Six Flags Ride Guide 2009

What's New for the 2009 Season at Six Flags Parks

There are new coasters and other fun planned for Six Flags' 2009 season, but nothing extraordinary like the record-breaking Kingda Ka coaster that debuted a few years ago at Six Flags Great Adventure. Instead, in these austere times, the focus is more on the deals the park chain is offering. To keep its turnstiles clicking, Six Flags is featuring discount tickets, season pass promotions, and other incentives.

Looking for Six Flags tickets? Save money and time. Buy discounted tickets online, direct from Six Flags.

THE SIX FLAGS 2009 RIDE GUIDE

The Six Flags Ride Guide is arranged alphabetically by U.S. state. Montreal's La Ronde and Six Flags Mexico follow at the end of the list.

CALIFORNIA

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Vallejo (near San Francisco), CA
Odin’s Temple of the Tiger exhibit

A new exhibit area for the park's Siberian and white Bengal tigers.

Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia (near Los Angeles), CA
Terminator: The Coaster

It's a bit curious to have a wooden coaster themed to the Terminator sci-fi film franchise. But the coaster ride itself, which is being designed and built by the acclaimed Great Coasters International, should be wonderful. Read more about Terminator: The Coaster.

GEORGIA

Six Flags Over Georgia
Austell (near Atlanta), GA
Monster Mansion dark ride

While they boast incredible coasters, most of the Six Flags parks aren't generally renowned for their dark rides. Six Flags Over Georgia, with its Monster Plantation, however, is the exception. The classic ride gets an update and a new name for 2009. Like Disney's it's a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean, Monster Mansion will use boats to convey its passengers. Expect new characters, effects, and music to augment the ride's original gang of silly monsters.

ILLINOIS

Six Flags Great America
Gurnee (near Chicago and Milwaukee)
Buccaneer Battle interactive ride

Passengers will board ships, take control of high-powered soaker guns, and shoot targets as well as onlookers and "pirates" aboard other ships.

KENTUCKY

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Louisville
Summer concert series

Tween stars such as Raven Symone and Miranda Cosgrove will be performing at the park.

LOUISIANA

Six Flags New Orleans
New Orleans

Officially, the future of the Katrina-damaged park still remains unclear and it will not open this season; unofficially, it appears unlikely that Six Flags will ever reopen the park.

MARYLAND

Six Flags America
Mitchellville, MD (near Washington, D.C.)
Unknown

While Six Flags had not released any info at the time I wrote this, apparently something major is planned for this season. Stay tuned!

MASSACHUSETTS

Six Flags New England
Agawam, MA (near Springfield, MA and Hartford, CT)
Bizarro coaster makeover of Superman: Ride of Steel

The thrill machine that gets my nod as the best steel coaster on the planet (Earth and Krypton), Superman will be even more super in 2009. According to Six Flags, the hypercoaster will offer onboard audio (which will surely be adrenaline-inducing music), fire burst effects, a new color scheme and theme, and rehabbed trains when it reopens this season. Superman already delivers two fog-filled underground tunnels to accompany its near-perfect medley of airtime-nirvana hills, helixes, and other coaster elements.

MISSOURI

Six Flags St. Louis
Eureka, near (...come on, you know what city it's near)
Wahoo Racer mat racing water slide
Glow in the Park Parade

The park's adjacent Hurricane Harbor water park (which is included in admission to the amusement park) will be getting a six-lane mat water racing slide this season. A spiffy new nighttime Glow in the Park Parade that will incorporate music, singing, dancing, floats, stilt walkers, and lots of twinkly lights will also debut.

NEW JERSEY

Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson, NJ
Bizarro coaster makeover of Medusa
Saturday Night Lights fireworks show

The floorless coaster, Medusa is getting an off-season transformation and will feature onboard audio (which will surely be adrenaline-inducing music), fire burst effects, a new color scheme and theme (probably Superman-related), and rehabbed trains when it reopens this season. Also, the park will debut a synchronized music/pyrotechnics show developed by an award-winning fireworks production company.

NEW YORK

The Great Escape
Queensbury (near Lake George), New York
Sasquatch drop tower ride

The drop tower ride, transplanted from the Katrina-damaged Six Flags New Orleans, will blast riders 19 stories into the air and include moments of delirious weightlessness.

TEXAS

Six Flags Fiesta Texas
San Antonio, TX

Wiggle's World land

A new Wiggle's World area will have (very) young children wiggling along to rides and shows based on the popular TV program. The new land will also offer a Wiggles-themed restaurant. The popular characters will even visit the park.

• See Wiggle's World photos from other Six Flags parks.

Six Flags Over Texas
Arlington (near Dallas), TX
Glow in the Park Parade

A spiffy new nighttime Glow in the Park Parade (which is also featurd at other Six Flags parks) will incorporate music, singing, dancing, floats, stilt walkers, and lots of twinkly lights.

CANADA

La Ronde
Montreal, Quebec
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Live walk-through haunted experience.

Beginning June 19, La Ronde will be presenting The Mummy. Described as a walk-through, interactive, haunted experience with live actors, the attraction will immerse visitors in the world of The Mummy films. The touring presentation, which debuted at Dreamworld park in Australia, will be at La Ronde for a limited run through early September. Yes, this is the same Mummy (based on the popular movies) that's featured in the Revenge of the Mummy coaster/dark rides at Universal Studios parks in Florida and Hollywood.

MEXICO

Six Flags Mexico
Mexico City
The Dark Knight themed indoor coaster

Based on last year's Batman film, the themed indoor family coaster that should appeal to riders of nearly all thrill tolerance levels. Read more about The Dark Knight coaster.