Key Takeaways
- Six Flags will permanently close California’s Great America in Santa Clara on September 6, 2027, choosing not to renew the park’s land lease, which expires in June 2028.
- The park will reopen in March 2027 for a “Farewell Season,” giving fans one last summer with Gold Striker, RailBlazer and Flight Deck after more than 50 years in operation.
- The closure comes as Six Flags tackles billions in debt and restructures its park portfolio following its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair.
Six Flags is permanently closing one of California's longest-running amusement parks, ending more than 50 years of roller coasters, family traditions, and summer vacations. California's Great America in Santa Clara will shut its gates for good on September 6, 2027, marking another major change for the amusement park giant as it navigates financial pressures, ride closures and renewed scrutiny over safety at several of its properties.
The Bay Area destination will reopen in March 2027 for what Six Flags is calling its "Farewell Season," giving visitors one last chance to experience the attractions before the park disappears from the company's lineup. The final operating day will fall on Labor Day, with the company planning a season-long celebration of the park's history.
The closure comes down to the land beneath the park. California's Great America's lease expires in June 2028, and Six Flags has confirmed it won’t renew it. Rather than operate into the following year, the company has decided to end operations after the 2027 summer season.
"For more than five decades, this Santa Clara theme park has brought people together, created family traditions and served as the backdrop for unforgettable memories," park manager Dave Vosejpka said in a statement.
"The Farewell Season is an opportunity for generations of Bay Area guests to return, spend time with family and friends, and revisit the attractions and traditions that have made the park in Santa Clara, California, such a meaningful part of the community," he added.
California's Great America opened in 1976 and has welcomed tens of millions of visitors over its five-decade run. Its lineup includes major roller coasters such as Gold Striker, RailBlazer and Flight Deck, attractions that have helped establish the park as a Northern California destination for thrill-seekers.
Six Flags says group outings, corporate events and school visits will continue throughout the final season. Gold and Prestige Passholders will receive unlimited visits during the farewell year, along with access to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. The company has not yet released the complete 2027 operating calendar.
The announcement comes during a difficult stretch for Six Flags. In October, 42-year-old Atlanta educator Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The incident prompted the company to temporarily shut down 10 roller coasters across North America while authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding his death.
Six Flags also permanently retired X2 at Magic Mountain in September following reports of serious brain injuries associated with the attraction. The company maintained that the coaster had passed safety inspections.
Beyond those incidents, Six Flags has been dealing with billions in debt and restructuring its portfolio following its merger with Cedar Fair in 2024. The company previously sold seven parks for $331 million as part of its broader financial strategy.
