Six Flags New England

Six Flags New England is a seasonal amusement and water park in Agawam, Massachusetts, serving the greater Springfield area and visitors from across New England. Its history reaches back to 1870, when the site operated as Gallup's Grove, a picnic destination. After several name changes and the arrival of a Springfield Street Railway connection in 1900, the property developed from a recreational grove into a fuller amusement park. It became known as Riverside Park in 1912. Henry J. Perkins purchased the property in 1911 and expanded its attractions, including the park's first roller coaster, The Giant Dip, in 1912. Additional coasters, mechanical rides, a carousel, swimming facilities and other amusements helped establish Riverside as a regional destination. The Wall Street Crash severely affected the business: the park entered foreclosure in 1931, closed in 1933 and remained inactive for much of the remainder of the decade. Edward Carroll Sr. acquired the abandoned property in 1939 and reopened it in 1940 after substantial improvements. His ownership began a long period of growth and modernization. Under the Carroll family, Riverside broadened its appeal with roller coasters, family attractions, water rides and, beginning in 1948, the Riverside Park Speedway. The park's 1941 Cyclone coaster, later known as Thunderbolt, remains notable as the oldest coaster in its original location within the Six Flags chain. Riverside also moved toward the modern pay-one-price amusement-park model during the 1980s. Its attractions and themed areas continued to change, including the addition of the Riverside Cyclone in 1983 and a water-slide complex that later gave way to the Island Kingdom Waterpark. The Carroll family sold the park to Premier Parks in December 1996. Premier invested heavily in the property, improving the entrance and adding rides, themed areas and a major water-park expansion. The park was briefly branded Riverside: The Great Escape in 1997. Premier Parks acquired the Six Flags chain in 1998, and the Riverside name remained in use through the 1999 season. In 2000 the property was renamed Six Flags New England, aligning it with the wider Six Flags portfolio. That year brought the DC Comics-themed DC Super Hero Adventures area, the major Superman – Ride of Steel hypercoaster, Flashback and a new drop-tower complex. Since the Six Flags rebranding, the park has combined large steel coasters, family rides, themed areas and Hurricane Harbor, its separately developed water-park area. Superman was rethemed as Bizarro in 2009 and restored to the Superman identity in 2016. Other significant additions have included Wicked Cyclone, a Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid conversion of the former Cyclone, New England SkyScreamer and The Joker. The park has also repeatedly revised its children's areas and removed or relocated attractions as its operating strategy and available intellectual-property licenses changed. Today, Six Flags New England's identity rests on a mix of historic continuity and high-intensity attractions. It preserves a long-running amusement-park site while operating as a contemporary Six Flags destination with thrill rides, family entertainment, seasonal events and Hurricane Harbor water attractions. Its primary market is regional, although its association with the Six Flags brand gives it broader recognition among amusement-park visitors.

The property began in 1870 as Gallup's Grove, a picnic grove on the Connecticut River in Agawam. It was later called Riverside Grove and, from 1912, Riverside Park. Before the turn of the twentieth century, many visitors arrived by steamship. A Springfield Street Railway extension reached the park in 1900, improving access even though the park was not owned by the railway and therefore was not technically a trolley park. Henry J. Perkins bought the property in 1911 and developed it into an amusement park. He introduced The Giant Dip roller coaster in 1912 and The Greyhound in 1915. A large swimming pool, later known as Lake Takadip, became another major attraction. The Giant Dip was replaced by the larger Lightning in 1920, while Whirlwind Racer was added in 1928. The Depression brought financial difficulties. The park entered foreclosure in 1931, operated on a reduced schedule in 1932 and closed in 1933. Attempts to revive it were unsuccessful for several years; the grounds were sometimes used for company picnics, and a drive-in theater operated in the parking lot from 1937 to 1939. Edward Carroll Sr. purchased the neglected property in 1939 and reopened Riverside Park on May 29, 1940. He expanded the park substantially and acquired the plans and cars of the 1939 New York World's Fair Cyclone. A new coaster opened in 1941 and is now known as Thunderbolt. Carroll also introduced auto racing, building Riverside Park Speedway in 1948. The park added themed areas, rides and water attractions throughout the postwar period. The Old West Village and Eldorado Train Ride appeared in 1960, although the train ride was destroyed by fire in 1971. NASCAR events began at the speedway in 1976. Riverside added its first steel coaster, Wildcat, in 1968 and its first looping coaster, The Loop Coaster, in 1977. The park introduced a log flume in 1979 and later adopted pay-one-price admission. A second wooden coaster, Riverside Cyclone, opened in 1983. During the late 1980s and 1990s, the park expanded its water attractions, including Wild River Falls and the Island Kingdom Waterpark. A proposed hotel and casino partnership with Lady Luck Gaming failed after Agawam voters rejected a non-binding casino referendum in 1994. Premier Parks acquired Riverside in late 1996 and renamed it Riverside: The Great Escape for 1997. The new operator invested in the entrance, Main Street, the carousel, the water park and several rides. Island Kingdom added children's facilities, slides and a wave pool, while new themed areas and attractions broadened the park's audience. Premier Parks purchased Six Flags in 1998. Riverside retained its existing name through 1999, then became Six Flags New England in 2000. The 2000 rebranding brought a DC Comics-themed area and Superman – Ride of Steel, an Intamin hypercoaster. Flashback, drop towers and additional themed attractions followed. Hurricane Harbor became the water park's name in 2003, and later additions included Tornado, children's water-play areas and Bonzai Pipelines. The park continued to rotate attractions: some were relocated from other Six Flags properties, while others were removed, rethemed or replaced. Major later milestones included the opening of Mr. Six's Pandemonium in 2005, the addition of relocated rides in 2006, the creation and subsequent retheming of children's areas, and the installation of Goliath in 2012. New England SkyScreamer opened in 2014 as a 408-foot swing ride. After Cyclone closed in 2014, Rocky Mountain Construction rebuilt it as Wicked Cyclone, which opened in 2015. Bizarro was converted back to Superman in 2016, and The Joker opened in 2017 on the former Splash Water Falls site. The park remains a seasonal Six Flags amusement and water-park destination in Massachusetts.

• 2015

  Wicked Cyclone opens

  [1]Six Flags New Englanden.wikipedia.org

  The former Cyclone returns as a steel hybrid coaster rebuilt by Rocky Mountain Construction.

• 2000

  Six Flags New England branding begins

  [1]Six Flags New Englanden.wikipedia.org

  Riverside Park is renamed Six Flags New England.

• 1996

  Premier Parks acquisition

  [1]Six Flags New Englanden.wikipedia.org

  Premier Parks purchases the park from the Carroll family.

• 1940

  Riverside reopens under Edward Carroll Sr.

  [1]Six Flags New Englanden.wikipedia.org

  After years of closure, the park reopens following a major rehabilitation.

• 1912

  Riverside Park name adopted

  [1]Six Flags New Englanden.wikipedia.org

  The property becomes known as Riverside Park as it develops into a formal amusement destination.

• 1870

  Gallup's Grove opens

  [1]Six Flags New Englanden.wikipedia.org

  The site begins operating as a picnic grove, establishing the property that would eventually become Six Flags New England.

A regional New England theme park combining a long amusement-park heritage with major Six Flags thrill rides, family attractions and a large water-park offering.

• Roller coaster · 2000

  Superman The Ride

  The park's signature Intamin hypercoaster, originally opened in 2000 as Superman – Ride of Steel. It was rethemed as Bizarro in 2009 with new visual and audio effects before returning to the Superman identity in 2016. The ride is widely associated with the park and has received strong recognition in annual Golden Ticket Awards rankings.

• Hybrid roller coaster · 2015

  Wicked Cyclone

  A steel-and-wood hybrid coaster created from the former Riverside Cyclone. Rocky Mountain Construction rebuilt the attraction with a steeper drop, tighter elements and three inversions. It opened in 2015 and preserves the historical location of the earlier wooden coaster while providing a substantially revised ride experience.

• Tower swing ride · 2014

  New England SkyScreamer

  A large rotating swing ride that opened in 2014. At 408 feet, it was described at opening as the world's tallest swing ride. The attraction gives riders elevated views of the park and surrounding region while combining a high tower with suspended spinning seats.

• 4D free-fly roller coaster · 2017

  The Joker

  A DC Comics-themed 4D FreeFly coaster installed in 2017 on the former site of Splash Water Falls. Its independently rotating seats and forward-and-backward track movements distinguish it from conventional steel coasters in the park's lineup.

• Water park · 2003

  Hurricane Harbor

  The park's water-attraction area, developed through successive expansions from Island Kingdom Waterpark and renamed Hurricane Harbor in 2003. Its attractions have included wave pools, lazy rivers, children's play structures, tube and raft slides, speed slides and the Tornado water slide.

• Wooden roller coaster · 1941

  Thunderbolt

  The coaster opened in 1941 using plans and cars associated with the 1939 New York World's Fair Cyclone. Now called Thunderbolt, it is notable for remaining in its original location and for its status as the oldest coaster in its original location within the Six Flags chain.

• 2015

  Rebuild Cyclone as Wicked CycloneGeneration change

  Background

  The original Cyclone closed permanently in 2014 after a long run as one of Riverside's historic wooden coasters.

  Action taken

  Rocky Mountain Construction converted the ride into a steel hybrid coaster with a steeper drop and three inversions.

  Aftermath

  Wicked Cyclone opened in May 2015, retaining the historical site while replacing the original ride experience.

  Source

• 2009

  Convert Superman to BizarroGeneration change

  Background

  The flagship Superman coaster was selected for a themed refresh several years after its opening.

  Action taken

  The track was repainted, themed structures and special effects were added, and new trains with onboard audio were introduced.

  Aftermath

  The attraction operated as Bizarro until it was restored to the Superman identity in 2016.

  Source

• 2000

  Rebrand as Six Flags New EnglandStrategy

  Background

  Following Premier Parks' acquisition of the Six Flags chain, Riverside Park continued operating under its existing identity for the 1999 season.

  Action taken

  The park adopted the Six Flags New England name and introduced a major DC Comics-themed area with new attractions.

  Aftermath

  The new identity aligned the Massachusetts property with Six Flags' broader branded park network.

  Source

1. 1Six Flags New Englanden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Six Flags New England official websitesixflags.com