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Holiday in the Park is Returning to Six Flags Over Georgia

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Six Flags is bringing back Holiday in the Park to Six Flags Over Georgia in 2026 after cancelling it for the 2025 season. Six Flags President and CEO stated, “We heard our guests loud and clear, Holiday in the Park has long been a cornerstone event at these properties, and we’ve taken everything we’ve learned to thoughtfully evolve the experience.” In addition to returning to Six Flags Over Georgia, Holiday in the Park will also be returning to Six Flags Great Adventure. The concept art below that Six flags released for this new incarnation looks ridiculously awesome.

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The Underappreciated Boomerang Roller Coaster with Potentially the Best Located at Wild Adventures

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Boomerang at Wild Adventures

The Boomerang roller coaster by Vekoma is an amazing ride that is probably underappreciated due to its commercial success. Boomerang installations are numerous with over 50 operating locations worldwide with most using Boomerang in its name. However, just because something is common doesn’t mean it isn’t good and with a Boomerang you’ll experience some of the most intense forces possible on a steel roller coaster. One of the best and most well kept is the Boomerang at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, GA. It even received some upgrades making it even better for the 2026 season.

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Former Ragin’ Cajun Wild Mouse Coaster From Shuttered Six Flags America Relocating to Six Flags Great Adventure for its Newly Reimagined Shoreline Pier Boardwalk Area

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Six Flags America in Maryland closed forever on November 2, 2025. There was much talk about which, if any, rides would be relocated to other Six Flags parks. The trains from Professor Screamore’s SkyWinder (formerly Mind Eraser) were quickly shipped to Canada’s Wonderland to upgrade their Vekoma SLC, Flight Deck. Also, Some of the rides were briefly listed for sale and quickly removed, but there hasn’t been much information since. Now it appears that Ragin’ Cajun, one of the rides thought most likely to relocate, will be headed to Six Flags Great Adventure for its newly reimagined Shoreline Pier Boardwalk area. This wild mouse coaster has gotten a new paint job and will now be called Barrels O’ Fun.

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Is the Theme Park Industry Going Virtual?

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During IAAPA 2025 I was struck by the number of virtual and digital attractions on display. What also surprised me was how exceptional most of them were in creating a totally immersive experience. Also, many of these attractions were of a size that could allow them to be used by any park, family entertainment center (FEC) or even arcade. Some would require a building, some a room and some were as small as a single chair. Some were purely ride experiences where others were enhanced versions of classic sit down arcade shooters and many combined both. The Rilix Coaster VR stood out as a compelling immersive experience in a traditional arcade format. The virtual theme park probably isn’t replacing your favorite roller coaster anytime soon, but it does offer operators another option to entertain guests.

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The Spectacular Scouting America Adventure Weekend at Wild Adventures

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We had a chance to experience the Scouting America Adventure Weekend at Wild Adventures Theme Park, April 17-19, 2026 and it was an incredible scouting event. This has to be the best bargain in scouting events with food, 2-day theme park tickets and 2nights of camping for only $50. The execution of the event by Wild Adventures was spectacular as everything was obviously extremely well planned. For a scout spending 2 days camping at Wild Adventures couldn’t be more fun with its combination of rides, waterpark and animals. If you’re looking for a fun spring camping event it’s hard to imagine anything better than a Scouting America Adventure Weekend at Wild Adventures.

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Firehouse BBQ at Six Flags Over Georgia Up for USA Today 10BEST Award with More New Food Options Coming in 2026

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The Firehouse BBQ at Six Flags Over Georgia (SFOG) has been nominated for “Best Theme Park Restaurant” in USA Today’s 2026 10BEST. Firehouse BBQ was a new dining option for 2025 at SFOG and it’s great to see it already getting such great recognition. We had a chance to review Firehouse BBQ last year and it’s easily the best dining experience in the park and part of a broader initiative to improve dining options across the chain. This has included multiple Six Flags parks hiring their first-ever executive chefs including Jeremy Hacker at Six Flags Great Adventure, Josh Streeter at Six Flags New England and Priscilla Nicole at Six Flags Over Georgia. I’ve personally met Pricilla, she is simply wonderful and has been doing great work for the park.

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Downtown Atlanta Amusement Park History: From the Site of Ponce de Leon Amusement Company 100 Years Ago “Springs” Skyline Park Today

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Ponce de Leon Amusement Company
Skyline Park
Skyline Park (Courtesy of Slater Hospitality)

Back in the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s there was a popular tourist destination called Ponce de Leon Springs near downtown Atlanta. It was seen more like a local spa with the mineral content of the water thought to provide health benefits. In January 1903, 47 acres of the land surrounding the spring was purchased by the future Ponce de Leon Amusement Company. Construction quickly started on a theater, a carousel and a casino. The owners tried to mimic Coney Island by building a ping pong parlor, a gravity railroad (precursor to our modern roller coasters), a Ferris wheel and a penny arcade and the park soon became known as “the Coney Island of Atlanta”. It only lasted to the 1920’s, but fast forward 100 years and remarkably on the same site today you’ll find Skyline Park, a modern carnival-style rooftop amusement park!

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Does Splash Island at Wild Adventures Have the Best Lazy River in America?

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The Paradise River at Splash Island Water Park (part of Wild Adventures Theme Park) has been nominated for “Best Lazy River” in USA Today’s 10BEST. Paradise River is in a beautiful setting with palms trees and foliage all around as you pass under several bridges around the course. There are some fun water features to interact with, but nothing too much that takes the “lazy” out of lazy river. Paradise River has been nominated along with 19 other lazy rivers and includes prestigious company such as Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach along with its sister property, Dollywood Splash Country. If you love Wild Adventures and Splash Island be sure to VOTE NOW!

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Busch Gardens and SeaWorld Parent Company United Parks Sued by Sesame Street Over Unpaid License Fees

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Sesame Workshop (the company behind Sesame Street) has sued United Parks & Resorts (parent of SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens) over unpaid royalties. Sesame Workshop file in federal court in New York on March 12, 2026 and is seeking to end its licensing agreement with United Parks & Resorts. United Parks & Resorts operates full themed park lands around the Sesame Street IP with rides, shows and parades and for many locations it is the centerpiece of their kid’s area. In addition to unpaid royalties Sesame Place also alleges plans for a 3rd Sesame Place theme park were shelved and that United shortened seasons or completely closed Sesame Street themed lands without proper notice.

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The Lumber for Your Favorite Wooden Roller Coaster May Have Come From S.I. Storey in Armuchee, Georgia

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Wooden Roller coasters primarily use a very specific type of wood called Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) for their structure and track. Southern Yellow Pine has become the industry-standard wood used worldwide for most modern wooden roller coasters due to its density, strength, and pressure-treatment capabilities. For more than two decades, S.I. Storey Lumber Company in Armuchee, GA has specialized in high quality treated Southern Yellow Pine that has been used in roller coasters around the world. S.I Storey lumber is in use at many Six Flags parks, smaller local parks across the United States and even international parks like Walibi Belgium. Please note that of the coasters pictured in this article only Viper and Weerwolf are known for certain to have S.I. Storey lumber.

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