Six Flags New England sits in Agawam, Massachusetts, and traces its roots back to 1870 as Gallup’s Grove, making it the oldest park in the entire Six Flags chain. Long known as Riverside Park from 1912 to 1995, the property was purchased by Premier Parks in 1996 and rebranded Six Flags New England in 2000.
Today the park spans more than 200 acres and runs a dozen roller coasters, headlined by Superman The Ride, a 208-foot Intamin coaster that hits 77 mph on a 221-foot drop. Alongside newer additions like the Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid Wicked Cyclone and the S&S FreeFly coaster The Joker, the park still operates Thunderbolt, a 1941 wooden coaster that stands as the oldest coaster in its original location anywhere in the Six Flags chain.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Agawam, Massachusetts
- Opened: 1870 (as Gallup’s Grove); Six Flags branding since 2000
- Size: Over 200 acres
- Roller Coasters: 12
- Signature Coaster: Superman The Ride (Intamin, 208 ft, 77 mph)
- Oldest Ride: Thunderbolt, a 1941 wooden coaster
- Owner: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
The Ride Lineup
Superman The Ride anchors the coaster collection as an Intamin steel coaster standing 208 feet tall, dropping 221 feet, and reaching a top speed of 77 mph across roughly 5,400 feet of track. It has repeatedly placed in Golden Ticket Award rankings since opening in 2000.
Wicked Cyclone, added in 2015, is a Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid built from the bones of the park’s original 1983 wooden Cyclone. The Joker, an S&S Worldwide 4D FreeFly coaster, joined the lineup in 2017, while Thunderbolt continues to run as a 1941-built wooden coaster that has never left its original site.
From Gallup’s Grove to Six Flags
The park’s history stretches back to 1870, long before it took on any Six Flags branding. It operated for decades as Riverside Park starting in 1912, nearly closing during the Great Depression before Edward Carroll Sr. took over in 1939 and kept it running under family ownership.
The Carroll family sold the park to Premier Parks in 1996; it briefly operated as Riverside: The Great Escape before Premier Parks (which had also acquired Six Flags) rebranded it Six Flags New England in 2000, folding its century-plus history into the wider Six Flags chain.
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Six Flags New England FAQs
Where is Six Flags New England located?
The park is in Agawam, Massachusetts, near Springfield, close to the Connecticut border.
What is the tallest ride at Six Flags New England?
Superman The Ride, an Intamin steel coaster, is the park’s tallest at 208 feet with a 221-foot drop and a top speed of 77 mph.
Is Six Flags New England the oldest park in the Six Flags chain?
Yes. Its site dates to 1870 as Gallup’s Grove, and it later operated as Riverside Park before becoming Six Flags New England in 2000.
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