Amusement Park News

Six Flags theme parks are making some rather major changes at all its theme parks, from cutting park positions to changing its operations. 

In regard to operating structure, the company is going regional, with the idea behind this shift being a way for park management to pay more attention to guest experiences and daily operations than broader corporate functions.

However, this operating shift goes hand in hand with the elimination of the park president position at all 27 of the theme parks it now owns across the U.S. And, laying off this leadership position isn't the only staff cut, either. It's one part of a 10% reduction overall in full-time employees by the end of this month, due to the Six Flags merger last year with Cedar Fair and their recent 2025 first quarter finances, during which the parks reported a $220 million net loss, in part because of the economy and weather issues. 

In California alone, some 135 jobs will be cut from Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita,  Buena Park's Knott's Berry Farm, California's Great America in Santa Clara, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Some employees will be offered part-time positions; others will receive a separation package.

Additionally, Six Flags is planning to close Bowie, Maryland's Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor waterpark at the end of this season, with a final operating day of November 2nd. Six Flags has brought commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE on board to market the parks. The company says no other parks will be closed and adds that these decisions were “made after careful consideration and a thorough review of our evolving business needs.” 



According to Six Flags president and CEO Richard Zimmerman, “As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company's long-term growth plan.” He adds that while the decision to close was a difficult one, “After reviewing a number of options, we believe that marketing the property for redevelopment will generate the highest value and return on investment.”



In a recent earnings call Zimmerman predicted that the company would be taking major steps to restructure and reduce its workforce this year. He stated that the company's goal was to achieve some $120 million in “cost efficiency” by the end of this year, stressing that the company remained on track to do so.

There is some trepidation about these cuts among park guests. Even last year, cost cutting resulted in park closures on some summer days, which was noted by guests on social media. 

In a post on LinkedIn, former Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet, called the “parade of departures” inevitable from the moment the merger between Cedar Fair and Six Flags was announced “in order to achieve the cost synergies that were promised to investors.” He stresses that the cuts had nothing to do with performance and everything to do with the consolidation that is part and parcel of such a major merger, noting that it is “pure math,” although not one that he wished to participate in, having chosen to leave the company instead.

Despite these staff reduction measures, Six Flags has also said that it is still planning in invest more than $1 billion in their parks over the course of the next two years. Last year, the $8 billion merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair made the company into the largest park operator in the country. 

The projected investments in the theme parks include a new roller coaster coming to Magic Mountain and a full water park revamp at the water park adjunct to Knott's Berry Farm, Soak City. Both the new coaster and the water park upgrade are scheduled to occur during the 2026 operating season.

Magic Mountain's new coaster received its construction permit approval in January. The attraction is projected to be the Vekoma Thrill Glider, a first of its kind in North America. It will be located on the site of the park's former Showcase Theater. The park already has 20 coasters in its quiver, a number of roller coaster thrill rides that exceeds that of any other theme park globally. The last roller coaster addition was RMC's Wonder Woman Flight of Courage, which made its debut in 2022 as the world's tallest and longest single-rail coaster.



Soak City's refresh includes what Six Flags is calling “aesthetic enhancements,” which are as yet unspecified. The 15-acre park currently has over two dozen slides as well as a lazy river and wave pool.   

Zimmerman stresses that despite the staff cuts, “Our capital investment plans for the next two years reinforce our commitment to providing unmatched thrills, immersive entertainment and lifelong memories to guests of all ages.” He says that Six Flags views the changes as part of its “unique opportunity to refresh and renew the guest experience, one so compelling that a visit to one of our parks will be viewed as an indispensable choice in family entertainment.”

The company is also considering instituting regional passes, allowing park guests to move between two to five park locations located in driving distance from one another. The regional pass model would, Six Flags officials assert, offer more “pricing flexibility” than the nationwide All Park Passport which was introduced as an option last year.