Six Flags America Shuts Down Permanently After 51 Years Of Operation

Six Flags America closed permanently Sunday after 51 years, ending operations at the 131-acre Maryland park in Bowie. The amusement park announced closure plans in May. Wait times exceeded two hours for popular attractions including the 197-foot Superman: Ride Of Steel roller coaster, which suffered mechanical problems on closing day. Fans expressed concern about historic rides including Wild One, a 108-year-old wooden roller coaster designated as a Roller Coaster Landmark. The park originally opened in July 1974 as The Wildlife Preserve, became Wild World in the 1980s, then Adventure World before Six Flags acquired it in 1998. (Story URL)