SIX FLAGS ACTIVITY

Where should the new park go?

Introduction: Did you know the United States has more Theme Parks and FamilyEntertainmentCenters than any other country in the world? One need not travel far from home to find one of the numerous parks that dot the landscape of our nation, from the “Mom & Pop,” family-owned parks, to the major corporate parks owned by companies like Disney and Six Flags. Whether you are a thrill-seeking adventurist who likes the free-fall of speeding roller coasters, getting drenched by water rides on a hot, sunny day, or simply enjoy spending time with your family and taking in a few shows, there is something out there for everyone.

Six Flags, Incorporatedentered the theme park scene in 1961 in Texas, opening Six Flags Over Texas. Designers used the six nations in which Texas had once been a part of to create six distinct lands in the park: USA, Texas, Spain, Mexico, France, and the Confederate Union. Today, the Company has twelve parks in tenstates. Six Flags New Orleans remains closed after the devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina. The Company remains optimistic and continues to support the recovery efforts.

Activity 1:

Where should Six Flags open a new park?

Assume you have been hired by Six Flags, Inc. to head the Search Committee for finding the next site to build the Company’s newest theme park. The Company hopes to design an environmentally-friendly theme park with adjoining water park for people of all ages. Please note, Six Flags has recently sold four of its parks located in Colorado, Ohio, Oklahoma and Washington state. Four current properties (the two in California and two in Texas) are the only ones that operate year round (are open at least one day in each of the twelve calendar months).

After months of research, your Committee has narrowed it down to four possible locations: Pensacola, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; and Scottsdale, Arizona. The time has come for you to make the final decision. Label each of the four possible new locations on the US map showing current park locations and fill in the “pros” and “cons” for each location in the table on the worksheet provided. Be sure to take into consideration…

  • Location of current parks, including competitors
  • Climate and possible operational days a year
  • Environmental impact
  • Local resources (both human and natural)
  • Local population and accessibility

Additional Extension: Have students look at Six Flags’ three international park locations (Canada, Mexico, United Arab Emirates) and challenge them to come up with a new location for an additional park in this category.

Bring Six Flags to Indiana!

NAME ______DATE______

Activity 2:

Assume you have been hired by some anxious Indiana investors who would like to have Six Flags, Inc. build a new, environmentally-friendly theme park and adjoining water park here in Indiana. It is your job to determine what Indiana has to offer, choose an optimal Indiana location for the park, and then travel to New York City to the Six Flags Headquarters and present your “pitch” to win Indiana the newest theme park built by this company. Be sure to take into consideration…

  • Location of current parks, including competitors
  • Climate and possible operational days a year
  • Environmental impact
  • Local resources (both human and natural)
  • Local population and accessibility

New Indiana location: ______

Give at least 4 reasons why you chose this location? ______

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Bonus: Create a “tag line” for the new theme park (example IndianaBeach uses “There’s more than corn in Indiana”):

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