08/06/2025
Attendance and revenue are down at Six Flags. The company announced cancellations of two Halloween events last week, and now this week the CEO announced he's stepping down....
Six Flags has announced the cancellation of Halloween events at Six Flags America (Bowie, MD) and Michigan’s Adventure (Muskegon, MI). Six Flags America will permanently close after its 2025 season. Originally, Fright Fest had been planned to be the park's last event before the park's closure, but last week, a spokesperson announced that the annual Halloween tradition would not take place this year. Kids Boo Fest, the family-friendly daytime event, will continue as planned. "Our goal is to provide a family-friendly and memorable final fall season of operation. We’ve made the strategic decision to focus on daytime activities that the whole family can enjoy," spokesperson Kristin Fitzgerald said. Season passholders were notified that Fright Fest would not be happening this year in Bowie and were instead given a ticket for the Fright Fest at the theme park's New Jersey location, Six Flags Great Adventure.
In Michigan's Adventure, the family-friendly "Tricks and Treats" event has been cancelled, as the park's 2025 operating season will end on September 1st. A spokesperson for the park said that Six Flags "made the strategic decision to focus on delivering exceptional experiences during our core operating seasons, spring and summer.” Season passholders were notified of the early closure and allowed to receive one ticket to Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH) through November 1st - including HalloWeekends - as an alternative Halloween celebration. The parks are 297 miles apart.
The company says it’s “focus on daytime activities that the whole family can enjoy,” but we're not so sure. Perceived value, season pass retention, and long-term brand equity will all be impacted, especially as Six Flags launches a new “Most Valuable Pass” offering access to all parks through 2026. With year-round operations shrinking and aggressive discounting ramping up, is this a smart reset or a warning sign? And what happens when short-term savings override the emotional core of seasonal guest behavior?
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And here's the statement from Six Flags CEO Richard Zimmerman on his stepping down from the company:
"The company has significantly evolved since I first joined what was then Paramount Parks, Inc. in 1987, and it has been an honor to have led such talented teams through critical and transformative periods over the years — not only for our company, but for the entire amusement park industry.
Since completing the merger of legacy Cedar Fair and legacy Six Flags a little more than a year ago, we have made significant progress on our integration efforts and cost synergy goals.
That said, there remains an immense opportunity to further optimize the portfolio and unlock the full value of the company’s unique assets and intellectual property. We are reaching more guests than ever before and continuing to advance our strategic priorities, which I am confident will enable Six Flags to drive tremendous value creation over the long term.
Together we have built a global leader in family entertainment with a resilient business model and bright prospects, and I look forward to supporting the team to help ensure the company achieves its full potential."
