Six Flags America, Hurricane Harbor in Prince George's County closing
BOWIE, Md. (DC News Now) — Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced Thursday that this will be the last season for Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor in Bowie, with officials saying the sites are no longer a 'strategic fit.'
The 500-acre property will be marketed for redevelopment as part of Six Flags' ongoing portfolio optimization program, President & CEO Richard A. Zimmerman noted in a press release.
'As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company's long-term growth plan,' Zimmerman stated. 'After reviewing a number of options, we believe that marketing the property for redevelopment will generate the highest value and return on investment. We anticipate strong interest in the property and will continue to strategically pursue portfolio optimization opportunities as we work to unlock the full value of our portfolio.'
Thousands march in May Day rally in DC
The park employs about 70 full-time associates, with severance and other benefits being offered to eligible employees.
'This was a difficult decision, and we recognize the impact it will have on our Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor park associates and guests,' Zimmerman stated, in part. 'We are grateful to our park associates who work hard to create lifelong memories for our guests, and Six Flags is committed to supporting all impacted associates through the closure process at the end of this year.'
All 2025 season passes and tickets will be honored, officials noted, as the park will close after the upcoming season.
The final operating day will be Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
Acting Prince George's County Executive Tara H. Jackson said she was saddened by the announcement. She said, in part:
For decades, Six Flags has been more than just a theme park—it is a cherished part of our county's identity, a source of joy for families, and a hub of economic activity. The park employs approximately 70 full-time associates and provides other valuable job opportunities, supporting our local economy.
Council Member Wala Blegay called the announcement 'disappointing.'
'The closure represents a significant loss, especially for our District 6 families who have built generational ties to the park. While this news is difficult, it is also a pivotal moment for us to reimagine what comes next,' Blegay stated, in part.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Valparaiso begins discussion of housing affordability problem
Valparaiso began addressing housing affordability with a symposium Thursday, the first step toward finding solutions. Capital Stacker founder Heather Presley-Cowen, who has helped Fort Wayne and other communities, outlined the housing situation in Valparaiso before guiding a panel discussion and a tabletop scenario exercise for participants. It's important to create a strategy and not just a study, she said. Often a study 'becomes the best thing that sits on the shelf from the mayor's office,' Presley-Cowen said. 'A study looks back,' but that's the rearview mirror, not where you're headed. A strategy looks forward, 'and looks in a visionary way at what's possible.' 'The goal is that this leads directly to implementation,' she said. When Presley-Cowan consults with communities, she often hears real estate agents say, 'We've got a month's work of inventory if we're lucky,' while municipal officials point to vacant lots still available on the edge of town. But the housing market has changed, she said. Half-acre lots aren't as desirable. 'Today's buyer and renter population, they're not looking for that anymore,' she said. In the past, blight elimination has involved tearing out housing stock that's no longer functional. 'There is really good infrastructure running right past that house,' she said, so infill development is important. In Wabash, the 14-acre site of the former Parkview Hospital was donated to the city when a new hospital was built. It was a good location, convenient to downtown and schools. 'Wabash has had no development in many, many years – in generations,' she said. 'It wasn't happening. The private sector wasn't doing it.' 'We densified it because we could get the infrastructure costs down,' Presley-Cowen said. With smaller lots, 44 units were able to bring down the per-unit cost. 'It sets the stage for others to do the same thing,' she said. The city established a residential tax increment financing district and used state READI dollars for infrastructure work. 'Today we have our first five units that are coming out,' she said. Unlike Valparaiso, Wabash needed more expensive housing. Valparaiso's median housing value is $284,700, she said, citing a study by Zimmerman/Volk Associates. 'Every single year, 3,620 households of all incomes are swirling around, looking to live in Valparaiso,' Presley-Cowen said, but many can't find what they're looking for. 'Over the next five years, we need close to 2,000 new units. That's conservative,' she said. The pace of home construction, however, is nowhere near that rate. 'If we can offer more density, we naturally start creating more affordability,' she said. The average rental cost in Valparaiso is roughly $1,400 to $2,000. But looking at average median incomes, it should be $800 to $1,500 to be affordable for typical workers making about $13 to $15 an hour, she said. 'We have lots of housing needs, and we have lots of price points to meet,' Presley-Cowen said. 'We need condos starting at $105,000. Do we have anything like that?' Panelists offered a variety of perspectives on the city's housing situation. Plan Commission President Matt Evans said MLS data show single-family home values have gone up 191% over five years. Center Township hasn't seen the needed growth in median-income homes. 'We are truly handcuffed through the lack of supply. If we had more homes, I am sure we could sell them,' he said. Developers are building $350,000 homes because they can make more profit per unit than with homes at lower price points, he said. Patrick Turner, principal owner and developer with Dynaprop, said when he moved to Valparaiso, it was very affordable. That has changed. He noted a person who listed his home for $25,000 over the real estate agent's recommendation and received multiple offers, selling it within a week for $14,000 over the asking price. Unlike some areas, Valparaiso doesn't have a lot of infill properties, said CoAction Executive Director Jordan Stanfill. Complicating the housing affordability issue is that numbers showing how much home a buyer should be able to afford don't factor in debts they might already have. 'Everyone has a couple of car loans, student debt, especially if they're moving into a $350,000-plus home in Valparaiso,' residential real estate agent Zane Galloway said. United Way of Northwest Indiana Executive Director Chris White noted the agency has been focused in recent years on a demographic referred to as ALICE – asset limited, income constrained, but employed. A single person in Porter County needs to make almost $15 an hour just to get by, he said. For a family of four, it's $80,000. 'If you lose a wheel on your car, that may have set you back for a month, over the next year, to recover from that,' he said. Through its Level Up program, United Way of Northwest Indiana is working to help raise family incomes, guiding individuals through education and other means to raise their incomes. But there's a long way to go. In Porter County, 36% of residents are below the ALICE threshold, and 10% are below the poverty level. People are being squeezed out because they can't afford to live here, he said. Affordability is a simple issue of supply and demand, Presley-Cowen said. The issue is how to increase the supply to meet demand. Employers should be involved in the conversation because they have a stake in ensuring their workers can live near where they work, she said. Lenders need to be involved in the discussion, too. The next step of the process is to engage stakeholders in focus groups to come up with suggestions that might work for Valparaiso. After that, it will be time to start focusing on solutions that would help spur the construction of less expensive homes. 'There's no single bullet to solve any problem,' said Mayor Jon Costas. For Valparaiso, the solutions include looking at city ordinances to see what might be hindering affordable housing, he said. Among the changes could include encouraging higher density or allowing accessory shelters for secondary dwelling units on a property. 'How can a city of our size spur residential development that private developers have not participated in,' City Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, asked. More and more communities realize affordable housing 'is a cornerstone of economic vitality,' he said. 'Affordable housing isn't an accessory. I believe it is a necessity.'
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vallejo's Six Flags Discovery Kingdom hit by company's statewide layoffs
(KRON) — Employees at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo are facing layoffs as the amusement park's parent company plans to cut roughly 140 full-time jobs at its California parks by July 21. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced in May that it planned to cut its workforce by 10%. The company owns 42 amusement and water parks across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom – Vallejo Six Flags Hurricane Harbor – Concord California's Great America – Santa Clara Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia Six Flags Hurricane Harbor – Valencia Knott's Berry Farm – Buena Park Knott's Soak City – Buena Park Gas prices could soar with refineries closing in California According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification report filed with the State of California, Six Flags plans to cut 56 full-time jobs at Magic Mountain, 65 jobs at Knott's Berry Farm and 19 jobs at Discovery Kingdom. A spokesperson with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation told KRON4 that the company plans to 'complete the majority of the restructuring' by the end of June. 'Six Flags is in the process of reducing its full-time headcount across the company by just over 10%,' the company spokesperson said. 'This includes a restructuring of some roles. This decision was made after careful consideration and a thorough review of our evolving business needs.' The cuts come as the company's Bay Area parks open for the summer season. Date for special election to recall Supervisor Joel Engardio announced 'We are committed to supporting our associates through this transition,' the Six Flags spokesperson said. 'All eligible associates will be presented with either an opportunity to continue in a part-time role or will be provided with a separation package and other benefits.' On July 1, 2024, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation emerged with Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, becoming the largest amusement park operator in North America. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
More than 12,800 tonnes of rubbish on city streets
Birmingham City Council says 12,803 tonnes of uncollected waste have accumulated on the streets of the city this week, as an all-out strike by refuse workers continues. The council said only a small number of waste trucks had been deployed since police scaled down their presence on picket lines last week. Collections were severely disrupted "due to industrial action by pickets" at three waste depots in the city. A Unite spokesperson said the actions of its members on the picket line were legitimate and accused the council and government-appointed commissioners of blocking a deal to end the strike. A council spokesperson previously said that "very few" of its waste lorries had been able to leave two of its waste depots on 15 May due to actions by picket lines. The BBC has been told a small number of waste trucks have been allowed to leave the depots in order to clear waste deemed to pose a fire risk, mainly at high-rise flats. All-out strike action by members of the Unite union began on 11 March in a row which focuses on proposed cuts to the pay of bin lorry drivers, which the union said would cost workers £8,000 per year. Talks aimed at resolving the long-running strike, now in its 11th week, have been taking place between the Labour-run council, the union and conciliation service Acas since the start of May. Rubbish collections have been disrupted by industrial action since the start of January. The authority said it was re-grading the roles to avoid further equal pay disputes but that it was "committed to making a revised offer" which did not compromise the council "financially or legally". The council has paid out over £1bn in equal pay claims over the last two decades after staff in female-dominated roles were historically underpaid in relation to male-dominated positions. A fresh bill of £750m, later reduced to around £250m, was a key factor in its effective bankruptcy in 2023. A major incident was declared by the council in March as rubbish began to mount up on the streets, and days later police used powers under the Public Order Act to ensure trucks could leave the depots. West Midlands Police said the threshold for using those powers is no longer being met, but they "continue to have a presence" at depots across Birmingham. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Union blames council for lack of bin strike deal Recycling bookings suspended as bin strike goes on Bin strike a fire and rehire situation, says union Bin dispute goes to May Day mediation talks Birmingham declares major incident over bin strike Union bosses held up Birmingham bin deal, BBC told Birmingham City Council Unite the Union