A popular summer destination for people and families all across the tri-state area is Six Flags Great Adventure. The amusement park located in Jackson, New Jersey is conveniently situated between New York City and Philadelphia and also features the immensely popular Hurricane Harbor water park. Great Adventure has gone through quite a few changes since it first opened in 1974. Here’s a brief history of the transformation of Six Flags Great Adventure.
The Original Plan
When businessman Warner LeRoy, whose father was the producer of The Wizard of Oz, first developed the concept for an amusement park complex, he wanted to also include a safari park, a show park, a floral park, a sports complex, shopping centers and a camping area with a beach and stables. He originally wanted hotels and elaborate means of transportation like sky rides and boating trips.
Immediate Success
LeRoy’s vision came to fruition, at least most of it did, and Great Adventure saw 1.3 million visitors in its first year, which was almost unheard of in that time. Four seasons after it opened, a Texas entertainment company acquired the park but kept LeRoy’s original concept. LeRoy then sold his remaining interest in the park in 1993. You can still see LeRoy’s whimsical touch in spots like the ice cream-shaped Yum Yum Cafe and the building housing its oldest roller coaster, the Runaway Mine Train.
Present Day Great Adventure
Although the park has had its challenges in recent decades, the introduction of new exciting rides and roller coasters like Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, King Cobra, and the world’s first Cyborg themed ride Cyborg Cyber Spin has made it one of the most popular theme parks in the country. The 510-acre park sees millions of visitors each Summer and is the number one requested day trip by kids all over the East Coast.
Looking for Summer fun for the whole family? Six Flags Great Adventure is worth the trip.