Massive Merger Involving Great Adventure, NJ and Dorney Park, PA

After 50 years in New Jersey as a Great adventureSix Flags parent company has officially become a massive business with Cedar Fair owning Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. This resulted in the largest theme park in the United States and North America.

News of the merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair was announced in late 2023. The merger was officially completed and finalized on July 1, 2024.

Coincidentally, July 1, 2024, is also the day that Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey officially celebrated its 50th anniversary. While the Six Flags name wasn’t always associated with the theme park, the venue itself first opened to the public as simply Great Adventure on July 1, 1974.

A lot has changed in the last 50 years at this New Jersey-based theme park. Most notable is the transition to one of the largest thrill rides in the country, with several world-record-breaking roller coasters.

The park is celebrating this milestone since its seasonal opening with special signage throughout the park, anniversary bricks, special events and more. A ribbon cutting ceremony was also held on the morning of July 1, 2024, to officially mark the theme park's 50th anniversary.

Mega-merger: what will happen to the parks?

In the short term, nothing. Six Flags and Cedar Fair have already opened their theme and water parks for the 2024 season, with no immediate changes on the horizon.

This also applies to parks operating in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Dorney Park will continue to operate under its current name and brand, as will Six Flags Great Adventure.

According to USA TodayThe combined company will be able to invest more in the parks. These investments include attractions, games, food, technology, innovation and much more.

Which brand has the most control?

Parent company Cedar Fair will hold majority control and will continue to trade under the symbol FUN. Six Flags' SIX symbol will no longer be used.

However, the new merged company retains the Six Flags name and is now officially known as “Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.” The new company is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

According to USA Today“The combined company's portfolio now includes 42 theme parks, water parks and resorts in the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico.”

With this announcement, all parks previously owned by Six Flags and Cedar Fair will now operate under one umbrella under the name Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.

What about season passes?

A big question on many thrill seekers' minds is what this merger means for current season pass holders.

Locally, Six Flags Great Adventure and Dorney Park both offer their own versions of season passes. This means unlimited visits and plenty of perks for those who have them.

Current owners are wondering if the passes are interchangeable between parks. Will my Great Adventure pass work at Dorney Park? Or will my Dorney Park season pass work at Great Adventure?

As of now, nothing has been announced. This means that for the remainder of the 2024 season, the parks will continue to operate locally as their own venues. However, this could potentially change now that the merger is complete.

An expensive problem that should be solved

One of the main complaints about Great Adventure and Dorney Park is the excessive price of food these days. It is normal for theme park food to be a little more expensive, but the prices at both parks are so high that they can be considered robbery.

Hopefully the new merged company will be able to solve this problem. According to USA Today, “the company's value after the merger is estimated at $8 billion.”

Yes, there are other issues that need to be addressed as well, but there's also a lot of fun to invest in. For example, who remembers the opening of Medusa?

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of Mike Brant, host of New Jersey 101.5's Sunday Morning Show. All opinions expressed are his own.