January 29, 2009
A Six Flags Great Adventure Icon Gets A Makeover
For Its 35th Birthday
The Big Wheel - A Moving Icon Gets an Eco-Friendly Facelift
Beginning April 4, guests will have the opportunity to experience the breathtaking view of Six Flags Great Adventure on the completely refurbished
Big Wheel. The 15 story tall park icon will feature 7,824 new energy saving LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs, 101 gallons of vibrant colored paint and, for the first time, an animated light display.
One of four remaining original 1974 attractions at the theme park, the Big Wheel has provided guests with awe-inspiring views from above Six Flags
Great Adventure's treetops for 35 years. Constructed opposite the original entrance, currently the portal to Frontier Adventures, the Big Wheel served as the visual anchor enticing visitors deeper into the theme park. Throughout the years of park expansion, the Big Wheel now stands in the heart of the park. Brimming with thousands of multi-colored lights arranged in a beautiful floral pattern, the towering 150 foot Ferris wheel remains a must-ride family attraction.
"The Big Wheel has been an indelible part of guests' memories and has been an icon of our property for the past 35 years," said Six Flags Great Adventure Park President Mark Kane. "It is important to restore it to its original historic beauty while at the same time improving its impact on our environment."
Replacing the 7,824 original incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs will reduce approximately 8.5 million pounds of carbon emissions from the atmosphere. This is equivalent to removing more than 72 automobiles from the roadways or planting more than 2,850 trees.
The Big Wheel will make its eco-friendly debut, celebrating 35 years of family fun and entertainment, April 4 when Six Flags Great Adventure opens for the 2009 season. Guests will be dazzled by the new animated LED light display which includes blooming of the iconic flower petals, chasing rim lights and more.
About Six Flags, Inc.
Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company with 20 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada, and soon will be expanding beyond North America with destinations in Dubai and Qatar. Since 1961, hundreds of millions of families have trusted Six Flags to combine friendly-clean-fast-safe service with affordable, value-packed thrills, record-shattering roller coasters and special events like the Summer Concert Series, Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. Six Flags' wide array of entertainment options reaches all demographics - families, teens, tweens and thrill seekers alike - featuring themed attractions based on skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, the ultimate daredevil Evel Knievel, movie franchises The Dark Knight and The Mummy; as well as world-renowned, kid-friendly brands including LOONEY TUNES, the Justice League of America,
The Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine.
Six Flags continues to develop new avenues for growth, acquiring ownership and management of Dick Clark Productions, producer of such perennial television hits as the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and So You Think You Can Dance. Six Flags, Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation (NYSE:SIX) headquartered in New York City.
