As Six Flags announces new CEO, Great America’s fate in the balance
Updated: 2:39 PM PST Nov 29, 2025
Amid one of the most tumultuous times in company history, Six Flags has named the new CEO who will be taking the helm in December. John Reilly, a former SeaWorld executive, will be tasked with transforming the company after its merger with Cedar Fair.In 2023, the two theme parks giants announced they were merging under the Six Flags brand. The merger created a portfolio of dozens of theme and water parks across the United States, Canada and Mexico. In California, Six Flags operates Great America in Santa Clara, Knott’s Berry Farm and its adjacent water park, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor in Valencia, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and Hurricane Harbor in Concord. The company has struggled in recent years, so much so that Six Flags executives have floated closing more parks. The most notable closure is yet to come: Great America could shutter in the next few years. The ground below the park, which shares a parking lot with Levi’s Stadium, was sold in 2022; their lease expires in 2028, and Six Flags has not shared if it will be renewed. The company has declined to share more details in response to SFGATE’s periodic requests for an updated closure timeline.Earlier this month, Six Flags had a disappointing third quarter earnings call. Net revenue was down $31 million compared to the third quarter of 2024, and per capita spending was $59.08, down 4% year-over-year.“Our efforts to stimulate demand did not achieve the desired returns,” outgoing Six Flags President Richard Zimmerman said in a statement. Most interestingly, Zimmerman told investors the “largest and most established parks” in the portfolio represent 70% of the revenue. Those large parks are overperforming, while the smaller ones lag behind. Although Six Flags did not name the overperforming parks, it’s likely famous spots, like Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Point, are among them. Six Flags declined to name the underperforming parks as well. “We’re going to look at the parks where our returns are the greatest, where the opportunities for growth are the highest, and we’re going to focus on those parks,” Six Flags chief financial officer Brian Witherow said during the earnings call. “The other parks we’ll look to monetize and use those proceeds to reduce debt.”In other words, the land under other parks may be sold and park leases could be terminated, as is the case with Great America. For Bay Area locals, there might be reason to worry about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, which sits on a huge and likely valuable lot in Vallejo. Like Great America, the park isn’t open every day; there is no opening date yet for 2026, although it is expected to open. As of Dec. 8, Six Flags’ new president and CEO will be Reilly. He was formerly the CEO of Palace Entertainment U.S., which operates Kennywood in Pittsburgh, among other regional theme parks. He also served as the interim CEO of SeaWorld Parks, where he worked in various roles from 1998 until 2019.Zimmerman, who announced in August that he was stepping down as CEO, issued a statement supporting his successor. “It has been a privilege to lead Six Flags through critical and transformative periods, and I am confident the Company is poised for tremendous growth and success,” Zimmerman said.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Amid one of the most tumultuous times in company history, Six Flags has named the new CEO who will be taking the helm in December. John Reilly, a former SeaWorld executive, will be tasked with transforming the company after its merger with Cedar Fair.
In 2023, the two theme parks giants announced they were merging under the Six Flags brand. The merger created a portfolio of dozens of theme and water parks across the United States, Canada and Mexico. In California, Six Flags operates Great America in Santa Clara, Knott’s Berry Farm and its adjacent water park, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor in Valencia, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and Hurricane Harbor in Concord.
The company has struggled in recent years, so much so that Six Flags executives have floated closing more parks. The most notable closure is yet to come: Great America could shutter in the next few years. The ground below the park, which shares a parking lot with Levi’s Stadium, was sold in 2022; their lease expires in 2028, and Six Flags has not shared if it will be renewed. The company has declined to share more details in response to SFGATE’s periodic requests for an updated closure timeline.
Earlier this month, Six Flags had a disappointing third quarter earnings call. Net revenue was down $31 million compared to the third quarter of 2024, and per capita spending was $59.08, down 4% year-over-year.
“Our efforts to stimulate demand did not achieve the desired returns,” outgoing Six Flags President Richard Zimmerman said in a statement.
Most interestingly, Zimmerman told investors the “largest and most established parks” in the portfolio represent 70% of the revenue. Those large parks are overperforming, while the smaller ones lag behind. Although Six Flags did not name the overperforming parks, it’s likely famous spots, like Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Point, are among them. Six Flags declined to name the underperforming parks as well.
“We’re going to look at the parks where our returns are the greatest, where the opportunities for growth are the highest, and we’re going to focus on those parks,” Six Flags chief financial officer Brian Witherow said during the earnings call. “The other parks we’ll look to monetize and use those proceeds to reduce debt.”
In other words, the land under other parks may be sold and park leases could be terminated, as is the case with Great America.
For Bay Area locals, there might be reason to worry about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, which sits on a huge and likely valuable lot in Vallejo. Like Great America, the park isn’t open every day; there is no opening date yet for 2026, although it is expected to open.
As of Dec. 8, Six Flags’ new president and CEO will be Reilly. He was formerly the CEO of Palace Entertainment U.S., which operates Kennywood in Pittsburgh, among other regional theme parks. He also served as the interim CEO of SeaWorld Parks, where he worked in various roles from 1998 until 2019.
Zimmerman, who announced in August that he was stepping down as CEO, issued a statement supporting his successor.
“It has been a privilege to lead Six Flags through critical and transformative periods, and I am confident the Company is poised for tremendous growth and success,” Zimmerman said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel