Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (commonly known as Six Flags) is an American multinational amusement park company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with significant administrative operations in Sandusky, Ohio. It was formed on July 1, 2024, through the merger of Cedar Fair and the former Six Flags company. The company has 35 properties within its portfolio, including amusement parks and water parks with on-site resorts in North America. Six Flags also has two licensed and managed parks in Saudi Arabia.
Six Flags is the largest regional amusement park operator in North America and the fifth-largest amusement park operator in attendance worldwide, hosting 50.3 million guests in 2024.[3] The company holds exclusive theme park rights to use Warner Bros. intellectual properties such as Looney Tunes and DC Comics, while Peanuts characters are featured at select parks. An expedited attraction queuing system named Fast Lane is implemented at its theme parks. Six Flags trades under the stock ticker "FUN" on the New York Stock Exchange.
Background
Cedar Fair
Cedar Fair, L.P was founded in 1983, after the Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, acquired Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota, in 1978. The company's name was derived from both parks—"Cedar" derived from Cedar Point and "Fair" derived from Valleyfair. Cedar Fair became publicly traded on April 29, 1987.[4][5] The company would increase its portfolio through acquisitions of amusement parks throughout the United States. Through its 1997 acquisition of Knott's Berry Farm, the company gained licensing rights to use Peanuts intellectual properties within its parks.[6] In 2006, Cedar Fair acquired all five Paramount Parks amusement parks and later, the company, for US$1.24 billion from the newly-formed CBS Corporation
History
Merger
Announcement
Following initial contact by Cedar Fair in July 2023 and subsequent negotiations,[23] longtime competitors Cedar Fair and Six Flags announced a merger on November 2, 2023. The announcement came at a time when amusement parks struggled to raise attendance after the COVID-19 pandemic, citing the need for financial stability, cost efficiency, and to compete with destination theme parks.[24][25][26]
Properties
As of April 6, 2026, Six Flags operates 35 properties: 21 amusement parks and 14 separately-gated water parks, with nine on-site resorts in North America.[71] Additionally, the company licenses and manages two parks within the Qiddiya City megaproject in Saudi Arabia.[50]
The sale of La Ronde to EPR Properties is expected to close during the second quarter of 2026.[69]
Amusement parks
The following table only includes main amusement parks counted towards Six Flags' total property count.
Ex-Cedar Fair
Corporate affairs
Six Flags is a public company, trading under the ticker symbol "FUN" on the New York Stock Exchange.[47] It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and maintains significant administrative offices at the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.[46][74]
Leadership
Board of directors
As of March 25, 2026, the current Six Flags board of directors are:[75]
Attendance
Company attendance
The following figures refer to the Themed Entertainment Association's amusement park operator rankings by attendance.
Top ranked parks
The following figures refer to Six Flags parks that ranked among the top 20 most attended amusement parks in North America per year, as reported by the Themed Entertainment Association.
Business model
Six Flags generates revenue through three primary sources: park admissions (51.1%), in-park spending (33.5%), and other revenue (15.4%). The company offers season passes, usually priced lower than competitors. These passes are priced based on a park's market and operating season, as well as monthly memberships at legacy Six Flags parks.[79][80] While per-capita revenue from season passholders is lower per visit, their total annual spend is higher. Six Flags has emphasized increasing attendance volume and in-park spending frequency to increase revenue.[81]
Additional revenue sources come from special events such as the Halloween events Fright Fest and Haunt, as well as winter events Holiday in the Park and Winterfest. Six Flags' Halloween events utilize popular intellectual properties to increase attendance.[82] A prevalent paid add-on is Fast Lane, an expedited queuing system, offered at the company's parks.
Marketing and licensing
Marketing efforts
In April 2025, Six Flags launched its first post-merger national brand campaign "We're Serious About Fun." The new ad campaign introduces a new mascot character, the Funsultant, known for deadpan delivery. It was developed by the creative agency The Marketing Arm (TMA), and was launched for television, digital, out-of-home, social media and email.[84]
American football player Travis Kelce became Six Flags' brand ambassador in March 2026, partnering with the company on marketing efforts.[85] Kelce had previously partnered with activist investor firm Jana Partners in October 2025, which acquired a 9% stake in Six Flags.[86]
See also
- Incidents at Six Flags parks
External links
References
- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Reports 2025 Second Quarter Results, Provides July Performance Update, and Updates Full-Year Guidance Six Flags, August 6, 2025, retrieved January 18, 2026^
- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation/NEW - Form 10-K FY 2025 investors.sixflags.com, February 19, 2026, retrieved February 26, 2026^
- Robert Niles. Disney continues to lead attendance in 2024, as Universal slips