Six Flags Great America opened on May 29, 1976, as Marriott’s Great America before Six Flags purchased the park in 1984. Located on 275 acres in Gurnee, Illinois, it holds the title of the largest amusement park in Illinois and remains one of the busiest seasonal parks in North America, drawing over 3 million guests in 2024.
The park’s coaster lineup spans five decades of ride engineering, from the classic wooden racer American Eagle (1981) to Batman: The Ride (1992), the world’s first inverted roller coaster, up through the record-setting Wrath of Rakshasa dive coaster that debuted in 2025. Alongside its 16 roller coasters, the park includes the adjoining Hurricane Harbor Chicago water park and the towering Sky Trek observation tower.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Gurnee, Illinois
- Opened: May 29, 1976 (as Marriott’s Great America)
- Owner: Six Flags
- Size: About 275 acres
- Roller Coasters: 16
- Notable Coaster: Batman: The Ride – world’s first inverted coaster (1992)
- Newest Coaster: Wrath of Rakshasa – B&M dive coaster (2025)
- 2024 Attendance: About 3.05 million
The Ride Experience
Six Flags Great America’s coaster collection covers nearly every major style built over the past half-century. Batman: The Ride, a Bolliger & Mabillard inverted coaster from 1992, still runs its original tight-inversion layout that inspired inverted coasters worldwide. Raging Bull, a B&M hypercoaster from 1999, and Goliath, a Rocky Mountain Construction wood-steel hybrid from 2014 with a 180-foot first drop, add high-speed variety alongside the vintage wooden racer American Eagle from 1981.
The park’s newest headliner, Wrath of Rakshasa, opened May 31, 2025, as a B&M dive coaster reaching 180 feet with a record-setting 96-degree drop and five inversions, the most ever on a dive coaster model.
Beyond the Coasters
Away from the steel and wood, the Columbia Carousel stands out as the second-tallest carousel in the world at 100 feet, offering sweeping views of the park from its upper deck. The 330-foot Sky Trek Tower provides another vantage point over Gurnee, while the adjacent Hurricane Harbor Chicago, opened in 2005 as a separately gated water park, gives guests a way to cool off during Illinois summers.
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Six Flags Great America FAQs
Where is Six Flags Great America located?
It’s located in Gurnee, Illinois, roughly halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee.
How many roller coasters does Six Flags Great America have?
The park has 16 roller coasters as of 2026, ranging from the 1981 wooden racer American Eagle to the 2025 dive coaster Wrath of Rakshasa.
What was Six Flags Great America originally called?
It opened in 1976 as Marriott’s Great America before Six Flags acquired and renamed it in 1984.
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Photo: Great America / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.