Six Flags-Dorney Park Merger Finishes As Great Adventure Marks 50th

JACKSON, NJ — As Six Flags Great Adventure marks its 50th anniversary, its parent company is finalized an $8 billion merger with the owners of Dorney Park.

Six Flags Entertainment Corp. and Cedar Fair completed the merger on Monday, July 1, the same date that Great Adventure opened on in 1974. The combined company is operating under the name Six Flags Entertainment Corp. and will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday under the ticker symbol "FUN", the company said.

The combined company, described in the November announcement as a "merger of equals," joins the two largest amusement park companies in the United States. It includes 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks and nine resorts across 17 states, plus Canada and Mexico, which exist with minimal market overlap, officials said.

Each park in the combined company’s portfolio will retain their legacy branding with no changes to park names currently being planned or contemplated.

The combined geographic footprint is "expected to mitigate the impact of seasonality and reduce earnings volatility," and offers a wider range of facilities, such as the safari experience at Six Flags Great Adventure, the November announcement said.

The July 1 merger date coincides with the 50th anniversary of when Six Flags Great Adventure first opened in 1974.

A fan-maintained website, Great Adventure History, says the park opened that date after construction delays forced them to push back the opening, and the Western-themed section of the park didn't open until July 4.

The park, now called Six Flags Great Adventure Resort, has new attractions opening, including the park's 15th roller coaster, The Flash: Vertical Velocity. It also is upgrading the Sawmill Log Flume ride and the Giant Wheel Ferris wheel, while returning Congo Rapids to its original name, Roaring Rapids.

In addition to the Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa within the Wild Safari, which is accepting reservations for its luxury safari glamping experiences beginning June 14, the Wild Safari has a new look with a base camp experience and a return to guided tours.

"Today marks a significant milestone for our company, shareholders, guests and associates, unlocking higher value and greater opportunities to deliver engaging entertainment experiences,” said Richard Zimmerman, president and chief executive officer of Six Flags Entertainment Corp. “Our merger establishes a new Six Flags Entertainment Corporation with a highly diversified footprint and robust operating model, enhancing park offerings and performance though the complementary portfolio of attractive assets and intellectual property from each of Cedar Fair and the former Six Flags.

"The combination also enhances the financial profile of the company with strong cash flow generation to accelerate investments in our parks to delight our guests, driving increased levels of demand and in-park value and spending," Zimmerman said.

"We believe that by combining the best ideas and most successful entertainment practices of both Six Flags and Cedar Fair, the new Six Flags can deliver a superior level of joy and excitement that has yet to be experienced by regional park guests," said Selim Bassoul, executive chairman of the board of directors of Six Flags Entertainment Corp. "We are excited to unite the Cedar Fair and Six Flags teams to capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunities and operational efficiencies of our more extensive entertainment portfolio."