Whistlestop Park

Summary

Whistlestop Park is a themed children's area with various rides at several Six Flags amusement parks.

Whistlestop Park
Six Flags America
Opening dateApril 16, 2011
ReplacedThomas Town
Six Flags Over Georgia
Opening dateMarch 19, 2011
Closing date2015
ReplacedDéjà Vu, Thomas Town
Replaced byPandemonium
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Opening dateMarch 19, 2011
ReplacedGranny Gran Prix, Thomas Town
Six Flags New England
Opening dateApril 13, 2013
Closing date2018
ReplacedThomas Town
Replaced bySix Flags
Member Plaza
Ride statistics
Attraction typeThemed area

History edit

Before being named Whistlestop Park, these themed areas were named Thomas Town from 2007 to 2010.

  • 2006: On December 12, 2006, Six Flags released their plan for 2007. It detailed new corporate alliances with Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles, Evel Knievel and Tony Hawk, among several others.[1]
  • 2007: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Six Flags New England opened Thomas Town at their parks.[2]
  • 2008: Six Flags Magic Mountain[3] and Six Flags Over Georgia[4] opened Thomas Town at their parks.
  • 2010: Six Flags America[5] opened Thomas Town at their park. In late 2010, Six Flags began the process of removing licensed theming from attractions. They terminated licenses with Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles, Tony Hawk, Evel Knievel, and Terminator. This resulted in all Thomas Town theming to be removed and rides to be renamed to suit the new Whistlestop Park theme.[6][7] Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Six Flags New England are the only parks that won't be transforming its Thomas Town to Whistlestop Park. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom themed area will be transformed to Seaside Junction.[8] Six Flags New England removed their Thomas Town.[9][10]
  • 2011: The LA Times reported Six Flags Magic Mountain plans to unveil the re-branded Whistlestop Park kiddie area on March 19.[11] All of the existing rides opened with new names and themes.[12] Six Flags New England released a statement on Facebook stating The Thomas Town section of the park will be home to future expansion at Six Flags New England.[10]
  • 2012: Six Flags Over Georgia removed Whistlestop Train before the 2012 season but still operating Whistlestop Park's other attractions.[13]
  • 2013: Six Flags New England announced before the 2013 season that the park will be opening up Whistlestop Park after closing Thomas Town in late 2010. SFNE also unexpectedly added Flying Aces to the area replacing Harold the Helicopter and Bertie the Bus both of which did not reopen.
  • 2015: Six Flags Over Georgia removed its last ride in Whistlestop Park in the fall of 2015, Whistlestop Park Playground. The playground was removed to moved to the new kids area of the park, Bugs Bunny Boomtown with a new name, Looney Tunes Adventure Camp. Whistlestop Park has been closed off.
  • 2016: Six Flags New England unannouncedly removed Flying Aces before the beginning of the 2016 season leaving the New England Express as the sole operating attraction.
  • 2019: Six Flags New England changed Whistlestop Park before the 2019 season to an all access area for Six Flags members service area. New England Express still operates. Sitting vacant for 4 years, Six Flags Over Georgia rethemed the area as Screampunk District and added Pandemonium.

Attractions edit

Name Type Six Flags America
April 16, 2011
Six Flags Over Georgia
March 19, 2011
Six Flags Magic Mountain
March 19, 2011
Six Flags New England
April 13, 2013
Flying Aces Biplane Ride Flying Aces (2014-2015)
Happy Junction Zamperla Convoy ride Diesel Derby (2010)
Magic Flyer Roller Coaster Clown Coaster (1971–1984)
Wile E. Coyote Coaster (1985–1998)
Goliath Jr. (2001–2007)
Percy's Railway (2008–2010)
New England Express Miniature train ride Thomas the Tank Engine (2007-2010)
Closed (2011-2012)
New England Express (2013)
Sky Jumper Hopper Cranky the Crane (2010)
Splash Zone Water play area Thomas Town Pop Jet Fountain (2010)
Up, Up & Away Junior Ferris wheel Around the World in 80 Days (1993–2009)
Sodor Carnival Ferris Wheel (2010)
Whistlestop Bus Line Bus ride Bertie the Bus (2010) Bertie the Bus (2007-2010)
Whistlestop Park Playground Playground Thomas Town Play Structure (2010) Thomas Town Play Structure (2008-2010)
Whistlestop Park Playground (2011-2015)
Whistlestop Train Miniature train ride Thomas the Tank Engine (2010) Thomas the Tank Engine (2008-2010)
Whistlestop Train (2011-2013)
Thomas the Tank Engine (2008-2010)
Whistlestop Whirlybirds Rotating helicopter ride Harold the Helicopter (2010) Harold the Helicopter (2007-2010)
Key
  Operating along with kids area
  No longer operating along with the kids area

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Six Flags Provides Game Plan for 2007". Six Flags. December 12, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  2. ^ "The Next Stop on this Train is Six Flags, as Parks Welcome Thomas & Friends to Two Locations in 2007". Six Flags. February 28, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  3. ^ Starrett, Charles (November 2, 2007). "Six Flags Magic Mountain announces 2008 rides". lifthill. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  4. ^ "Thomas Town rolls into Six Flags Over Georgia". Atlanta Business Chronicle. May 12, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  5. ^ Starrett, Charles (February 10, 2010). "Thomas Town to open at Six Flags America this summer". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  6. ^ MacDonald, Brady (November 25, 2010). "Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers". LA Times. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  7. ^ MacDonald, Brady (December 3, 2010). "Six Flags Magic Mountain renaming Terminator wooden coaster". LA Times. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  8. ^ "Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Kids Rides". Six Flags. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  9. ^ "Six Flags New England Kids Rides". Six Flags. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  10. ^ a b "How come thomas town isn't on the website anymore?". Six Flags New England. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  11. ^ MacDonald, Brady (January 18, 2011). "Five 'new' coasters coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain? Not so fast". News Article. Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ "Six Flags Magic Mountain Kids Rides". Six Flags. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  13. ^ Six Flags Over Georgia (February 23, 2012). "Remove Whistlestop Train..." Facebook. Retrieved February 23, 2012.

External links edit

  • Six Flags America Kids Rides
  • Six Flags Magic Mountain Kids Rides
  • Six Flags New England