 15, 1974, as The Wildlife Preserve, a drive-through animal park east of Washington, D.C. It was renamed Wild World in 1982 after adding rides and water attractions, became Adventure World in 1993 following a change in ownership, and finally took the Six Flags America name in 1999. Through every rebrand, the park kept the same address at 13710 Central Ave — sometimes listed under the nearby Woodmore, Largo, or Upper Marlboro place names, all within Prince George’s County.

Its oldest ride, The Wild One, predated the park itself by 57 years. The coaster opened on May 26, 1917, as The Giant Coaster at Paragon Park in Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts, designed by John A. Miller and built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company; at 98 feet tall, it was briefly the tallest coaster in the world. When Paragon Park closed in 1984, Wild World bought the ride at auction for $28,000, rebuilt roughly 75 percent of its structure, and reopened it as The Wild One in 1986. American Coaster Enthusiasts gave it the organization’s Coaster Landmark award in 2018, by which point it was the oldest continuously operating wooden coaster in the United States.

The park’s other headline attractions included Superman: Ride of Steel, an Intamin hypercoaster that opened in 2000 and reached 208 feet and 73 mph; Roar, a wooden coaster from Great Coasters International; and Firebird, a Bolliger & Mabillard coaster with its own relocation story. Firebird began life in 1990 as Iron Wolf, B&M’s very first coaster, at Six Flags Great America in Illinois. It moved to Maryland in 2012 as the stand-up coaster Apocalypse, then was converted to floorless trains and renamed Firebird for the 2019 season — giving it, like The Wild One, a history longer than its years in Maryland suggest.

Why Six Flags America Closed

Six Flags announced the closure on May 1, 2025, saying the park no longer fit the company’s long-term growth plans. The decision followed the 2024 merger of Six Flags and Cedar Fair, which created a combined company operating more than two dozen parks and triggered a systemwide portfolio review aimed at cutting underperforming or capital-intensive locations. Six Flags America and its companion water park, Hurricane Harbor Maryland, were both included.

Local coverage pointed to a mix of factors beyond the merger: rising operating costs and ticket prices squeezing attendance at a mid-sized regional park, direct competition from larger parks within driving distance such as Hersheypark and Kings Dominion, and the underlying real-estate value of a 515-acre property just 15 miles from Washington, D.C. Hurricane Harbor Maryland closed first, on September 6, 2025, and the main park followed on November 2, 2025.

What Happened to The Wild One and Other Rides

Six Flags said at closure that individual rides could be relocated to other company parks or sold to outside operators, but it did not announce specific plans for any Six Flags America attraction. Superman: Ride of Steel ran its final cycle on closing day; within about a week, its trains had reportedly been moved to the parking lot, though the fate of the track and support structure was not disclosed.

The Wild One’s future drew the most attention from coaster enthusiasts, who launched petitions and preservation campaigns given its Coaster Landmark status and 108-year lineage. As of this writing, no relocation, sale, or demolition has been publicly confirmed for The Wild One, Roar, or Firebird — all three remained in limbo on the sold-but-not-yet-redeveloped property.

Redevelopment: What’s Next for the 515-Acre Site

In April 2026, Six Flags sold the roughly 515-acre property to Thirty Five Ventures — the firm co-founded by NBA star Kevin Durant — and TPA Group, with proceeds going toward paying down debt from the Cedar Fair merger. The buyers have described the site as a blank slate for mixed-use development rather than a future theme park.

TPA Group has outlined five guiding pillars for the project: entertainment, education, health and wellness, housing, and innovation. Officials have said to expect a phased buildout over roughly the next decade, with early ideas including retail and dining, sports facilities, trails, and green space, though no formal site plan or construction timeline has been finalized.

Where Maryland Families Are Going Instead

With Six Flags America gone, Maryland families looking for a theme-park day are turning to a handful of regional options: Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City for coasters and a waterpark, Adventure Park USA in Frederick for laser tag and a ropes course, and Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville for its indoor waterpark. For a full-scale theme park experience, the closest options are Hersheypark in Pennsylvania and the Six Flags-Cedar Fair family’s own Kings Dominion in Virginia and Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.

Six Flags America FAQs

When did Six Flags America close?

Six Flags America permanently closed on November 2, 2025, after 51 years of operation. Its water park, Hurricane Harbor Maryland, had already closed two months earlier on September 6, 2025.

Why did Six Flags America close?

Six Flags said the park no longer fit its long-term plans following the 2024 Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger, which triggered a portfolio review of underperforming or capital-intensive parks. The high value of its 515-acre suburban D.C. property was also widely seen as a factor.

What was Six Flags America called before it had that name?

It opened in 1974 as The Wildlife Preserve, became Wild World in 1982, then Adventure World in 1993, before being renamed Six Flags America in 1999.

What happened to The Wild One roller coaster?

The Wild One closed with the rest of the park on November 2, 2025. Six Flags has not announced whether the 1917-built wooden coaster will be relocated, sold, or demolished, despite preservation campaigns from coaster enthusiasts.

What is being built on the old Six Flags America site?

Kevin Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures and TPA Group bought the 515-acre property in April 2026 for a mixed-use redevelopment centered on entertainment, education, health and wellness, housing, and innovation, with a phased buildout planned over roughly a decade.

Where was Six Flags America located?

The park sat at 13710 Central Ave in Bowie, Maryland, in Prince George’s County, about 15 miles east of Washington, D.C. — a location also associated with the nearby Woodmore and Largo place names.

Where can I go instead of Six Flags America?

Nearby options include Jolly Roger in Ocean City, Adventure Park USA in Frederick, and Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, plus larger parks like Hersheypark, Kings Dominion, and Six Flags Great Adventure.

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