Exploring Texas Theme Parks & Beyond
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April 8, 2024 saw Six Flags Over Texas become a unique place to catch the total solar eclipse with rides, viewing areas and a fireworks display. The park is also continuing construction on their two new children's attractions: Sylvester & Tweety Pounce and Bounce and Daffy Duck Bucket Blasters. Six Flags Over Texas is also working on other projects as well, including EV chargers in the parking lot.
Celebrate spring at Fiesta Texas with ¡Viva la Fiesta! Taking place March 29 to April 28, the event features vibrant decor and photo opportunities throughout the park, authentic mariachi music, themed live entertainment and the Taste of ¡Viva la Fiesta! food festival.
Construction progress continues on Fiesta Texas' 2024 ride additions, along with the general retheme and expansion of the DC Universe park area. We also find new Easter eggs around the park, which include several newly-themed billboards. Also new at the park is additional dining signage, a new way to order food from your table and Hurricane Harbor-related changes as its opening day approaches.
Scream Break returns to Six Flags Over Texas from March 9 to 16, this time with a completely new theme. Attendees can experience the return of Casa Magnetica as the Lōkahi Welcome Center, the all-new Curse of the Polynesian Palm haunted house, multiple live entertainment offerings, specialty characters and a wide selection of adult beverages from themed bars. Join us for an in-depth review of Scream Break, along with a behind-the-scenes tour of the event's new haunted house.
Six Flags Over Texas celebrates 50 million riders on the classic Shock Wave roller coaster with a ceremony featuring a ribbon cutting, giveaways and special behind-the-scenes tour. We also show off the quick construction progress taking place for the return of Daffy Duck Bucket Blasters and the new Sylvester & Tweety Pounce and Bounce. Six Flags Over Texas is also celebrating Spring Break through March 17 with live entertainment, decor and specialty food items.
ix Flags Over Texas, the Thrill Capital of Texas, today announced the park’s lineup of thrilling spring events, featuring live performances by local musicians, a vintage-inspired haunt, a rare total solar eclipse, a major milestone for a classic ride, and a celebration of Latin American culture.
What is now known as the San Antonio Zoo officially began in 1914. Over its 100 years, the 57-acre zoo has grown to feature 750 species of animals and over a million annual visitors. The San Antonio Zoo is involved with the protection and breeding of many endangered species, including the black rhino, the golden lion tamarin and the dama gazelle. Today, guests can experience and learn about over 3,500 animals during their visit.
Catapult Falls at SeaWorld San Antonio is a first-of-its-kind log flume attraction. The ride features eleven boats, holding eight riders each. After meandering through calm waters, Catapult Falls launches riders at speeds of 30 feet per second through the first splashdown. Soon enough, the attraction travels up a unique elevator lift and down a 53-degree drop, the steepest of any log flume.
Seven Seas Food Festival
The Seven Seas Food Festival has made its way back to SeaWorld San Antonio on select dates from March 21 to May 27, 2024. This year's festival features over sixty fresh global cuisine choices, along with over fifty specialty beverages.
Decade in Review Video Series
The original Six Flags theme park, Six Flags Over Texas, officially opened on August 5, 1961. Themed around the six flags that had flown over Texas, the park's original concept featured first-of-its-kind attractions, heavily-themed areas and a major focus on entertainment and guest experience. Six Flags Over Texas saw tremendous growth in the 1960s. Marquee attractions, such as the El Aserradero log flume, the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested into entertainment, highlighted the decade. Join us for this Decade in Review for a look at the park's planning, construction, grand opening and first decade of operation.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas officially opened its doors on March 14, 1992 with a small collection of record-breaking attractions, such as The Rattler, and a plethora of world-class live entertainment. Though the 1990s, Fiesta Texas evolved with massive ride and water park expansions, the addition of several marquee roller coasters and even a new themed area. Join us for a trip through the 1990s as we explore the park's opening seasons, along with its acquisition and transformation into a flagship Six Flags park.
Our next episode in the Six Flags Over Texas Decade in Review Series takes a look at 1970 through 1979. Several transformations happened around the park, including a change in the skyline with the addition of Texas Chute Out and the debut of Good Time Square. Other prime attractions included the Big Bend and Shock Wave roller coasters, along with marquee flat rides like Spinnaker. Entertainment was also a big focus in the 1970s with the construction of Music Mill Amphitheater and People Mover Theatre and several Broadway-style productions in Southern Palace Theatre.
History of Six Flags Video Series
Big Bend, a Schwarzkopf Speed Racer roller coaster, called Six Flags Over Texas home from 1971 to 1979. When it opened, it was the park's tallest and fastest roller coaster. Big Bend reached a top speed of 52 miles per hour, climbed up to 81 feet tall and featured 2,876 feet of track. The attraction also included cutting-edge technology with multiple electric spiraling lift hills. Join us for a look at back the iconic Big Bend roller coaster.
La Salle's River Adventure was an interactive boat ride at Six Flags Over Texas from 1961, the park's opening season, through 1982. Equipped with riverboats, boat captain, and animated scenes, guests would learn about La Salle and his journey to find the Mississippi River in the 1600s. Join us as we take a look back at this staple attraction from Six Flags Over Texas' past.
Our first episode in the History of Six Flags Series highlights the world's first-ever log ride: El Aserradero. Built in 1963 by Arrow Dynamics, El Aserradero would go on to revolutionize the theme park landscape around the world!
Fiesta Texas Flashback Video Series
After being acquired by Six Flags, Inc. in the 90s, Fiesta Texas underwent several yearly expansions to provide a well-rounded theme park experience. These included the addition of four marquee roller coasters from 1997 to 2000, several children's and flat rides, new waterpark attractions and more. Join us as we navigate the 2000 season and look at the two coasters that never happened.
The Joker's Revenge, a steel Vekoma Hurricane coaster, called Six Flags Fiesta Texas home from 1996 to 2001 (SBNO in 2002). Standing 79 feet tall, The Joker's Revenge reached speeds of 40 miles per hour and also featured 3 inversions. The roller coaster was eventually transported to Six Flags New Orleans in 2003 where it operated as The Jester. What is the status of the former Joker's Revenge roller coaster today?
DC Universe New in 2024
Six Flags Fiesta Texas introduces an expanded DC Universe area for 2024 with three new attractions and several theming transformations. Follow along with the progress through construction updates.
Additional Parks & Attractions
Carowinds theme park, which originally opened in 1973, is a unique attraction located on the border of North and South Carolina. The name Carowinds is in reference to the winds that blow across the two states. The park's original theme was centered around the history and culture of the Carolinas. Today, Carowinds is home to several high-thrill and record-breaking attractions, such as Intimidator and Fury 325. For its 50th anniversary, Carowinds debuted the Aeronautica landing area with a refreshed theme and several new attractions.
The Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster at SkyLand Ranch opened near the end of 2022 and features a track length of 6,600 feet, making it the longest attraction of its kind in the southeast. The Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster gives riders scenic views of the Smoky Mountains during the day and views of the illuminated Sevierville, TN surroundings at night.
The Goat Coaster at Goats on the Roof opened in 2015, making it one of the original mountain coasters of the area. The attraction features a track length 3,061 feet and takes riders up the side of the Smoky Mountains. Reaching a top speed of nearly 30 miles per hour, the Goat Coaster can be controlled via manual brakes or riders can opt to travel as fast as possible down the mountain. The bonus? Visitors can also enjoy actual goats on the roof!
Hawaiian Falls Waco is a local water park in Waco, Texas that features a dozen water slides, an 800-foot lazy river, central Texas' first large-scale wave pool and several other family-friendly attractions. In 2023, Hawaiian Falls Waco was named one of the best water parks in the United States by The Edvocate.
Originally opened in 2001, Dollywood's Splash Country is a 35-acre water park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that features 16 attractions. These include the high-thrill Fire Tower Falls body slides, the TailSpin Racer racing slides and the award-winning RiverRush water coaster. Dollywood's Splash Country was also recognized as the Best New Water Park in America, along with the most Must-See Water Park by IAAPA.
Opened in 2019, Rowdy Bear's Ski Lift Shootout Coaster is one of Pigeon Forge's most unique ride experiences. Suspended below a track, riders are able to enhance their ride experience by aiming and shooting at various targets throughout the layout. Standing up to 60 feet tall with a track length of 1,300 feet, the Ski Lift Shootout Coaster is also America's first-ever alpine flyer. The attraction is one of many that can be enjoyed at Rowdy Bear Mountain in Pigeon Forge, TN.
The Seven Seas Food Festival has made its way back to SeaWorld San Antonio on select dates from March 21 to May 27, 2024. This year's festival features over sixty fresh global cuisine choices, along with over fifty specialty beverages. Join us for an in-depth tour of this year's event, including a look at every menu and booth location and a rating of nearly twenty food items.