Historic California Theme Park Closing Permanently After More Than Half a Century in Business

NEED TO KNOW

• California’s Great America amusement park will permanently close on Labor Day 2027 after more than 50 years in business

• “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

• The park has welcomed tens of millions of guests since it opened its doors in 1976 as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebration

A historic California amusement park is closing after 50 years.

On Friday, Nov. 6, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced that California’s Great America in Santa Clara, Calif., will celebrate its final year of operation in 2027, according to a press release.

Over the past five decades, California’s Great America has been “where the Bay Area comes together for thrills, family adventures and days spent together,” according to the theme park’s website.

“From iconic rollercoasters and family attractions to the kid-sized fun of Planet Snoopy and the splash-filled excitement of South Bay Shores Waterpark, guests can enjoy a full day of unforgettable experiences all with one admission,” the website continues. “In 2027, the park celebrates its Farewell Season, offering one final opportunity to experience a Bay Area tradition before its final day of operation on Labor Day 2027.”

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The theme park has welcomed tens of millions of guests since it opened its doors in 1976 as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebration.

The park’s former owner, Cedar Fair, sold the 112-acre property to developer Prologis for $310 million in 2022 and secured a lease that allowed the attraction to continue operating through 2028, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Following Cedar Fair’s merger with Six Flags in 2024, the company decided not to extend the lease. (Six Flags previously announced that it would be closing seven of its iconic theme parks in the U.S. and Canada amid the company’s financial struggles.)

Last year, California’s Great America canceled some of its live entertainment and its seasonal holiday events, per the Los Angeles Times.

Six Flags has also sparked concerns surrounding ride safety after a man died on the Goliath coaster in Georgia and more than 100 riders claimed to have sustained brain injuries on Magic Mountain’s X2 coaster in California.

“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,” Dave Vosejpka, park manager of California’s Great America, said in a statement as the closure news was announced.

He continued, “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.”

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