One of my favorite recurring attractions at Six Flags Great America’s Fright Fest event isn’t a maze, a swarm of scareactors or even the scary decor — it’s the assortment of artifacts and references to past attractions located in a free cemetery/graveyard walk-through exhibit.
The “Six Saints Cemetery” is located in the County Fair area of the park — ironically in front of the shuttered and fenced-off Buccaneer Battle splash battle boat ride, which operated from 2009 until 2022.
The sign includes a reference to Mr. Six, the Six Flags chain’s former mascot/spokesman.
One of the largest items on display was a boat from the park’s Splashwater Falls shoot-the-chute water ride, which closed in 2007. Its plot of land would eventually be the site of X-Flight, the new-for-2012 Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) wing coaster.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Fright Fest display without a few skeletons, which are appropriately wearing life jackets.
A control panel is situated to the left of the boat. I couldn’t tell which attraction it came from (if you know, let us know in the comments).
Vehicles from the Great America Raceway (also removed to make room for X-Flight) were appropriately positioned near a “Do Not Enter” sign.
Fun fact — sections of the concrete path the cars would follow are still visible from American Eagle’s elevated queue that crosses over a service road.
The Orbit was an original attraction that opened with the park in 1976. It operated for 30 years before closing at the end of the 2016 season.
Also on display were three “buckets” from the park’s former Sky Whirl triple Ferris wheel, which operated from 1976-2000.
If I could ride any of the “opening day” attractions, this would probably be my priority. I love seeing the park from a new angle — and what a rare attraction.
The cemetery also contains former ride signs, including the “Clipper” from Yankee Clipper. The log flume is still operating, but it was renamed “Aquaman Splashdown” as part of the Yankee Harbor area’s conversion into DC Universe in 2022.
Similarly, V2 was renamed “Flash: Vertical Velocity” as part of the DC Universe conversion.
Yukon Yahoo was a Schwarzkopf “Bayern-Kurve” flat ride.
To this day, I miss Trailblazer, a flying carpet-style attraction themed to an Oregon Trail-themed wagon.
Shockwave was the park’s massive Arrow looping coaster. The “Save the Whizzer” line is in reference to the park’s original plans to remove Whizzer to make room for the new-for-2023 Superman: Ultimate Flight. Public backlash caused the park to remove Shockwave instead. I definitely think this was the right choice, although I’m sad I never got to ride Shockwave.
The Edge was a first-generation Intamin freefall attraction that operated for only three years.
Turn of the Century was “repossessed” and rethemed/renamed Demon — with two vertical loops added — for the 1980 season.
I haven’t been able to determine the name or operating dates of this children’s rocket (or plane?) ride. If you know, let us know in the comments section below.
Iron Wolf, the B&M stand-up coaster was removed in 2011 to make way for Goliath, a Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) wooden coaster that opened in 2014. It now operates as a floorless coaster, Firebird, at Six Flags America.
The Pictorium IMAX theater was removed in 2018 to make room for the Maxx Force launched coaster.
Which former Six Flags Great America attraction do you miss the most? Let us know in the comments section below, and be sure to check out the Six Saints Cemetery if you visit Six Flags Great America Fright Fest this year.
I miss Sky Whirl the most. It was a nice ride when you just wanted to take a break from walking around or standing in lines. Kind of like the Scenic Railway, except much better. Plus, it was really unique and set the park apart from all others except for its sister park in CA.
I also miss Sky Whirl a lot. And it was a major missed opportunity to not name their Giga Discovery Sky Whirl (seriously – the name works beautifully for it). They even used the word Sky in the name they did choose.
Don’t lament missing Shockwave too much–I used to call it “Shockwave: sponsored by Tylenol”. It had the worst of Arrow’s ‘headbanging’ qualities. This characterized Iron Wolf in its day also, which was fun, but painful. Most notably absent was the very short-lived Intamin/B&M Z-Force (1985-86) 4-across Space Diver coaster which stood on Iron Wolf’s footprint before it.
I was 6 when the park opened in 1976 and remember all of these during their eras! Thanks for the unexpected memory of riding [Orleans] Orbit with my little sister over and over and over in our childhood, as well the many giddy rides on Cajun Cliffhanger, SFGA’s Rotor ride.
The panel is from Splashwater Falls, I have a friend who operated Splashwater Falls in its final year, said it’s definitely that one. Probably why they situated it near one of the ride vehicles