Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is an amusement park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, not far from the New Jersey Turnpike, consisting of a theme park area, a Wild Safari area, and a water park called Hurricane Harbor. Well known for its roller coasters with brilliant and colorful tracks, such as Nitro, Medusa, The Great American Scream Machine, Batman and Robin: The Chiller, Batman: The Ride (not to be confused with the Chiller), and Superman: Ultimate Flight, Six Flags Great Adventure tends to get crowded on nice days, with long lines for tickets, entry, and the newer (and more heavily advertised) rides. Six Flags Great Adventure has more rides than any other theme park in the world, according to the Guiness Book of World Records.
In spring 2005, the park opened Kingda Ka, the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster, surpassing the previous leader in both categories, Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. Kingda Ka, which is very similar to Top Thrill Dragster and built by the same company responsible for that ride, has a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h) and rises to a height of 456 feet (139 m). At the end of June 2005, the ride had a major breakdown that kept it down for about two months. On July 21st, 2005, Kingda Ka was alive and started testing. It re-opened on August 4th, 2005.
In 2006, Six Flags will be adding El Toro, a new wooden roller coaster, the parks first since 1979. It will be the second tallest and fastest wooden coaster, and will hold the world record for steepest first drop, at 76 degrees. El Toro will be the star of a new Spanish-themed section, Plaza Del Carnaval, along with a new section for the younger ones, Bugs Bunny National Park.
The park was opened in 1974 by restauranteur Warner LeRoy. It remained a minor attraction until 1977, when it was purchased by Six Flags and expanded. Like several other Six Flags theme parks, including Six Flags Great America, it is located between two major metropolitan areas -- in this case, New York and Philadelphia -- and is easy to reach for residents of both cities.
Ride/Attraction Timeline
- 2006: Plaza del Carnaval, Bugs Bunny National Park (new themed sections) and El Toro, new wooden roller coaster.
- 2005: Golden Kingdom themed area featuring Kingda Ka, Balin's Jungle Land (children's playarea), and Temple of the Tiger (tiger exhibit); Secondary entrance to safari added.
- 2004: Viper removed.
- 2003: Superman: Ultimate Flight.
- 2001: Nitro.
- 2000: Hurricane Harbor water park.
- 1999: Medusa; Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train; Road Runner Railway; Looney Tunes Seaport (themed area); Houdini's Great Escape; Escape from Dino Island 3D; Gotham City Carnival of Chaos stunt show.
- 1998: Batman and Robin: The Chiller.
- 1996: Skull Mountain.
- 1995: Viper.
- 1993: Batman: The Ride.
- 1992: Lighting Loops removed. Shockwave removed.
- 1990: Shockwave.
- 1989: Great American Scream Machine.
- 1988: Sarajevo Bobsled removed (sent to Six Flags Great Escape). Ultratwister removed (sent to Six Flags Astroworld).
- 1986: Ultratwister
- 1984: Sarajevo Bobsled. Haunted House removed.
- 1983: Lil' Thunder removed.
- 1981: Wild Rider removed.
- 1979: Rolling Thunder.
- 1978: Lightning Loops; Wild Rider.
- 1975: Lil' Thunder.
- 1974: Runaway Mine Train; Safari Park opened