Six Flags Great Adventure is an amusement park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, 75 miles (80 km) from Midtown Manhattan and 40 miles (64 km) from Philadelphia, not far from the New Jersey Turnpike, consisting of a theme park area, a Wild Safari area, and a water park called Hurricane Harbor. Well known for its roller coasters with brilliant and colorful tracks, such as Nitro, Medusa, The Great American Scream Machine, Batman & Robin: The Chiller, Batman: The Ride (not to be confused with the Chiller), and Superman: Ultimate Flight, Six Flags Great Adventure tends to get crowded on nice days, with long lines for tickets, entry, and the newer (and more heavily advertised) rides. Six Flags Great Adventure has more rides than any other theme park in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
The entrance plaza at Six Flags Great Adventure.
In the late spring/early summer 2005, the park opened Kingda Ka, the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster, surpassing the previous leader in both categories, Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. Kingda Ka, which is very similar to Top Thrill Dragster and built by the same company responsible for that ride, has a top speed of 128 mph (206 km/h) and rises to a height of 456 feet (139 m). The ride opened May 19, 2005 for media day followed by an opening to the season pass holders that afternoon. On May 20 it was closed due to rain (The only coaster in the park to close with rain, others are opened as long as there is no thunder/lightning). Then in the first week of June 2005, the ride had a major breakdown that kept it down for about two months. On July 21st, 2005, Kingda Ka was alive and started testing. It re-opened on August 4, 2005.
In 2006, Six Flags will be adding El Toro, a new wooden roller coaster, the park's first since 1979. It will be the second tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the USA (third in the world), and will hold the world record for steepest first drop, at 76 degrees. El Toro will be the star of a new Spanish-themed section, Plaza Del Carnaval, along with a new section for the younger ones, Bugs Bunny National Park. Its was hoped that this would open March 31 but management has now stated this will not be possible due to some construction delays. Its been stated that El Toro is expected to open late Spring/Early Summer (Mid To Late May to be exact). The goal now is Memorial Day Weekend. But no committment to an exact date has been made.
The park was opened in 1974 by restauranteur Warner LeRoy. For that time period it was a major attraction with several steel rollercoasters (small by today's standards...one of which is still open today) and two log flumes along with over 3 dozen rides along with shows. In 1977 it was purchased by Six Flags and gradually expanded more. Like several other Six Flags theme parks, including Six Flags Great America, it is located between two major metropolitan areas -- in this case, New York and Philadelphia -- and is easy to reach for residents of both cities.
Park Fatalities
Rolling Thunder
On August 16, 1981, a park employee, Joshua Reilly, died after falling from the Rolling Thunder roller coaster. The accident occurred during a safety test of the cars.
The New Jersey Labor Department's investigation discovered that the employee did not secure himself with the safety bar. Further, alcohol was determined to be a contributing factor in the accident. After an inspection, Rolling Thunder was deemed safe by the state and reopened the following day.
Haunted Castle
Haunted Castle: On May 11, 1984, eight teenage guests died in a fire in the Haunted Castle attraction. A 14-year old boy lit a cigarette lighter to navigate a pitch-black room (darkened due to a burned-out light bulb), which ignited the foam rubber safety padding covering the walls. This resulted in a quick-spreading fire that consumed the entire attraction. While 10 patrons and four employees were able to escape the blaze, eight teenagers did not.
The victims' families filed a lawsuit, but Great Adventure and its parent company Six Flags Corp. were cleared of all wrongdoing in July, 1985.
Lightnin' Loops
On June 17, 1987, a 19-year-old woman died after falling from the Lightnin' Loops roller coaster. The New Jersey Labor Department's investigation found no mechanical failure, but concluded the ride operator did not ensure all passengers were securely harnessed in before starting the ride. Had the proper safety procedures been followed, they concluded, the death would have been easily prevented.
The woman's family sued and settled out of court for a $2.6 million settlement.
The park itself was fined $1,000.00 - the maximum allowable penalty in 1987- for violation of the New Jersey Carnival Amusement Ride Safety Act. After being given approval by the state to resume operation, Great Adventure reopened the ride in October 1987. Lightnin' Loops was "retired" in 1992 and eventually replaced with another attraction.
Ride/Attraction Timeline
2006: El Toro and Plaza Del Carnaval, a new Spanish-themed section, along with Bugs Bunny National Park. Hopefully to be opened by Memorial Day Weekend.
2005: Golden Kingdom themed area featuring Kingda Ka, Balin's Jungle Land (children's playarea), and Temple of the Tiger (tiger exhibit); Secondary entrance to safari added.
2000: Hurricane Harbor water park opened on land nearby as a separate admission park.
1999: Medusa; Blackbeard's Lost Treasure Train; Road Runner Railway; Looney Tunes Seaport (themed area); Houdini's Great Escape; Escape from Dino Island 3D; Gotham City Carnival of Chaos stunt show.
1998: Batman and Robin: The Chiller. (added in 1997 but not in operation the entire season
