Six Flags is preparing to permanently close California’s Great America, one of Northern California’s longest-running amusement parks.
The Santa Clara theme park will shut down after more than five decades of roller coasters, family outings, summer vacations, and community events. Its final operating day is scheduled for September 6, 2027, which falls on Labor Day.
Before closing for good, the park will reopen in March 2027 for what Six Flags is calling its “Farewell Season.” The final season will give visitors one last opportunity to ride the park’s attractions, revisit longtime traditions, and celebrate the history of the Bay Area destination.
The closure is primarily tied to the land beneath the park. California’s Great America operates on a lease that expires in June 2028, and Six Flags has confirmed that it will not renew the agreement.
Rather than operate for only part of the following year, the company has decided to end operations after the 2027 summer season. Six Flags plans to make the farewell year a season-long celebration of the park’s legacy.
“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 during its more than 50-year run. The park became a major destination for families and thrill-seekers throughout the Bay Area and Northern California.
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Its lineup has included several well-known roller coasters, including Gold Striker, RailBlazer, and Flight Deck. Those attractions helped establish the park as a major part of the region’s entertainment and tourism landscape.
Six Flags said group outings, corporate events, and school visits will continue during the final season. Gold and Prestige Passholders will receive unlimited visits to California’s Great America throughout the farewell year, along with access to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo.
The company has not yet released the complete 2027 operating calendar. Details about special events, operating dates, entertainment, and final-season celebrations are expected to be announced later.
The decision comes during a challenging period for Six Flags, which has been managing financial pressure, a large debt load, ride closures, and changes to its overall park portfolio.
The company has also faced renewed public scrutiny over safety following several recent incidents involving amusement park rides.
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 close 10 roller coasters across North America while officials investigated the circumstances.
The closure affected several major rides as Six Flags reviewed safety procedures and worked with authorities. Kariem’s death also led to renewed questions about inspection practices, rider restraint systems, and how amusement parks respond when a serious accident occurs.
Days later, Cedar Point removed Millennium Force from service after a metal bracket reportedly detached from a ride vehicle and landed in an area accessible to guests.
Six Flags also permanently retired X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in September. The company said the ride had passed safety inspections, despite reports involving serious brain injuries associated with the attraction.
The incidents have contributed to a difficult public-relations environment for the company, even as Six Flags continues operating parks across North America.
The company has also been restructuring financially following its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair. The combined company inherited a large portfolio of amusement parks as well as billions of dollars in debt.
As part of its financial strategy, Six Flags previously sold seven parks for $331 million. The company has been reviewing its properties, leases, operating costs, and long-term plans as it attempts to strengthen its financial position.
California’s Great America is now the latest major property affected by those broader changes, although the park’s closure is directly tied to its lease rather than an announced ride-safety issue.
For longtime visitors, the end of the park will mark the loss of a familiar part of Santa Clara’s identity. Generations of families have visited the park for birthday celebrations, school trips, summer days, holiday events, and annual traditions.
Many guests who visited the park as children later returned with their own children, creating a multigenerational connection to the property. The Farewell Season is expected to appeal to those longtime visitors as well as people who want one final chance to experience the park’s major attractions.
Six Flags has not announced what will happen to the rides, structures, or land after the park closes. The future of the property will likely depend on the landowner and the terms of the lease.
For now, the company is encouraging visitors to treat 2027 as a final celebration rather than a normal operating year. California’s Great America will open one last time in March 2027 before ending its run on September 6, bringing more than five decades of Bay Area amusement-park history to a close.