August 1st...This Day in History (Now with links to other events)

Texans head for the thrills at Six Flags 1961

 

On this day in 1961, amusement park lovers “head for the thrills” as Six Flags Over Texas, the first park in the Six Flags chain, opens. Located on 212 acres in Arlington, Texas, the park was the first to feature log flume and mine train rides and later, the first 360-degree looping roller coaster, modern parachute drop and man-made river rapids ride. The park also pioneered the concept of all-inclusive admission price; until then, separate entrance fees and individual ride tickets were the standard. During its opening year, a day at Six Flags cost $2.75 for an adult and $2.25 for a child. A hamburger sold for 50 cents and a soda set the buyer back a dime.

The park, which took a year and $10 million to build, was the brainchild of Texas real estate developer and oilman Angus Wynne Jr., who viewed it as a short-term way to make a buck from some vacant land before turning it into an industrial complex. Wynne reportedly recouped his personal investment of $3.5 million within 18 months and changed his mind about the park’s temporary status. With 17.5 million visitors in its first 10 years, the park became the Lone Star State’s top for-profit tourist attraction. Today, average annual attendance at the park is over 3 million.

One of Six Flags’ unique aspects was that it wasn’t just a random collection of rides; it was developed around a theme: the history of Texas. The park’s name was a nod to the six flags that had flown over the state at various times–France, Spain, Mexico, the Confederacy, Texas and the United States. The park’s rides and attractions were grouped into six themed sections that represented the cultures of these governments and enabled visitors to experience everything from cowboy culture to Southern belles and pirates. Originally, the park was to be called Texas Under Six Flags, before it was decided that Texas should never be under anything.

Angus Wynne sold Six Flags in 1969 and in the coming years, the company expanded and was resold. Today, Six Flags, Inc. is the world’s largest regional theme park company and owns and operates 30 theme, water and zoological parks in North America. In 2005, almost 34 million people spent a combined 250 million hours at Six Flags parks.

 (More Events on This Day in History)

• American Revolution

• 1774 Joseph Priestley discovers oxygen

• Automotive

• 2007 First drive-through ATM opens in China

• Civil War

• 1864 Sheridan takes command of Army of the Shenandoah

• Cold War

• 1975 Helsinki Final Act signed

• Crime

• 1966 An ex-Marine goes on a killing spree at the University of Texas

• Disaster

• 1971 Mysterious flood strikes North Vietnam

• General Interest

• 1498 Columbus lands in South America
• 1914 First World War erupts
• 1944 Warsaw Revolt begins

• Hollywood

• 1981 MTV launches

• Literary

• 1994 Pope John Paul II receives record-breaking advance

• Music

• 1981 MTV makes its maiden broadcast

• Old West

• 1953 Shane released by Paramount

• Presidential

• 1972 Bush is suspended from flying with the Air National Guard

• Sports

• 1996 Michael Johnson brings home second gold

• Vietnam War

• 1964 North Vietnamese accuse South Vietnam and the United States of attack

• World War I

• 1914 First World War erupts in Europe

• World War II

• 1943 PT-109 sinks; Lieutenant Kennedy is instrumental in saving crew