Nature Calling: Six Flags Great America Teases Family Fun in 2027

A new coaster and children’s area are in the woods for next season.

Six Flags Great America is indeed one of the Six Flags great’s. They offer a phenomenal lineup of world-class coasters, well-presented attractions, and area cohesion. Where they are surprisingly sparse however is on options for junior thrill-seekers, even if not for much longer.

Children Make Camp

Six Flags first announced a new kid’s area for Great America in November 2024, originally intended to coincide with their 50th anniversary this year. That of course didn’t materialize for this season, although a huge number of other improvements did. The park was arguably in top shape last year and it’s great to see their continued uphill trajectory.

Regardless, the need for a new children’s area is apparent. These are important to not just only to give younger guests their own accessible attractions, but also provide a space to unwind, relax, and play. Walking around crowded midways all day in the heat is an uncomfortable prospect for families, who represent most parks’ highest-value, returning customers.

Six Flags recognizes this and has always greatly invested in their Peanuts areas across the chain. Magic Mountain is currently reintroducing an overhauled Looney Tunes Land with more of an emphasis on environment rather than spectacle; surely Six Flags Great America deserves some love.

What’s Taking a Hike?

This past winter Great America announced the removal both of their Winner’s Circle Go-Karts and Camp Cartoon kid’s area in Yukon Territory. Officials clarified that this was done to “make way for future expansion” and that “This marks the next step in our long‑term plan to bring new, innovative offerings to families visiting the park”.

Yukon Territory has a long and faded history of children’s offerings. Bugs Bunny National Park was the last of several names given to a kids area that had become run down and impoverished; it was gradually removed in the late 2010’s for Little Dipper and the Go-Karts. Camp Cartoon meanwhile originally opened as Camp Cartoon Network but in the last several years saw multiple ride closures and the loss of its licensed branding. The resident Sprocket Rockets coaster remains thankfully, and one even suspects it may see an overhaul to blend in with what follows.

A Wilderness to Explore

Guests attending the park’s opening this past weekend were the first to see a slate of new slogans surrounding both sites, pumping up what’s to come. Styles vary but the message is unified; a very nature and outdoors-themed adventure will be had in 2027.

Even more riveting are the presence of stakes in the ground near Little Dipper. These can signify any significant future development, although further clues on the site offer insight into what may be growing. The soil conditions are ripe for a new coaster.

Shhhh Look, A Coaster!

Wheelgap from YouTube identified a crate with the barely legible labels “SFC Phoenix” and “Foundation Plan”. Enthusiasts will immediately clock the acronym SFC as Suspended Family Coaster, a popular product of the ever-reliable Vekoma.

Phoenix is a design that first opened in 2021 at Deno’s Wonder Wheel and has since been offered by the manufacturer as a stock layout. The inverted coaster stands 68 feet tall, runs along 1,220 feet of track, and with its exciting but gentle swooping above the midway is sure to be a great fit for thrillseekers and young children alike. No doubt this would be equally enjoyed at Six Flags Great America.

Whip Out The S’Mores!

Overall, Six Flags Great America appears to have really strapped in for this one. We’re not entirely sure what we’ll discover along the way, but it’s clear that we have much to look forwards to next year. Keeping up with progress will be a fun expedition until then.

What’s your favorite Six Flags kid’s area and do you think this will compare? Let us know in the comments below!