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Six Flags Over Texas

Arlington, Texas

In 1959, Texas real estate developer Angus G. Wynne, Jr. founded the Great Southwest Corporation. After a ten million dollar investment, the park opened on August 1, 1961. Wynne decided his park would have six areas based on the governments that have ruled Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States, and The U.S.A. The park was going to be named Texas Under Six Flags, but Wynne decided Texas should not be under anything and called the park Six Flags Over Texas.

Wynne passed away in 1979, but his legacy continues. Two other Six Flags parks were built, and several other existing parks were purchased and brought into the Six Flags family in the 1970's. In 1981, Six Flags Theme Parks was incorporated and sold to Bally's a year later. In 1987, Wesray Capital purchased the chain for $617 million. Time Warner began managing the parks in 1991. In 1998, Premier Parks purchased Six Flags from Time Warner as well as the rights to use DC Comics and Warner Bros. characters. The Six Flags merged with Cedar Fair in 2024 and now the Six Flags chain owns 27 amusement parks.

Six Flags Over Texas is home to the world's first log flume ride and the first Mine Train coaster. The 300-foot tall Oil Derrick observation tower opened in 1969. One of the two original Intamin Freefall rides opened here in 1982.

In addition to converting the wood Texas Giant into the steel New Texas Giant, four coasters have left the park:

  • Big Bend (1971-1978) was a Schwarzkopf Jumbo Jet coaster with two spiral lift hills. It was scrapped in the 1980s.
  • Cucaracha (1961-1964) was briefly called Sidewinder. It was a Herschell Mad Mouse.
  • Flashback (1989-2012) was a Vekoma Boomerang. Since 2013, it has been operating as Boomerang at Six Flags St. Louis. (See pictures below for details).
  • La Vibora (1986-2024) was an Intamin Bobsled. It was called Avalanche from 1987 to 1994. (See pictures below for details)

Videos


Aquaman: Power Wave

Pictures coming soon...

Batman The Ride


Flashback


Joker

Pictures coming soon...

Judge Roy Scream


La Vibora

(formerly Avalanche)

Mini Mine Train


Mr. Freeze

(formerly Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast)

New Texas Giant


Pandemonium

(formerly Tony Hawk's Big Spin, Big Spin)

Runaway Mine Train

(formerly Run-A-Way Mine Train, Mine Train)

Runaway Mountain


Shock Wave


Texas Giant


Titan


Wile E. Coyote's Grand Canyon Blaster