Six Flags Great Adventure opened on July 1, 1974, in Jackson Township, New Jersey, conceived by restaurateur and showman Warner LeRoy as a sprawling entertainment complex he called Great Adventure. LeRoy—grandson of Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner—envisioned seven distinct parks on a single property. Six Flags acquired Great Adventure in 1977, transforming it into one of the chain’s flagship properties over the decades that followed.
Today the resort spans 510 acres and ranks as the second-largest theme park complex in the world by acreage, behind only Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The property combines a 160-acre amusement park packed with more than a dozen roller coasters, a 350-acre drive-through safari, the Hurricane Harbor New Jersey water park, and the Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa glamping retreat—all within an hour of both New York City and Philadelphia.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Opened: July 1, 1974
- Total Acreage: 510 acres (160-acre park + 350-acre safari)
- Roller Coasters: 13 operating (as of 2026)
- Signature Coaster: El Toro — 181 ft tall, 70 mph, Intamin prefab wood
- Annual Visitors: About 2.5 million (2023)
- Safari Animals: 1,200+ animals across 350 acres
World-Class Coasters
El Toro has long been the crown jewel of the coaster lineup. The Intamin prefabricated wooden coaster opened on June 11, 2006, and immediately turned heads: its 176-foot first drop at a then-record 76-degree angle was the steepest of any wooden coaster in the world at the time, and its 70 mph top speed ranks among the fastest wooden rides anywhere. The Golden Ticket Awards twice named it the world’s best wooden roller coaster, in 2012 and again in 2017.
Jersey Devil Coaster, which debuted in 2021, added a different dimension—a single-rail Rocky Mountain Construction design that sends riders along a narrow 3,000-foot layout with an 87-degree drop from 130 feet. Nitro, a hyper-coaster that opened in 2001, rounds out the headline trio and has consistently ranked among the top steel coasters in the world. Kingda Ka, once the world’s tallest roller coaster at 456 feet, held that title from its 2005 opening until it was permanently closed in November 2024 and demolished on February 28, 2025; a new multi-launch coaster is under construction as its replacement, expected to debut in 2027.
Safari, Water Park, and Resort
Wild Safari Adventure sets Six Flags Great Adventure apart from nearly every other regional theme park. Guests drive their own vehicles—or board park trams—through 350 acres of open habitat home to more than 1,200 animals representing species from six continents, including giraffes, lions, white rhinos, bison, and kangaroos. The attraction traces its roots to the original 1974 opening and remains one of the largest drive-through safari experiences in North America.
Hurricane Harbor New Jersey, added in 2000, provides a full water park experience on the same property. Together with the Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa glamping destination, the complex has evolved well beyond a single-day outing into a multi-day resort that draws families from across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Explore more: Theme Parks.
Six Flags Great Adventure FAQs
What happened to Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure?
Kingda Ka, the world’s tallest roller coaster at 456 feet, permanently closed in November 2024 after years of operational challenges and was demolished on February 28, 2025. Six Flags has announced a new record-breaking multi-launch coaster—codenamed Project Purple—to replace it, with an expected opening in 2027.
What is the best roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure?
El Toro is widely regarded as the park’s standout coaster. The 181-foot Intamin prefabricated wooden ride reaches 70 mph and features a 176-foot drop at a steep 76-degree angle. It won the Golden Ticket Award for world’s best wooden roller coaster in both 2012 and 2017.
Is there a safari at Six Flags Great Adventure?
Yes. Wild Safari Adventure is a 350-acre drive-through safari included with park admission. Guests encounter more than 1,200 animals—giraffes, lions, white rhinos, kangaroos, and others—making it one of the largest safari experiences outside Africa.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.