Six Flags and Knott's Mega Merger Has the Chance to Create a New Theme Park Superpower

July 1 marked the authoritative merger time betwixt Six Flags and Cedar Fair into Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, a process acceptable successful question aft past year’s $8 cardinal deal. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that 2 taxable parkland companies person officially combined operations, bringing unneurotic Six Flags locations with Cedar Fair’s portfolio, which includes Knott’s Berry Farm among different determination taxable parks.

For diehard taxable parkland enthusiasts and casual vacationers alike, this means a fig of things moving forward. It’s imaginable that these parks, which are dispersed crossed the state mostly successful large cities, could spot immoderate fiscal infusions to get them connected a competing level with Universal Studios and Disney Parks—maybe adjacent giving stateside travelers parks connected the level of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. A long-standing vexation has been that these parks person experiences and coasters with IP that’s seemingly been haphazardly slapped on, similar DC characters oregon Peanuts (shout retired to Knott’s, astatine least, doing its champion with cute, endearing Snoopy shows). The effort has somewhat improved astatine times with acheronian rides similar Justice League: Battle for Metropolis—and that could get adjacent better; arsenic THR notes, “the companies program to leverage their licensed intelligence spot successful their parks, with Six Flags holding a woody with Warner Bros. Discovery for rights to characters from DC Comics and Looney Tunes, and Cedar Fair controlling rights to the Peanuts universe.”

There’s besides past week’s large Halloween haunt announcement; with Six Flags Fright Fest present holding the rights to aggregate Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix, Lionsgate, and Legendary movie and tv fearfulness properties, titles similar Stranger Things, The Conjuring Universe, Stranger Things, Army of the Dead, Trick r’ Treat, Saw, and DC Comics’ DCeased, to sanction a few, volition present person a beingness crossed Six Flags parks. It was shocking quality to accidental the least, arsenic a fig of those IP names had a beingness astatine Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights successful past years. It remains to beryllium seen if these volition besides beryllium incorporated into Knott’s Scary Farm’s iconic haunt event—but we’re hoping it and its sister parks support the Halloween accepted lore vibe that’s made them specified spooky giants, and that the effort we spot astatine Knott’s elevates the IP-heavy slate coming to Six Flags. This merger could amusement that these parks tin beryllium contention for the large guys, portion besides being much terms accessible. Halloween is proving to beryllium the trial run.

We’re truly hoping that making these parks much immersive with workplace IP volition reinvigorate the request for them and animate much originative concern with dedicated amusement expansions. If you’ve seen the level Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is operating on, you’ll cognize what we mean. The planetary parks boast cutting-edge attractions inspired by DC worlds similar Gotham, Looney Tunes, and different fan-favorite properties that marque Disney and Universal look similar determination parks. They person full-on shows with DC heroes and villains, Looney Tunes conscionable and greets, and themed foodie amusive that’s not hard to find oregon of the “seasonal only, blink and you’ll miss it” variety. With Netflix present successful the premix on WB and Legendary, we’re hoping for much beyond conscionable Halloween. Imagine a afloat realized Gotham City, a Godzilla x Kong coaster with animatronics, a Stranger Things acheronian ride, oregon adjacent a One Piece vessel ride. If the parks displacement into immersion, we’ll each beryllium winners.

Keep up with much quality from the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger and Fright Fest present connected io9.

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