Six Flags Great America Map and Brochure (2025 – 1976)
Location: Gurnee, Illinois
Years Active: 1976 – Active
Located in Gurnee, Illinois, Six Flags Great America stands as a thrilling epicenter of amusement and entertainment in the American Midwest. This iconic theme park first opened its gates to the public on May 29, 1976, and has since remained a beloved destination for families and thrill-seekers alike. Nestled amidst 304 acres of scenic landscape, Six Flags Great America boasts an exhilarating blend of thrilling rides, family-friendly attractions, and a lively atmosphere that truly lives up to its “Great” name.
With its vibrant Americana theme, Six Flags Great America pays homage to the nation’s rich history and culture, offering visitors a nostalgic journey through time. The park’s star attractions include the towering “Goliath” roller coaster, the heart-pounding “X-Flight” wing coaster, and the ever-popular “Raging Bull” hypercoaster.
Families can also enjoy a wide range of rides and attractions, such as the enchanting “Whizzer” and the whimsical “Hometown Fun Machine.” Recent visitor statistics reveal a steady influx of guests, with millions of visitors each year, making it one of the top amusement parks in the region. As part of its commitment to offering new experiences, the park continues to explore expansion plans, ensuring that the thrills and excitement never cease to evolve at Six Flags Great America. For a fun-filled day with family and friends, Six Flags Great America is a must-visit destination. This best amusement park has something for everyone to enjoy.
Six Flags Great America Map 2025
In 2025, Six Flags Great America introduces Wrath of Rakshasa, an all-new record-setting dive coaster. Marketed as the steepest and most inverted dive coaster in the world, Wrath of Rakshasa becomes the park’s signature addition for the season, emphasizing extreme vertical drops and multiple inversions. This major roller coaster debut is the defining change for the park’s lineup, expanding its portfolio of thrill attractions with a globally recognized ride innovation.
Printable Six Flags Great America Map PDF 2025
Six Flags Great America Fright Fest Map 2024
In 2024, Six Flags Great America Fright Fest added two major attractions to its seasonal lineup. A new haunted house based on the “Saw” horror movie franchise, titled “Saw X,” was introduced, featuring environments inspired by Jigsaw’s traps. Additionally, the event debuted a new scare zone called “Six Saints Cemetery,” expanding the themed walk-through experiences available to guests during the Halloween season with another original haunted environment.
Printable Six Flags Great America Fright Fest Map PDF 2024
Six Flags Great America Map 2024
In 2024, Six Flags Great America introduced Sky Striker, a new pendulum thrill ride standing 17 stories tall and recognized as the tallest ride of its kind in the Midwest. The debut of Sky Striker was accompanied by the removal of Mardi Gras Hangover, which had operated since 2018. The replacement marked a major change in the park’s ride lineup, with Sky Striker taking the place of the former attraction in the Mardi Gras area.
Printable Six Flags Great America Map PDF 2024
Six Flags Great America Brochure 2024
Six Flags Great America Map 2023
In 2023, Six Flags Great America permanently closed three attractions. Revolution, the spinning pendulum ride located in the County Fair section, was removed at the end of the season. Mardi Gras Hangover, a Larson Loop ride that opened in 2018, was also dismantled and taken out of operation. Additionally, Dare Devil Dive, the Skycoaster attraction first introduced in 1997, was closed and removed, with the structure stored in the park’s employee parking lot.
Six Flags Great America Map 2022
In 2022, Six Flags Great America renamed the Yankee Harbor themed area to DC Universe. Originally opened in 1976 as a New England harbor–themed section surrounding rides such as Vertical Velocity and Yankee Clipper, the area was rebranded to fit the DC Universe theme. The transformation included updated theming to align with the DC Comics franchise, marking a significant reimagining of one of the park’s original lands and establishing a new identity for the section.
Six Flags Great America Map 2021
In 2021, Hurricane Harbor Chicago opened Tsunami Surge, an 86-foot water coaster recognized as the tallest of its kind in the world. That same year, the waterpark was rebranded as Hurricane Harbor Chicago and began operating as a separately gated park from Six Flags Great America. Additionally, the main park permanently closed and removed Buccaneer Battle, the interactive pirate-themed water ride originally introduced in 2009, marking a major removal from its attraction lineup.
Six Flags Great America Map 2020
In 2020, Six Flags Great America’s main theme park did not open for the season, remaining closed throughout the year. However, the adjacent Hurricane Harbor waterpark reopened on July 20 for a shortened operating season
Six Flags Great America Map 2019
In 2019, Six Flags Great America debuted Maxx Force, a triple-record-breaking launch coaster that accelerates riders to 78 miles per hour in under two seconds and features multiple inversions. To make way for the new attraction, the Pictorium IMAX theatre, which had been in operation since 1979, was demolished. The opening of Maxx Force and the removal of the Pictorium defined the major changes to the park’s offerings and physical landscape during the 2019 season.
Six Flags Great America Map 2018
In 2018, Six Flags Great America opened Mardi Gras Hangover, the world’s largest loop coaster, located in the Mardi Gras section of the park. The debut of this record-breaking ride was accompanied by the removal of King Chaos, a Top Spin attraction that had operated since 2004. The replacement of King Chaos with Mardi Gras Hangover defined the year’s major changes, introducing a new headlining thrill ride while retiring a long-standing flat ride from the park’s lineup.
Six Flags Great America Map 2017
In 2017, Six Flags Great America introduced The Joker, a 4D Free Fly Coaster that officially debuted on April 21. To accommodate the new roller coaster, The Orbit, a Schwarzkopf Enterprise ride that had been in operation since 1976, was permanently removed after the 2016 season. The debut of The Joker and the removal of The Orbit represented the key changes to the park’s attraction lineup during the 2017 season, reshaping the ride offerings in its designated area.
Six Flags Great America Map 2016
In 2016, Six Flags Great America opened Justice League: Battle for Metropolis, a new 4D interactive thrill ride. To accommodate this addition, the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster, which had operated since 1999, was removed after the 2015 season. Additionally, the park introduced a virtual reality experience on Superman The Ride, allowing riders to wear wireless VR headsets while experiencing the coaster.
Six Flags Great America Map 2015
Six Flags Great America Map 2014
In 2014, Six Flags Great America debuted Goliath, a record-breaking wooden roller coaster recognized as the world’s fastest, tallest, and steepest of its kind. The introduction of Goliath required the removal of the Ragin’ Cajun roller coaster, which had concluded operations at the end of the 2013 season. The construction of Goliath and the closure of Ragin’ Cajun marked the defining changes for the park, reshaping its roller coaster lineup with a globally notable wooden coaster addition.
Six Flags Great America Map 2013
In 2013, Six Flags Great America premiered igNIGHT Grand Finale, a nighttime production featuring large-scale video projection, lasers, pyrotechnics, and live performances, which debuted on May 25. Later in the season, the Ragin’ Cajun roller coaster was permanently retired on August 25 to make way for future expansion in the Mardi Gras section of the park.
Six Flags Great America Map 2012
In 2012, Six Flags Great America introduced X-Flight, a wing coaster reaching 55 miles per hour with a 12-story drop and five inversions. The debut of this major roller coaster followed the removal of Splashwater Falls, which was cleared to make way for the new ride. Additionally, the Déjà Vu roller coaster was permanently removed from the park before the start of the 2012 season, marking another significant change to the overall ride lineup during the year.
Six Flags Great America Map 2011
In 2011, Six Flags Great America expanded Hurricane Harbor with the addition of two new water slides, Wahoo Racers and Typhoon, located north of the Skull Mountain complex. Later that year, the park permanently closed and removed the Iron Wolf stand-up roller coaster on September 5. The ride was subsequently relocated to Six Flags America, where it reopened under the new name Apocalypse. These updates brought both new water attractions and the removal of a long-standing coaster.
Six Flags Great America Map 2010
In 2010, Six Flags Great America introduced the Little Dipper, a classic wooden roller coaster relocated from Kiddieland Amusement Park after its 2009 closure. To accommodate the new ride, Splashwater Falls was removed from the front of the park. Additionally, Space Shuttle America, the motion simulator attraction that had operated since 1994, was taken out to create space for Glow in the Park Parade floats, while the evening parade itself was renamed from “Got an Awesome parade!” to “Glow in the Park Parade.”
Six Flags Great America Map 2009
In 2009, Six Flags Great America added Buccaneer Battle, an interactive water ride manufactured by MACK Rides, to the County Fair section of the park. The attraction allowed guests to engage in water-based interactions while riding themed boats. Buccaneer Battle replaced the Jumbotron, which had previously occupied the space in that area. The debut of Buccaneer Battle marked the defining addition to the park’s lineup for the 2009 season, introducing a new style of family-focused interactive attraction.
Six Flags Great America Map 2008
In 2008, Six Flags Great America introduced The Dark Knight Coaster, an indoor Mack wild mouse roller coaster located in the Orleans Place section of the park. To create space for this new attraction, the Theater Royale building, which had operated as an indoor theater since 1976, was converted into the ride’s show building. The addition of The Dark Knight Coaster and the removal of Theater Royale defined the primary changes to the park’s attractions during the 2008 season.
Six Flags Great America Map 2007
In 2007, Six Flags Great America opened Wiggles World, a new children’s area located in the County Fair section of the park. This addition replaced Bugs Bunny’s Fort Fun, a children’s play area that had operated from 1998 through 2006. The transition marked a shift in the park’s family attractions, with Wiggles World serving as the central kids’ section while Bugs Bunny’s Fort Fun was fully removed to accommodate the new themed area and its offerings.
Six Flags Great America Map 2006
In 2006, Six Flags Great America expanded Hurricane Harbor with the addition of two new water slides, Bahama Mama and Bubba Tubba. That season also featured a park-wide renovation that included multiple ride renamings: Power Dive was renamed King Chaos, Bayou Blaster was renamed V2, and Sonic Slam was renamed Superman: Tower of Power.
Six Flags Great America Brochure 2006
Six Flags Great America Map 2005
In 2005, Six Flags Great America opened Hurricane Harbor, a new 13-acre water park built on the site of the former parking lot. The addition introduced a separately themed water park adjacent to the main amusement park, making it the second water park developed by Six Flags. Hurricane Harbor significantly expanded the overall resort experience, offering a wide range of new water attractions and marking the most substantial addition to the property for the 2005 season.
Six Flags Great America Map 2004
In 2004, Six Flags Great America added two new flat rides: King Chaos, a HUSS Top Spin, and Revolution, a HUSS Frisbee, both named after iconic roller coasters. That same year, the Shockwave roller coaster, which had been standing but not operating since its closure in 2002, was demolished to create a path for the upcoming Hurricane Harbor water park. The introduction of King Chaos and Revolution, along with the removal of Shockwave, defined the year’s major changes.
Six Flags Great America Map 2003
In 2003, Six Flags Great America introduced Superman: Ultimate Flight, a Bolliger & Mabillard flying roller coaster located in the Orleans Place section of the park. The addition marked the debut of a new ride style for the park and was the second flying coaster built by the manufacturer. To accommodate the new attraction, the historic Z-Force roller coaster, which had closed in 2002, was permanently removed. The debut of Superman: Ultimate Flight and removal of Z-Force defined the season.
Six Flags Great America Brochure 2003
Six Flags Great America Map 2002
In 2002, Six Flags Great America announced plans to remove the historic Whizzer roller coaster to make way for Superman: Ultimate Flight, but strong public opposition led to the ride being preserved. Instead, the neighboring Shockwave roller coaster was permanently closed after giving its last rides on September 2 and was dismantled to clear space for a future attraction. The attempted removal of Whizzer and confirmed closure of Shockwave were the defining changes to the park during the 2002 season.
Six Flags Great America Brochure 2002
Six Flags Great America Map 2001
In 2001, Six Flags Great America introduced two new roller coasters. Vertical Velocity, an Intamin impulse coaster and the first of its kind in the Midwest, opened on May 18. Later in the season, Déjà Vu, a Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang, debuted on October 7. To accommodate Déjà Vu, the park removed Sky Whirl, the triple Ferris wheel that had operated since 1976. These additions and the removal of Sky Whirl defined the major changes for the year.
Six Flags Great America Brochure 2001
Six Flags Great America Map 2000
In 2000, Six Flags Great America permanently closed and removed the Sky Whirl, a triple Ferris wheel that had been in operation since the park’s early years in 1976. The ride gave its final public operations before being dismantled at the end of the season. Its removal cleared the site for the construction of Déjà Vu, a Giant Inverted Boomerang roller coaster that would debut in the following year, marking the year’s defining change to the park’s lineup.
Six Flags Great America Brochure 2000
Six Flags Great America Map 1999
In 1999, Six Flags Great America introduced Raging Bull, a Bolliger & Mabillard hyper-twister roller coaster located in the Southwest Territory section, serving as the park’s major new thrill ride. To create space for the new coaster, the Rolling Thunder bobsled roller coaster was permanently removed. Additionally, the park opened Looney Tunes National Park, a new children’s area that replaced Bugs Bunny Land and featured multiple new rides, marking another significant expansion for families during the season.
Six Flags Great America Map 1998
In 1998, Six Flags Great America expanded its children’s offerings with the debut of Camp Cartoon Network in Yukon Territory, introducing five new rides: Spacely’s Sprocket Rockets, Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Machine, Yogi’s Yahoo River, Rocky Road’s Rescue Service, and Bedrock Boulder Roller. Additionally, the existing Bugs Bunny Land was renamed Looney Tunes National Park and updated with multiple themed attractions.
Six Flags Great America Map 1997
In 1997, Six Flags Great America introduced two major attractions. Giant Drop, a 227-foot Intamin drop tower, opened on April 26 as part of the ongoing expansion of the Southwest Territory section of the park. On the same day, Dare Devil Dive, a Skycoaster built by Sky Fun 1 Inc., officially opened in the County Fair area.
Six Flags Great America Map 1996
In 1996, Six Flags Great America opened Southwest Territory, an 11-acre themed area designed around an Old West desert setting. The expansion included three new rides: River Rocker, a pirate ship attraction; Chubasco, a teacup ride; and Trail Blazer, a Zamperla Joker. Additionally, the Big Top ride, originally opened in 1977 in the County Fair area, was relocated to Southwest Territory and renamed Ricochet.
Six Flags Great America Map 1995
In 1995, Six Flags Great America introduced Viper, a wooden roller coaster designed in the style of the classic Cyclone, which officially opened on April 29. That same season, the park permanently closed and removed Rolling Thunder, an Intamin bobsled roller coaster that had operated in the Hometown Square area since 1989. The debut of Viper and the removal of Rolling Thunder marked the defining changes to the park’s ride lineup for the 1995 season.
Six Flags Great America Map 1994
In 1994, Six Flags Great America introduced Space Shuttle America, a motion simulator ride located in the Carousel Plaza section of the park. The attraction, also known as Space Shuttle America – The Next Century, was designed to simulate the experience of space travel. Its debut marked the park’s defining change for the 1994 season, adding a new technology-driven ride to the lineup and expanding the park’s use of immersive simulation-based attractions.
Six Flags Great America Map 1993
In 1993, Six Flags Great America introduced the Batman Stunt Show, performed in a newly constructed amphitheater located past the Demon roller coaster. The live-action show was added to build on the popularity of the Batman franchise following the success of Batman: The Ride and the film Batman Returns. The opening of the Batman Stunt Show in its dedicated venue represented the park’s primary addition and the defining change to its entertainment lineup for the 1993 season.
Six Flags Great America Map 1992
In 1992, Six Flags Great America debuted Batman: The Ride, the world’s first inverted roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard. The ride opened on May 9 and replaced the Tidal Wave shuttle loop coaster, which had been removed at the end of the 1991 season to make space for the new attraction. The introduction of Batman: The Ride and the removal of Tidal Wave were the defining changes for the park’s lineup during the 1992 season.
Six Flags Great America Map 1991
In 1991, Six Flags Great America introduced Condor, a 112-foot-tall spinning tower ride located in the Orleans Place section of the park. The attraction was officially announced on February 12 and opened for the season as a new addition to the park’s lineup. Condor featured rotating gondolas attached to arms that lifted riders into the air, offering a new aerial experience. Its debut represented the defining change to the park’s attractions during the 1991 season.
Six Flags Great America Map 1990
In 1990, Six Flags Great America permanently removed The Edge, a first-generation freefall ride located in the Orleans Place section of the park. The attraction, which had operated through the 1980s, was taken out of the lineup before the start of the season. Its closure marked the defining change for the year, as no new rides or major additions were introduced to replace it, leaving the removal of The Edge as the primary operational update for 1990.
Six Flags Great America Map 1989
In 1989, Six Flags Great America opened Rolling Thunder, an Intamin bobsled-style roller coaster located in the Yankee Harbor section of the park. The ride featured a trackless design where cars traveled freely through a winding steel trough. Later that season, The Edge, the park’s first-generation Intamin freefall ride, permanently closed after operating its final day on Labor Day. The debut of Rolling Thunder and the closure of The Edge defined the significant changes to the park’s lineup for 1989.
Six Flags Great America Map 1988
In 1988, Six Flags Great America introduced ShockWave, a record-breaking steel roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics. Opening on April 14, the ride featured seven inversions and debuted as the world’s tallest and fastest looping roller coaster at the time. ShockWave’s addition significantly expanded the park’s lineup of major thrill rides and became the defining change for the 1988 season, marking the introduction of a new headline attraction to the park’s collection of roller coasters.
Six Flags Great America Map 1987
In 1987, Six Flags Great America added Power Dive, an Intamin Looping Starship ride located in the Yankee Harbor section, featuring full 360-degree looping swings. That same year, the park permanently closed Tidal Wave, its original Schwarzkopf looping coaster, to clear space for the upcoming ShockWave. The debut of Power Dive and the closure of Tidal Wave marked the defining changes to the park’s ride lineup, reshaping its mix of flat rides and roller coasters for the season.
Six Flags Great America Brochure 1985
Six Flags Great America Map 1983
In 1983, Marriott’s Great America introduced The Edge, an Intamin first-generation freefall ride that lifted riders 131 feet into the air before dropping them at speeds reaching 60 miles per hour. The attraction opened on May 15 as the park’s major new addition for the season. The debut of The Edge marked the defining change to the park’s ride lineup, expanding its collection of thrill rides with a vertical drop experience unlike any other previously offered.
Six Flags Great America Map 1982
In 1982, Marriott’s Great America introduced a new Picnic Grove area designed for group gatherings and meals, expanding the park’s facilities for larger parties and events. That same season, the park also debuted a new live entertainment offering with the water-ski show Red Hot and Wet, which featured professional daredevil water-skiers. These two additions, combining expanded group amenities with a new major show, represented the defining changes to the park’s offerings during the 1982 operating season.
Six Flags Great America Map 1981
In 1981, Marriott’s Great America opened the American Eagle, a record-breaking racing wooden roller coaster. Debuting on May 16, the ride was introduced as the world’s tallest and fastest wooden coaster at the time. The addition of American Eagle served as the park’s headline attraction for the season, significantly expanding its roller coaster lineup and becoming the defining change to the park’s offerings during 1981 with the debut of a large-scale wooden racing coaster experience.
Six Flags Great America Map 1980
In 1980, Marriott’s Great America re-themed and renamed the Turn of the Century roller coaster as The Demon, adding a new identity to the existing ride. Additionally, the park opened The Pictorium in mid-June, promoted as the world’s largest indoor theater featuring large-format IMAX presentations. These two developments, the transformation of Turn of the Century into The Demon and the debut of The Pictorium, defined the significant changes introduced during the 1980 operating season.
Six Flags Great America Map 1979
Six Flags Great America Map 1976
FAQ
Why is Six Flags Great America closing?
Six Flags Great America is not permanently closing. However, confusion may arise due to temporary seasonal closures, changes in operations, or park-specific announcements. Always check the official Six Flags website or local news for verified updates regarding closures or limited access.
Is the Great America Six Flags?
Yes, Great America located in Gurnee, Illinois is a Six Flags theme park officially named Six Flags Great America. It is owned and operated by Six Flags and has been part of the Six Flags brand since 1984 after being acquired from Marriott.
Will Great America be open in 2025?
Yes, Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois will be open in 2025. The park continues to operate seasonally, typically from spring through late fall. Opening and closing dates vary yearly, so visitors should check the official Six Flags calendar for 2025 schedule updates.
Does Six Flags own Great America?
Yes, Six Flags owns and operates Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. The park was originally opened by Marriott in 1976 and was acquired by Six Flags in 1984. Since then, it has remained part of the Six Flags chain of amusement parks.