- In the Parks
- No
Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland will be closing at the end of this season. The total property is just over 500 acres with the current theme park on property taking up only about 150 acres. The park is located just off I-95 in a property zoned for amusement parks and the local city council wants the property to stay an amusement park (and has indicated that they would make life "tough" if Six Flags sells to anyone who wants to do anything with the property BUT a theme park). As of 2024, the local Balitmore and Washington markets are ranked 22nd and 8th respectively based on a 2024 survey of radio market population with designated market areas published by A.C. Nielsen Media Research. The property has over 8 million residents within 50 miles and 14 million residents within 100 miles and the DC area welcomes over 27 million tourists every year. The areas is serviced by three major airports. The area does has some significant local theme park competition in Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens, Hersheypark, and Six Flags Great Adventure, but all are traditional "amusement parks" who rely more on thrills and less on theming. The park is not directly on the DC metro, but is only a few miles away from the end of the Blue Line and, with the right local support, may be able to get the Metro extended to the park to get public transit access (which would also directly connect the park to two of the airports and countless hotels).
There is also the potential for a second plot of 150 acres just 8 miles down the road when FedEx Field shuts down after the Washington Commanders move to their new stadium.
Six Flags will have control over who they sell the property to, and ultimately, they will sell it to the highest bidder, and one could imagine a situation where they would be hesitant to sell to a theme park operator who would keep the park as is as it could be competition for Kings Dominion and Six Flags Great Adventure (which they own). But might they be willing to sell to Six Flags or Universal who would potentially help lift overall theme park attendance to the region as a whole?
Disney wanted a park in the area for a long time, but are they ready to try again? Universal has been expanding their U.S. footprint. Might the North East be next (either with a full-on park or another Universal Kids resort)? Seems if either chain was even considering expansions into the North East, this may be one of the best options that could come their way.
There is also the potential for a second plot of 150 acres just 8 miles down the road when FedEx Field shuts down after the Washington Commanders move to their new stadium.
Six Flags will have control over who they sell the property to, and ultimately, they will sell it to the highest bidder, and one could imagine a situation where they would be hesitant to sell to a theme park operator who would keep the park as is as it could be competition for Kings Dominion and Six Flags Great Adventure (which they own). But might they be willing to sell to Six Flags or Universal who would potentially help lift overall theme park attendance to the region as a whole?
Disney wanted a park in the area for a long time, but are they ready to try again? Universal has been expanding their U.S. footprint. Might the North East be next (either with a full-on park or another Universal Kids resort)? Seems if either chain was even considering expansions into the North East, this may be one of the best options that could come their way.
