Special Features: Destination Spotlight: Six Flags Over Georgia

Posted at 9:13 PM EST (0213 GMT)

Nov. 12th, 2006 -- ThrillNetwork is proud to bring you in the coming weeks and months spotlights on parks as well as the cities they call home.

Continuing with the series, ThrillNetwork editor Joseph offers an in-depth look at Six Flags Over Georgia, and the metro Atlanta area in which it serves.

Six Flags Over Georgia opened to the public on June 16, 1967 as the second park in the Six Flags chain. After two years of development, at a cost of approximately $12 million, the park became the south’s very first theme park. Developed by Angus Wynne, the same man who had built Six Flags Over Texas earlier in the decade, the park’s areas were themed to the six “flags” that have flown over the State of Georgia, which are – in alphabetical order – the British, Confederate, French, Georgia, Spanish and the United States of America.

As the park approaches its 40th anniversary, Six Flags Over Georgia has had a very colorful history worth knowing. From the beginning, the park was extremely popular. When it opened, there was no Walt Disney World, so it truly was the premier amusement facility in the south. Early on, the park had a strong focus on entertainment, resembling more of a Disney-style of park than what we see today. It opened with only the two mine train roller coasters (the Dahlonega Mine Train and the Mini-Mine Train), but the early days of the park were filled with shows, musicians, street characters and superb theming.

Through the years, the focus of the park changed. In the 1970s, the park added two world-class thrill machines, the Great American Scream Machine and the Mind Bender. In addition, the park contracted Intamin AG of Switzerland to replicate the famed Coney Island parachute tower, dubbing the ride the Great Gasp. Though more and more rides were being added, the park remained balanced.

However, by the 1990s, the park began moving away from the rounded guest experience, and more towards appetizing the thrill-seeking guest. Since 1995, seven roller coasters have been added to the park, as traditional flat rides and guest experience additions took a supporting role. With Six Flags’ recent financial struggles, the emphasis on roller coasters has declined, and will likely continue to do so in the wake of 2006’s $20 million Goliath roller coaster and new management’s pledge to make their parks fun for the entire family.

Six Flags Over Georgia has eleven roller coasters and dozens of other rides and attractions. The most noteworthy of which include:

Goliath – New for the 2006 season, Goliath was proclaimed as the tallest roller coaster in the south, at an impressive 200 feet. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland, it delivers an airtime-filled experience along its 4480 feet of track.

Georgia Cyclone – Sitting near the main gate, the Georgia Cyclone has been called “the one that Summers got right”. Ever since opening in 1990, the Cyclone has been ranked as one of the best wooden coasters in the world. Though this sentiment has been slipping with age (as has its ride-ability), it still is one of the better “cy-clones”.

Mind Bender – Although it is one of the park’s older coasters, the Mind Bender is highly praised in the enthusiast community. Opening in 1978, the Schwarzkopf custom looping coaster was proclaimed as the first “triple-looping roller coaster” in the world. It is your humble author's favorite steel roller coaster.

Georgia Scorcher – Nestled near the front of the park (and now under Goliath) is the last of the B&M Stand-Ups, the Georgia Scorcher. Though compact, the Scorcher has thrilled riders since 1999 with its tangled and intense layout.

Great American Scream Machine – It may not too big in today’s world, but the Great American Scream Machine opened as the world’s tallest coaster in 1973. Built by PTC and designed by John Allen, the white support lattice is a beautiful icon of the back of the park.

Acrophobia – Though not the tallest of drop tower rides, Acrophobia adds a thrill in its tilting seats. Six Flags Over Georgia is the only park in the world with two different Intamin drop tower rides (the other being the first-generation Free Fall)

Skull Island – Created by the Koala Play Group for the park in 2005, Skull Island is a popular way to cool off in the Georgia heat. Features include the world’s largest in-park play structure, and a giant water-dumping bucket.

Monster Plantation – In today’s world, the ride may seem dated, but when it opened in 1981, the Monster Plantation was a world-class display of animatronics. Be sure to catch a ride on this enclosed boat ride as it truly is unique.

Riverview Carousel – A “must” for any theme park, Six Flags Over Georgia is lucky to have such a classic carousel. Bought from the former Riverview Park in Chicago, IL, the Riverview Carousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After being moved and fully restored, the carousel re-opened in 1972 and is one of only three five-row carousels in the world. The year 2008 will mark the 100 year anniversary of the carousel’s construction.

In addition to those main attractions, the park features several other roller coasters, including the first B&M Flying roller coaster in America (Superman: Ultimate Flight) and the world’s second Arrow Mine Train (Dahlonega Mine Train). Six Flags Over Georgia features a rapids ride, a log flume and a splash boat ride to keep guests cool in the summer. The park also has a railroad and sky buckets ride for in-park transportation.

As with every park, several attractions have come and gone throughout the park’s 40-year history. Most recently was the loss of the Great Gasp, the first parachute tower from Intamin. Removed in the summer of 2005 to make way for Goliath, the Great Gasp was a fan favorite and icon of the park for decades. After the end of its 29 year career, only three such towers remain in the world.

Another lost attraction that stands out is the Jean Ribeaut Adventure – a boat ride through a recreation the Georgia marshes that the famed explorer had encountered some 500 years earlier. The ride, modeled loosely after Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise, was located on the site of the present-day Thunder River. The Jean Ribeaut Adventure briefly told the story of Georgia’s early history, with displays of native gatherings and British settlements.

Six Flags Over Georgia is no longer the main amusement attraction in the South-East. Other regional parks include:

• Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA (about three hours south)
• Paramount’s Carowinds in Charlotte, NC (about four hours to the north-east)
• Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN (about four hours to the north)
• Lake Winnepesaukah in Rossville, GA (about two hours to the north).
• White Water, a Six Flags-owned water park, is located in Marietta, Georgia, and is approximately half an hour away from the park.

An indoor entertainment venue, which will include an amusement park and water park, has been announced for the east side of Atlanta. The venue, currently named Fun World Palace & Resort, is set to open in the Stonecrest area of DeKalb County, less than an hour east of Six Flags Over Georgia.

Located just 10 miles west of downtown Atlanta, there are several other things to do other then visiting Six Flags. Atlanta has a metro area of about five million residents, and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the South. Classified as a global city, Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport is the world’s busiest with more than 70 million passengers passing through each year. Also the capital of the state, Atlanta is the home to several large corporations including Coca-Cola, United Parcel Services (UPS), Home Depot, Delta Airlines and the Turner Broadcasting Systems (which includes CNN, TBS, Cartoon Network and the Weather Channel, among others). The city ranks third, behind only New York City and Houston in the number of Fortune 500 businesses that call Atlanta home.

Recently, the tourism industry has been growing with two key new projects. In November of 2005, the $200 million Georgia Aquarium opened as the world’s largest aquarium. Within its first year, more than three million patrons have visited the aquarium to marvel at its collection of more than 100,000 creatures, most noteworthy of which are the four whale sharks.

The enormous whale sharks - named Ralph, Norton, Trixie and Alice - are the only ones on display in an aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. In addition to the whale sharks, visitors can travel through the five separate sections of the aquarium and encounter beluga whales, penguins, sea turtles, and Japanese spider crabs. Visitors to the area should try to visit this marvel of an aquarium, and be aware that crowds can be quite heavy in the afternoon hours. The Georgia Aquarium is located in downtown Atlanta at the edge of Centennial Olympic Park.

Also in development is the new World of Coke museum, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2007 at a new location adjacent to the Georgia Aquarium. The Coca-Cola Company currently operates the World of Coke near the Underground Atlanta shopping and dining facility and the exhibition helps visitors learn all things Coke – including production of the world’s most famous soft drink, the history of the company, to the international variations and samples.

Another attraction worth noting is Stone Mountain Park, located just East of downtown. The park’s main attraction is the mountain itself, one of the largest granite formations on earth. Stone Mountain offers several outdoor activities for its guests such as hiking, bicycling as well as numerous festivals. Currently operated by the Herschend Family, Stone Mountain has some theme park-like attractions, including a locomotive ride, aerial tram ride to the top, and a nighttime laser show projected onto the western facade.

The Atlanta area has several other attractions, including the CNN Center, High Museum of Art, Zoo Atlanta, Fernbank Science Center and Museum of Natural History, and Lake Lanier.

Atlanta is also a hotbed of athletics in the South, and is home to franchises for all four major US sports leagues. The Atlanta Braves baseball club has been a huge success in the region, drawing millions of fans a year to Turner Field in downtown Atlanta. For football, the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons call Atlanta home, though college football is the preferred sport for the city - the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets play on their midtown campus, and the more popular Georgia Bulldogs play their home games an hour and a half East of the city in Athens.

The city has hosted several Super Bowls through the years, and was host city to the 1996 Olympics. Also in the Atlanta area are the Atlanta Motor Speedway and Road Atlanta, both of which are famous in the field of motor sports. The Atlanta Thrashers hockey team and Atlanta Hawks basketball team share the Philips Arena downtown.

For food, Atlanta has the kind of selection one would expect from a major city. However, perhaps the most famous eatery in town is the Varsity, the self-proclaimed “World’s Largest Drive-In”. Located in midtown Atlanta, across the I-75/I-85 interstate from Georgia Tech, the Varsity serves up millions of hot dogs and french fries every year. The “Greasy V” is an Atlanta tradition, and recommended for the fast food crowd.

If upscale dining is your taste, be sure to explore the Buckhead area of North Atlanta. Known for its nightlife and high-priced real estate, Buckhead also offers a variety of dining options. Located less than half an hour from Six Flags Over Georgia, one can find just about anything in Buckhead. From five-star steakhouses to the ESPN Zone, chances are there is something for everyone.

For an option that is not located in the heart of Atlanta, head west from the park. Take I-20 West to Douglasville, Georgia, for a large selection of eateries. The Arbor Place Mall area has developed into a massive shopping and dining district, with most major chains represented within the area. If Six Flags' coasters aren't enough for you, check out the Texas Roadhouse on Chapel Hill Road - opened in October of 2006, the restaurant features a beautiful painting of Goliath.

When planning to travel to the Atlanta and Six Flags Over Georgia area, accommodations are abundant. Perhaps the best place to stay is the Wingate Inn at Six Flags, conveniently located within a quarter of a mile from the park’s entrance. The hotel is clean and secure, all while offering a business-traveler like environment.

Also worth consideration is the Fairfield Inn at Six Flags, located about three miles west of the park. Though an exit away, the Fairfield Inn offers the same level of quality and comfort, all while not being right next to the park. This may be a better choice for those who go to sleep early. For a slight upgrade in quality, the Spring Hill Suites at Six Flags is located off the same exit.

These are just a couple of the closest hotels in the Six Flags area – there are several others that one could consider, or visitors could opt to stay elsewhere. Downtown Atlanta has an abundance of great hotels, and there are places to stay west of the park in Douglasville and north of the park in Cobb County.

As a whole, Six Flags Over Georgia and the metropolitan Atlanta area offer a lot of things to do for prospective travelers. This week, the amusement industry will converge on the city for the annual International Association Amusement Parks and Attractions expo -- I hope you find some time in the future to visit Atlanta and sample the fine attractions and culture that this city has to offer. For more information, please use the following links:

http://www.sixflags.com/georgia (SFOG website)
http://www.atlopen.com/ (Atlanta Travel)
http://www.georgia.org/Travel/ (Georgia Travel)

Also check out our previous spotlight: Paramount's Carowinds.