As Six Flags Great Adventure turns 50, readers share their favorite memories
Who would ever think you could see rhinos running across open plains, a life-sized Bugs Bunny, and the world's largest roller coaster in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey?
A half century ago, Warner LeRoy did. Or at least, the beginning of such a place.
As the son of "The Wizard of Oz" producer Mervyn LeRoy and Doris Warner, daughter of the Warner Brothers Studios executive Harry Warner, you could say making magic was in LeRoy's blood. The world he created, originally called Great Adventure, opened in Jackson on July 1, 1974.
Now known as Six Flags Great Adventure, the park begins its 50th season this weekend. It will be open weekends at first, then daily from March 28 to April 7 for spring break, followed by varying open days in April and May before the summer season begins Thursday, May 23, park spokesperson Staci Wheeler said.
? What's new at Six Flags Great Adventure this year? A 'super boomerang coaster' and more
According to Harry Applegate, the theme park's unofficial historian and operator of greatadventurehistory.com, LeRoy believed his creation — which was originally going to be called "Enchanted Forest and Safari Park" — would rival Walt Disney World in Florida.
His plans were scaled back due to production costs, but two of his ideas became iconic locations in the park: The Fort, which houses the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster and one end of the Skyway that traverses the park; and an ice cream parlor and restaurant called Yum Yum Palace.
The theme park now has more than 50 rides, including 14 roller coasters, family rides, a water park and a 350-acre drive-through safari. New additions coming this year to celebrate the golden anniversary include The Flash: Vertical Velocity roller coaster, described as "a super boomerang coaster," and Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa,
Fifty years of memories at Six Flags
Fifty years in business means half a century's worth of memories for the guests who have passed through the front gates, like John Tracy Jr. of Jackson, who visited as a child then went on to work at Great Adventure.
"It’s April 14, 1984. The park and I are both 10 years old," he wrote. "Rednuht Gnillor (a temporary name for one side of Rolling Thunder) is operating to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the roller coaster, and "The Shirt Tales" (a cartoon series) have taken over Kiddie Kingdom with a whole new look.
"The Rainbow Logo is at the (Route) 537 entrance, and the Lion with his Great Adventure flag is welcoming people to the safari. It’s been almost 40 years and I remember it like it was yesterday."
Tracy reflected fondly on his time as a park employee.
"It’s Oct. 29, 1995, and it’s a beautiful fall Sunday. The park and I are now both 21 years old, and I am in my fourth season as a supervisor. I am proud of our park, and I love my job.
"We are at the very height of the Time Warner era, and the park is in top shape," he added. "This is our closing weekend, and we have already achieved the highest attendance record ever for the park. However, the previous day's attendance has put us (in a) position to break another ceiling. We were originally budgeted for 12,000 (guests), but there’s not a cloud in the sky, and 22,000 will put us through the 4 million attendance ceiling.
"If I close my eyes, I can still hear the radio transmission giving the announcement that we had broken 4 million guests for the season. ... I am proud to have been part of that team."
A day of fun at Great Adventure
Great Adventure was kind of like a day camp for me when I was a preteen in the late '70s/early '80s. I would go several times a week with a friend. One of our parents would drop us off when the park opened in the morning, and another parent would pick us up in the late afternoon. We had enough money for lunch and maybe some games and spent our days completely unsupervised running around the park.
I remember we would usually start at the Log Flume so we could ride a few times before a line formed, and then we’d head over to the Runaway Train and do the same thing. Then we’d head to the Haunted House, then Lightening Loops! I can’t imagine dropping two 10-year olds off at an amusement park today…
I also remember seeing cars with shredded vinyl tops and knowing they must’ve gone to the drive-through safari. You could always tell a car roof that had been shredded by the baboons. I also remember the fire at the Haunted House in 1984 (by then I was a sophomore in high school) and thinking that could’ve been me. We had spent so much time there.
I have so many great memories of Great Adventure. It was great to grow up so close and at a time when kids had so much freedom and our parents felt safe just dropping us off for the day unsupervised, knowing we’d be in the parking lot waiting for them at the end of the day.
— Allison Sacks of Philadelphia, formerly of Lakewood
A Great Adventure together
Editor's note: Childhood sweethearts Brian and Donna Lapcznski of the Forked River section of Lacey spent lots of time together at Six Flags Great Adventure. Life took them apart, but the couple reconnected in 2010 and married in 2016, and the park holds a special place in their hearts. Hear more in the video at the top of this story.
When our lives reconnected, we came up with few lines that encompass our love for each other:
Decided at birth.
Cemented in youth.
Entwined for life.
(We have) very fond memories of our times spent at Great Adventure.
Whether it was walking, holding hands through the park, or sitting on the grassy areas talking about anything and everything (and kissing) to riding Lightening Loops, the Rotor, and taking the Sky Ride under the warm, starry nights, (these) will always and forever be memories cementing our youth and being forever entwined in life.
— Donna Lapcznski
Can't wait to go back to Six Flags
First of all, I have to say that I'm truly blessed that Six Flags Great Adventure is my home park!
I came to the park every Saturday in July, August, September and October of 2023 on the NJ Transit 308 bus, and I can't wait for the 308 bus to start operating on May 25, this year so I can start going back to the park every Saturday.
I also can't wait to go back and experience the park's 50th anniversary this year. I bought a Six Flags Great Adventure Dream Street Pathway Anniversary brick! I'm so very grateful that I'll always be a part of the 50th anniversary.
Kingda Ka is my all-time favorite ride ever. I can't wait to ride the new 2024 Flash Vertical Velocity roller coaster. I'm a roller coaster enthusiast and I have a strong love for extreme rides, and Six Flags Great Adventure has so many of them.
— Dashawn Bethea, East Orange
Favorite place on earth: Six Flags Great Adventure
My very first Great Adventure memory dates back to being 3 years old in 1994. My mom, pregnant with my sister at the time, took me to the park every single day and from there, I was hooked. All I wanted was Great Adventure, nothing else.
My love for the park grew as I did, and I found myself working there from 2007 to 2014 and recently, seasonally, as a Fright Fest Ghoul for fun.
Although I have drifted away professionally from the theme park world, my goal in life is to eventually run the amazing property we all know as Great Adventure. Happy 50th to my favorite place on earth!
— Jordan Horowitz, Manalapan
Days with Dad at Six Flags Great Adventure
Like most children, I enjoyed playing amusement park games where there was very little chance of winning, like ring toss and throwing a quarter onto a glass plate.
On two visits to Great Adventure (we never called it Six Flags), my dad humored me and let me play. I remember flinging little plastic rings toward a sea of bottles, hoping with all I had that one would land. That's all I needed to win a prize.
Imagine my delight when I succeeded! My dad let out a whoop and I chose my prize: a very large, very purple stuffed wooly mammoth. And by large, I mean large — this thing barely fit in the car. I remember being so proud, carrying it all the way from the games section of the park to the parking lot.
The second visit, it was the quarter game. The goal was to flip a coin through the air so it landed in a circle on a glass plate. Quarters were pinging everywhere when I let one fly, and again, success!
This time, I chose a very large, very sleek snow leopard. We didn't keep it; I had the mammoth, after all. We gave it to a little girl as we left the park.
I no longer have the stuffed animal, or my dad. But I'll never forget his huge smile and delight when I won those games.
— Sarah Griesemer
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected], follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jackson NJ: Six Flags turns 50, fans share favorite memories
