Six Flags over Texas Timeline

 Six Flags over Texas Timeline 
DateEventLocation
1897The Red Train, known as the Maribeau B. Lamar, and later as the Charles Patton, is manufactured by Porter Locomotives. 
1901The Green Train, known as the Sam Houston, and later as the Larry Cochran, is manufactured by Dickson  Locomotives. 
1925/6The Carrousel Ride is produced by the Dentzel Carousel Company of Philadelphia. 
1955Disneyland Opens 
1959Preliminary Planning for Six Flags Begins, by the Great Southwest Corp., real estate developer Angus Wynne of Dallas and New York Investors, owners 
August 1960Construction for Six Flags Begins 
1961Park Opening 
August 1, 1961 to August 5, 1961“Soft test opening” of Six Flags 
August 5, 1961Grand Opening Attendance: 8,374 
1961 SeasonTicket Price: $2.75 adult; $2.25 child; Parking: 50cHamburger: 35c; Soft Drink: 10cMinimum Employee age: 21 
 Dancing Waters
Star Mall
Marching Band
Front Gate
 Southwest Life Petting Zoo
Missile Chaser
Happy Motoring Freeway (One Track)
Astro-Lift
Sidewinder – Wild Mouse Roller Coaster
Modern
 La Salle’s Riverboat AdventureFrance
 Amphitheater (now the site of Southern Palace)
Butterfield Stage Coach (que house besides Nalar’s Chicken Plantation.)
Little Dixie Carousal (later known as the “Flying Jenny”) in front of Southern Palace.
Confederate recruiting station and re-enactment performers
Dixieland Band
Confederacy
 Skull Island
“Skull Rock”
skull slide
Raft Ride to Skull Island
Tree Slide
Confederacy
Skull Island
 Six Flags Railroad
Astrolift Terminal
Gunfighter Performances
Texas
 Los Conquistadors Coronado Burro RideSpain
 Las Cocheses Cabras Goat Cart Ride
Indian Village, Indian Dancers
Original  Ferrocarril Fiesta Train
Mexican Band
Banderas de Colores (Covered walkway)
Mexico
 Helicopter RidesOutside the park
End 19611st Season: 45 days1st Season Attendance: @550,000Last day: November 25, 1961 
   
1962 SeasonTickets: Adults $2.75,under 12 $2.25Minimum Employee Age: 18Open: April 20, 19621000 employees 
 Sidewinder roller coaster moved to Mexico renamed  “La CucarachaMexico
 Red Train Finished and on-line July 5, 1962
Chaparral Cars Added
Texas
 Canoes added (the path to Canoes Q-house next to Amphitheater) 
 Skull Island Expanded:
Tree House Slide
Added Barrel Slide
Added Pirate Ship & Cave play area
Skull Island
 Second Happy Motoring Freeway added at site the SidewinderModern
 Casa Magnetica addedSpain
End of 1962Burro Ride RemovedSpain
 Attendance: @1.2 million 
   
1963 SeasonAdults: $3.50, Under 12 $2.50 
 BoomTown added
Antique Carousel Added
Sky-Hook Added
Boomtown Station RR Depot
Small Puppet Show Wagon
Boomtown
 Happy Motoring Freeway First track shortened to make way for Boomtown. 
 El Aserradero Flume I, Log Ride Added at site of Burro RideSpain
End of 1963 SeasonPark Helicopter Rides Ended 
 Goat Cart Ride RemovedMexico
   
1964 SeasonSpee-Lunker’s Cave Ride Added
Stagecoach run shortened and Q-house moved from next to Chicken Plantation to across from Cave.
Confederacy
 Long Suspension Bridge Added
Swamp Tree Slides (3) added 
Skull Island
 Caddo War Canoes moved to BoomtownBoomtown
End 1964Indian Village Removed
La Cucaracha“, Wild Mouse rollercoaster Removed
Mexico
 Pirate Boat RemovedSkull Island
   
1965 SeasonArena added
Circus Show in Arena
Texas
 El Sombrero Hat Ride added at site of “La Cucaracha” rollercoasterMexico
end 1965Circus Show ends at New Arena 
 “Star” removed from Frontgate and Replaced with five large circular planters.Front Gate
   
1966 SeasonWild West Show in ArenaTexas
 Runaway Mine Train addedBoomtown
 Courthouse Clock-Tower (Ice House) added at Front GateFront Gate
   
1967 SeasonSpindletop (Rotor Ride) added at site of Current Puppet Show. 
 Jet Set addedModern
End 1967 SeasonButterfield Stagecoach removedConfederacy
 Original Fiesta Train (The Mexican Hat Train) removed. 
 Attendance: @ 2 million 
   
1968 SeasonFiesta Train II
(replaced original Fiesta Train)
Mexico
 Spindletop moved to between Southern Palace and Skull island 
 Amphitheater converted to 950 seat Southern Palace theaterConfederacy
 Flume II addedSpain
 Sid and Marty Kroft Puppet Theater addedOutside Modern
End 1968 SeasonSky-Hook removedBoom-town
 Long Suspension Bridge removed
Swamp Tree Slides (3) removed 
Skull Island
   
 Attendance: 1.7 Million;
First Attendance Decline
 
   
1969Angus Wynne sells Six Flags (205 acres) to Limited Partnership headed by Jack Knox. 
1969 SeasonTower added
Tower Slide added
Dolphin show added
Tower
 Mini Mine Train added at the site of the SkyHookBoomtown
 Chevy show added at the Site of the Stagecoach ride.Confederacy
End of 1969Wild West Show endedArena
   
1970’s
1970Arena remodeledLas Voladores Flying Indian Spectacular in ArenaArena
End 1970 SeasonJet Set removedModern
   
1971Six Flags Over Mid-America (St Louis) Opens 
1971 SeasonPenn Central Railroad begins management of Six Flags Over Texas 
1971Big Bend Rollercoaster AddedModern
   
1972Rugged Buggy Added in Petting ZooModern
 Texas Travel Exhibit with Scale Model of Six Flags Park opens.Boomtown
End 1972Boomtown RR Depot Removed 
   
1973 SeasonGood Time Square added
Doc Snooker’s Infernal Electric Bumping Machines (Bumper Cars) added
Crazy Legs added
Miniature Circus Exhibit added
GTS RR Depot Added
Small Theater added next to Puppet show (Will Rogers Show)
Good Times Square
May 19, 1973Attendance Record: 40,742 
   
1974 SeasonMusic Mill added (4,500 seats)Music Mill
End of 1974 seasonArena closed
Flying Indian Spectacular closed
Texas
 Flying Jenny removedConfederacy
   
1975Six Flags, Inc., buys Astroworld 
1975 SeasonOpen: March 15, 1975
Closed: November 30, 1975
Tickets: $7; Under 12 $6; under 3 free
 
 Cyrus Comos, the inventor, introduced as new mascot, his Incredible Electric Light Brigade Parade Featured. 
 Red Baron added (replaced the Flying Jenny); (Cyrus Comos Invention)Confederacy
 Rotoriculous (later Roto Disco) added; (Cyrus Comos Invention)
Small Theater show changed from Will Rogers to The Fun Guns of Dry Gulch
Good Times Square
End 1975Small Theater removed – (The Fun Guns of Dry Gulch)
Sid & Marty Kraft show removed from Puppet show.
 
 27 million guests to date
Average Daily Attendance: 15,000
 
   
1976 SeasonOpen: March 13, 1976
Close: Nov. 28, 1976
Tickets: $7.50; Under 3 free;
Season Pass $25.00
 
 Texas Chute Out addedGood Times Square
End 1976 seasonSkull Island Rafts removed 
 Slide removed 
   
1977Six Flags Inc., buys Great Adventure and Wild Safari Animal Park, Jackson, N.J. 
1977 SeasonSpinnaker addedTower Area
 Stand up Baskets added to Chute OutGood Times Square
 Pirate Puppet Show addedSkull Island
July 3, 1977Record Breaking Crowd – 45,496
K.C. and the Sunshine Band Concert
 
End 1977 seasonMissile Chaser removedModern
   
1978 SeasonTickets: $8.50; Under 3 free
32 Million Guests to date
 
 ShockWave addedNorth of Park
End 1978 SeasonSkull removed from Skull IslandSkull Island Confederacy
 Fiesta Train II removedMexico
 Record Attendance: 2.78 Million 
 Average Yearly Attendance: 2.5 million 
   
1979 SeasonSensational Sense Machine added at site of Missile ChaserModern
 People Mover Machine Added 
Six Flags Inc., buys Magic Mountain 
End 1979Big Bend removedModern, Texas
 Banderas de Colores (Covered walkway) Removed 
 Angus Wynne passed away at the age of 65. 
   
1980s
1980 SeasonJudge Roy Scream addedSouth of Park
August 5, 1980Twentieth Anniversary
2.7 Million Annual visitors (est.)
 
 Happy Motoring I Removed
(Happy II becomes Happy)
Modern
End 1980 SeasonCrazy Legs I removed
Miniature Circus Exhibit removed
Good Time Square
 Astro-Lift removed 
   
1981 SeasonConquistador addedMexico
 Kiddie Ferris Wheel added by TowerTower
   
1982Penn Central Sells Six Flags Corp., which manages the park to Bally Manufacturing Corporation. 
1982 SeasonTexas Cliffhanger addedModern
August 15, 1982La Salle River Adventure Removed
Last ride August 15, 1982
France
End of 1982Petting Zoo removedModern
 Spindetop moved to Texas, site of Texas Lift 
 Last of Skull Island Removed
Pirate Puppet Show removed
Skull Island
   
1983 SeasonRoaring Rapids addedTower
 Pac-man Land Opened (site of Zoo)
“Soft-play” playground added
Red Baron moved to Pac-man land
Ferris Wheel moved to Pac-man land
(Rugged Buggy from Zoo becomes part of Pac-man land.)
Modern
 Texas Tornado added at site of Crazy LegsGood Times Square
 People Mover Machine changed to Pac Man Show 
End 1983 SeasonCanoes removedBoomTown
 Dolphins removedTower
   
1984Six Flags Inc, buys Great America in Chicago 
1984 SeasonGreat Air Racer added
US High Diving Show added (at Dolphin pool)
Tower
 Spindletop Moved to TexasTexas
 First “Spring Break Out” 
end 1984 SeasonPac-Man Land removedModern
 Attendance: @2.35 million 
   
1985 SeasonTickets: $14.95, under 42″: $7.95 
 Looney Tunes Land added
Daffy Duck Boats added
Red Baron renamed to Tazmanian Devil Flying Ace
Rugged Buggy renamed to Road Runner Runaround
Modern
Christmas 1985“Holiday in the Park” Introduced; 100,000 Guests 
End 1985Merry Go Round removed for rebuildingBoomtown
 US High Diving Show ends 
 Attendance: Over 2.5 million 
   
1986 SeasonTickets: $14.95, under 42″: $7.95 
 Avalanche BobSled Ride AddedMexico
 Dolphins Back in Dolphin Pool 
 Music Mill expanded to 10,000 seats 
August 5, 198625th Anniversary –
52 Million Guest to date (est.)
 
End 1986 SeasonHappy Motoring Freeway removedModern
   
1987Wesray Capital Corp. buys Six Flags Corp., the parks management co. for $617 million. 
1987 SeasonSplashwater Falls added at site of Happy MotoringModern
 Incredible Acrobats of China perform during the summer. 
End 1987  
   
1988 SeasonMerry Go Round reopened at the Front Gate as the Silver Star Carousel.Front Gate
 Gun Fighter StunShow added at site of Dolphin showTower
Oct. 22, 1988Third Largest Crowd – Fright Night – 45,000 
End 1988 SeasonRotoriculous RemovedGood Times Square
 Stunt Show ClosedTower
   
1989 SeasonOpen: March 4th, 1990
Close: December 31st, 1990
Tickets: $20.50; Children/Seniors $14 (after tax)
 
 Flashback Roller Coaster AddedGood Times Square
 Texas Tornado Swing Ride moved to old site of Merry Go RideBoomtown
 Dolphin Show Starts Second RunTower
End 1989Spindletop Removed 
   
1990s
1990 SeasonOpen: March 17, 1990
Close: December 31st, 1990
 
 Texas Giant Roller Coaster AddedTexas
 Over 3 Million Visitors, record season 
   
1991Time Warner Corp. buys one-half of the Six Flags Corp., which manages the park for the ownership that owns it. The Blackstone Group and Wertheim Schroder  buy the second one-half. 
End 1991 Season Spee-lunkers evicted from CaveConfederacy
   
1992 seasonYosemite Sam and Gold River added (rethemed cave ride)Confederacy
  Batman Stunt Show added at site of old Stunt Show (site of older Dolphin Show)Tower
   
1993Tickets: $25.95;
$19.95 kids/seniors
 
1993Timer Warner Buys the second one-half of the Six Flags Corp., which manages the park. 
   
1994Tickets: $26.95; $20.95 kids
2,500 Seasonal Employees
225 Full time workers
 
   
1995 season Right Stuff simulator added 
 Cliffhanger Name Changed to G-Force 
 Splash Down Falls Name ChangedModern
  Chameleon Virtual Reality added.Good Times Square
 Music Mill size doubled to over 10,000 seats. 
End 1995 seasonSpinnaker Removed 
1996 Season Runaway Mountain OpensConfederacy
  Runaway Mine Train named changed to Mine TrainBoomtown
 Dive Bomber Alley opensTower
End 1996 season Good Times Square Train station removedGood Times Square
   
1997 SeasonNew Boomtown RR Station opensBoomtown
End 1997 Elmer Fudd Little Ferris Wheel Removed 
   
1998Premier Parks buys both the Six Flags Corporation which manages the park and the park itself. 
1998 Season Mr. Freeze Roller-coaster OpensGood Times Square
 Rebuilt Mini-mine train opens 
End 1998Right Stuff Movie and theming removed. 
   
1999 Season Gotham City Section Opens 
  BatMan the Ride OpensGood Time Square
 Right Stuff Theater rethemed to Dinosaur exhibitModern
 Pay as you go Go-Carts added by ShockwaveTower
End 1999Air Racer RemovedTower
2000s
2000 Season Missile-Chaser Returns to Tower AreaTower
2001 SeasonThe Titan Roller Coaster Added 
 Wyle E. Coyote’s Grand Canyon BlasterModern – Looney Tunes Land
2002Space Shuttle America in 3d TheaterModern Section
End of 2002New Missilechaser removed at end of seasonTower Section
2003Superman Tower of Power added at sight of Missilechaser and Great Air RacerTower Section
 Right Stuff Returns to 3d TheatherModern
2004Sponge Bob Added to 3d TheaterModern
 Casa Magnetica ReturnsSpain
2005New shows: – Chinese Acrobats, Spirit of Dance and Kathy Burk’s World of Puppets45th Season
   
20061)   Acme Rock-n-Rocket built in Modern sectionModern
Ten new rides added parkwide for 45th Anniversary2)   Cloud Bouncer added in Good  Times Square
3)   Crazy Legs II added in Good Times Square (Different ride from previous ride with the same name.)
Good Times Square
 4)  Bat Wings added in Gotham City
5)  Gotham City Sprayground addin in Gotham City
Gotham City
 6) Caddo lake Barge added to Tower SectionTower Section
 7)  Rodeo Ride added next to Texas Section by the Cave
8)  Sidewinder scramble style ride added next to the titan (Different ride from previous ride with the same name.)
9)   Boot Scottin’
Texas Section
 10)  La Fiesta De Las Tazas tea cup style ride added at location of El Sombero. El Somberro  (Hat Ride) moved close to front gate.Mexico and Spain
2007Cirque Dreams Coobrila added at Music Mill TheaterTower Section Music Mill Theater
2008Tony Hawk’s Big Spin added 
2009
2010  50th Season 
2011 Fifty Anniversary

Note of Appreciation:      With special thanks to Scott Jordan for proof reading and historical information. Additional corrections by Tracy Henton and Sara Luckow.

     This Timeline attempts to list many of the notable events in the History of Six Flags Over Texas.If you have any additions or corrections, please e-mail me using our contact form.Davis McCown
Ride Operations, 1974-1977