announced they will be closing in Bowie, Maryland, due to financial concerns, effective at the end of the 2025 season.
The park, which has an estimated 850,000 annual visitors, is planned to be sold for redevelopment after Nov. 2, the end of the annual Fright Fest.
鈥淎s part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company鈥檚 long-term growth plan
This was a difficult decision, and we recognize the impact it will have on our Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor park associates and guests,鈥 said Six Flags Entertainment President and CEO Richard Zimmerman on May 2. 鈥淲e are grateful to our park associates who work hard to create lifelong memories for our guests, and Six Flags is committed to supporting all impacted associates through the closure process at the end of this year.鈥
Six Flags America in Bowie has been open for 25 years and has 70 full-time employees along with hundreds of seasonal employees, many of whom are teenagers and young adults from Prince George鈥檚 County entering the career force.
Many residents have stated their disappointment with this decision, as countless local families and visitors have spent their summers riding the Superman and visiting the wave pool.
With the closure of Six Flags and several local movie theaters, and the plan to move the Washington Commanders back to RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., some residents note recreational outlets for Prince George鈥檚 youth are becoming more limited and difficult to access.
鈥淭he stadium is leaving and Six Flags is leaving. What kind of opportunities are you going to have in [Prince George鈥檚] County? What are you going to bring in place of it,鈥 questioned County resident Cynthia Matthews. 鈥淎re you just going to leave empty lots like they did with Landover Mall? That left 20 or 30 years ago, and you didn鈥檛 put anything in its place, and now you鈥檙e going to have the stadium, another big empty space, and now Six Flags an empty space?鈥
County Leaders Mark ‘End of An Era,’ Work to Shape What’s Next
The decision to close Six Flags comes as yet another economic disappointment for the county, following the cancellation of the proposed FBI鈥檚 Greenbelt headquarters and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing鈥檚 Beltsville headquarters, plus the planned relocation of the Washington Commanders.
Interim Prince George鈥檚 County Executive Tara Jackson noted the history of the park and the sense of loss around the impending closure.
鈥淔or decades, Six Flags has been more than just a theme park鈥攊t is a cherished part of our county鈥檚 identity, a source of joy for families, and a hub of economic activity,鈥 Jackson said in a statement. 鈥淲e are committed to working closely with Six Flags and other stakeholders to guide a thoughtful and inclusive redevelopment process that supports jobs, growth and long-term community benefit.鈥
County Council Chair Edward Burroughs III (D- District 8) noted the negative effects the closing of Six Flags would have, both economically and socially.
鈥淭his decision does not just impact one business; it impacts the very fabric of our community,鈥 Burroughs said in a statement. 鈥淚t means fewer opportunities for families to come together, fewer spaces for children to play and explore, and a gap in accessible entertainment that many relied upon.鈥
County Councilmember Wala Blegay (D- District 6), who represents the area where Six Flags is located, promises to work with community leaders and county residents to develop the best plan of action for the future of the 500-acre site.
鈥淲hile this closure marks the end of an era, it also presents a critical opportunity for us to shape what comes next,鈥 Blegay said.
As a minority family, we’ve worked hard to give our children a safe, stable life in a quiet, upper-income neighborhood, one that’s predominantly white.
During a visit to Six Flags, my kids were genuinely shocked by how some of the other minority children and their parents behaved. They had so many questions about why those kids acted in such an unruly and aggressive manner.
It was difficult to explain, but their young minds picked up on things that adults often avoid speaking about openly. They observed a clear contrast in behavior and culture, and it made an impact.
One of my children even said, 鈥淚鈥檓 glad we don鈥檛 live where those kids live.鈥
The overall conduct of many guests at the park was appalling, rude, aggressive, and even threatening. It didn鈥檛 feel like a place where respectful families could feel safe or welcomed.