Oh the memories...

Well, today's Aug. 1. Anyone have a clue what happened today - in 1961? No? No guesses?



Six Flags Over Texas opened on August 1, 1961.

It is the closest major amusement park to my hometown and is located in Arlington, Texas. It was the first park of the Six Flags chain.

The park's name "Six Flags Over Texas" stands for the six different nations' flags which have governed Texas, including: France, Spain, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The Confederate States of America, and the United States of America. The story goes that originally the park was to be named "Texas under Six Flags," until the founder’s (Angus Wynne Jr.) wife objected stating that "Texas isn’t under anything."

The original park was (and still is) split into separate regions, such as the Spain and Mexico, France, Texas, etc. sections which featured regional-themed rides, attractions and buildings. Six Flags Over Texas has been home to many theme park "firsts" including:

• First mine train roller coaster – The Runaway Mine Train
• First log flume – El Aserradero (also called the Log Ride)
• First roller coaster with consecutive loops – The Shockwave
• Worlds first freefall ride - The Cliffhanger (I’m pretty sure it’s called something else today, but in my childhood it was the Cliffhanger.)

Some things I loved to do/ride at Six Flags when I got to go as a child:

The Silver Star Carousel – According to Wikipedia, The Silver Star Carousel was the last carousel built by William Dentzel of the Dentzel Carousel Company in Philadelphia. It was originally erected near the municipal boardwalk at Rockaway’s Playland Amusement Park in Long Island, NY in 1928.. In 1937 the carousel was put into storage until 1945. It was then put back into operation at Rockaway’s until it was purchased for $25,000 by Six Flags in late 1962. It opened at Six Flags Over Texas in 1963. Because of the ride’s historical background, the Texas Historical Commission declared the ride an official historical site in 1966.

The Six Flags Over Texas Railroad – It is the only attraction still operating from the park's inaugural 1961 season. Originally two locomotive engines took you on a one mile journey around the park, with stops at two stations located on opposite sides of the park. Both train engines were originally built at the turn of the century for a sugar cane plantation in Louisiana. The engines were later renamed the "General Sam Houston" and the "Mirabeau B. Lamar" in honor of these Texan heroes. It was a short-sut through the park and you didn't have to spend all your energy walking to and from.


The Texas Giant (above) – The world-renowned wooden roller coaster towers more than 14 stories in the air and was added to the Texas Section of the park for the 1990 season as the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world. The Texas Giant has ten tons of nails, 81,370 bolts, and about 900,000 board feet of lumber, enough wood to build the frames of 30 homes.



The Shock Wave (above) – It is a steel roller coaster, and often considered to be one of the few rides in the world to successfully combine inversions (with its two vertical loops) and airtime (the sensation caused by negative G's), with only a lap bar used as a restraining device.


Judge Roy Scream (above) – A smaller wooden roller coaster, Judge Roy Scream is offset from the rest of the park and resides next to the park's large entry lake. Most people probably consider it outdated, but I remember it as one of the few and only roller coasters my mother would ride. It had no loops, it wasn’t fast and was known to be pretty tame in the crazy world of newer and faster machines.



Mine Train (above) – Called the Runaway Mine Train when I was little, it was the world's first tubular-steel roller coaster, which takes riders both old and young on a ride through a themed mining town, complete with an underground tunnel.

The Flashback – A shuttle coaster that takes you through three inversions, up a steep incline, and then through the same three inversions in reverse, for a total of six inversions. I remember this as one of my dad’s favorite.



The Avalanche Bobsled - (above) now called something else – A bobsled roller coaster located in the Spain & Mexico section of the park that takes riders on a trackless adventure through a trough. Mom would ride this one on occasion too.

Texas Chute-Out - A parachute-drop ride, nearly 200 feet high. Located across from Judge Roy Scream, it is one of the first attractions visible as one drives toward the park's entry plaza. Nice views and gets the air moving around you to give relief from the Texas summer heat.

Roaring Rapids - Whitewater rafting simulation in which 12-person rafts navigate a man-made river. Best thing about this is you get wet and cool off. Too bad it’s in a river of brown, oily sweat-laden water.

Yosemite Sam's Gold River Adventure – Originally known as The Cave featuring the Spee-Lunkers - animated figures with large eyes and long, pointy noses and ears – the boat ride takes you through a series of scenes featuring animatronic Looney Tunes characters. It tells an Old West-style story with Bugs and the gang. Not too bad – and it’s air-conditioned.



Oil Derrick (above) – The Oil Derrick observation tower opened in 1969, providing a view of both the downtown Dallas and Fort Worth skylines at 300 feet above the park. I remember throwing pennies and spitting off of it.

The Cliffhanger (also called something else now) - It elevates riders in a car (similar to an elevator in which the riders sit) 10 stories up. Then, upon reaching the top, the car rolls forward, over the edge of a "slide", and races downward in complete freefall. Another good use for pennies – put them on you knee and try to see where they go when you freefall.

Splashwater Falls - Water ride traveling up a single slope, around a corner, then back down for a huge "splashdown." Again – it’s a water ride and cools you off – just in other people’s sweat.

Texas Tornado - Set of swings which rotate simultaneously in a large circle, suspended in the air. And of course

Holiday in the Park – A tradition started in 1985. It is now one of the park’s most popular seasonal events as the park’s season winds down towards the end of November and throughout December. Hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights are strung around the park buildings and rides. These days, thanks to a specialized refrigeration machine under the hill, an authentic snow hill is available for visitors to sled down (no small task in the usually mild Texas winter).


Ahhhh... I'm just worn out thinking about all those rides. And to add 107 degrees on top of that... I must have been crazy. Thanks mom and dad for still taking us despite our insanity. Good memories...