Does anyone remember any of the "classic" rides at Six Flags in Arlington, TX?

Question

I am asking about rides that have long been torn down and replaced. I remember a boat ride where you had to help paddle these giant canoes, and a "river" ride with animatics like falling trees and angry Indian warriors...

I am not asking which rides are "still there". I am interested in the "old and TORN DOWN" rides like the canoe, spelunker's cave, etc...

Answer 1

See if this Brings back any Memories?

1959
Angus G. Wynne Jr. has the desire of building Six Flags Over Texas after being inspired by the opening of Disneyland 4 years earlier.
The Great Southwest Corporation begins planning and designing for Six Flags Over Texas.
The name "Six Flags" is represented and thought up from the six different countries whose flag had flown over Texas.

1960
The construction of Six Flags Over Texas begins.

1961
August 1st-August 5th, "soft test opening" of Six Flags Over Texas takes place.
Six Flags Over Texas offically opens on August 5th, 1961.
Attendance for the first opening day is 8,374 people.
Admission Price is $2.75 for adults and $2.25 for children, parking is 50 cents, hamburgers are 35 cents, and soft drinks are 10 cents.
Minimum employee age is 21 years old.
The first six themes of the park are Spain, France, Mexico, Texas, Confederacy, and Modern.
Located at the front gate is the dancing waters, the star mall, and the Six Flags Over Texas marching band.
In the Modern section of the park, attractions include the Southwest Life Petting Zoo, Missile Chaser, Happy Motoring Freeway (One Track), Astro-Lift, and the Sidewinder, a wild mouse roller coaster
La Salle's River Boat Adventure attraction is located in the France section of the park
The Ampitheater, the Butterfield Stage Coach, the Little Dixie Carousel, the Dixieland Band, and the Confederate recruiting station and re-enactment performers are located in the Confederacy section of the park.
Skull Island, "Skull Rock" skull slide, Raft Ride to Skull Island, and Tree Slide are located in the Skull Island/Confederate area of the park.
The Six Flags Railroad, Astro-lift Terminal, and Gunfighter Performances are located in the Texas section of the park.
The Los Conquistadors Coronado Burro Ride is located in the Spain section of the park.
The Las Cocheses Cabras Goat Cart Ride, the Indian Village, the Indian Dancers, the original Ferrocarril Fiesta Train, the Mexican Band, and Banderas de Colores (Covered walkway) are located in the Mexico section of the park.
Helicopter Rides are located outside the park.
The first season was a total of 45 days in operation, 550,000 total attendance throughout the first year, and the last operating day was November 25th, 1961

1962
Adult tickets are $2.75, tickets for children under 12 are $2.25, the operating season begins on April 20th, 1962, minimum employee age is 18, and Six Flags Over Texas sports 1,000 employees.
The Wild Mouse roller coaster, Sidewinder, is moved to Mexico and renamed La Cucaracha.
The Red Train finishes and opens July 5th, 1962. Chaparral Antique Cars are added in the Texas area of the park.
The Caddo War Canoes attraction is added to the Confederacy section of the park.
Skull Island is expanded and new attractions that are added include a Tree House Slide, Barrel Slide, and Pirate Ship.
A second track is added to the Happy Motoring Freeway, taking the old spot where Sidewinder once sat.
The Casa Magnetica, which is a "crooked house" attraction, is added to the Spain section of the park.
The Los Conquistadors Coronado Burro Ride is removed from the park at the end of the operating season.
End-of-year attendance is at 1.2 million people.

1963
Adult tickets are $3.50, tickets for children under 12 are $2.50.
Boomtown is added to Six Flags Over Texas as the 7th themed area.
Boomtown attractions include the Antique Carousel, The Sky Hook ride, and the Boomtown train station.
The El Aserradero Log Flume is added in the Spain section where the Lost Conquistadors Coronado Burro Ride once existed. El Aserradero is the first log flume in the world.
Track number 1 on the Happy Motoring Freeway is shortened for the Boomtown section of the park.
The Goat Cart ride is removed from the park at the end of the operating season.

1964
The attraction Spee-Lunker's Cave Ride is added to the Confederacy section of the park.
A suspension bridge and 3 Swamp Slides are added to Skull Island.
The Caddo War Canoes attraction is moved to the Boomtown area of the park.
The park's first roller coaster, La Cucaracha, the Indian Village, and the Pirate Ship in Skull Island are removed from the park at the end of the season.

1965
A Chance Trabant attraction, El Sombrero, is added in the Spain area where the La Cucaracha roller coaster once existed.
An arena is constructed in the Texas area of the park. A Circus Show is hosted in the arena, but only for the 1965 season.
The "Star" is removed from the front gate and is replaced with 5 large circular planters.

1966
The Runaway Mine Train roller coaster is added to the Boomtown section of the park.
A Wild West Show is hosted in the arena located in the Texas section of the park.

1967
A Chance rotor ride, Spindletop, is added to the park.
Jet Set rides are added to the Modern area of the park.
The original Fiesta Train is removed from the park.
End-of-year attendance is reported at around 2 million people.

1968
Fiesta Train II is added in place of the original Fiesta Train the Spain section of the park.
Spindletop is moved between the Southern Palace and Skull Island.
The ampitheater is constructed into a 950 seat facility and renamed the Southern Palace.
El Aserradero Log Flume 2 is added to the Spain section of the park.
The Sid and Marty Kroft Puppet Theater is added just outside the Modern section of the park.
At the end of the season, the Sky-Hook attraction is removed along with the long suspension bridge and 3 Swamp Tree Slides from Skull Island.
Attendance declined for the first time in park history from 2 million to 1.7 million for end-of-year attendance.

1969
Six Flags is sold by Angus Wynne to Limited Partnership, which is headed by Jack Knox.
Oil Derrick, which is a 300-foot oil/observation tower, is added in the Tower area of the park where the Swamp Tree Slides and suspension bridge once existed.
The Tower Slide, which is a 12-lane fiberglass slide, is attatched to the Oil Derrick at a height of 50 feet.
The Mini Mine Train is added to the Boomtown area of the park where the Sky-Hook attraction once existed.
The Dolphin Show is added to the Tower section of the park.
A Chevy show is added in the Confederacy area of the park where the Stagecoach attraction once existed.
At the end of the season, the Wild West Show ends at the park.

1970
The Texas Arena is remodeled and Las Voladores Flying Indian Spectacular begins to show in the newly-remodeled Arena.
At the end of the 1970 season, the Jet Set ride attraction is removed from the park.

1971
Penn Central Railroad begins management of Six Flags Over Texas.
Big Bend, a Schwarzkopf Spaceracer steel roller coaster, is added to the Modern section of the park.

1972
The Rugged Buggy attraction is added to the Petting Zoo in the Modern area of the park.
The Boomtown Railroad Station is demolished at the end of the operating season.

1973
The Goodtimes Square section is added to the park.
Goodtimes Square attractions include, Doc Snooker's Infernal Electric Bumping Machines (Bumper Cars), Crazy Legs (Octopus-Type Ride), a Miniature Circus Exhibit, the Goodtimes Square Railroad Depot, and a small theatre added next to the Will Rogers Puppet Show.
Attendance record of 40,742 people takes place on May 19th, 1973.

1974
The Music Mill is added to the park with 4,500 seats.
At the end of the season, the Arena in Texas is removed, the Flying Indian Spectacular is removed, and Flying Jenny from the Confederate section of the park is also removed.

1975
The season begins on March 15th, 1975 with adult tickets at $7, tickets for children under 12 are $6, and children under 3 are free.
A new mascot is introduced for Six Flags Over Texas. His name is Cyrus Comos, the inventor. His Incredible Electric Light Brigade Parade is featured.
Red Baron is added to the Confederacy area where Flying Jenny once existed.
The Small Theater show is changed from the Will Rogers to The Fun Guns of Dry Gulch.
The attraction Rotoriculus (Later To Be Named Roto Disco), which is a Cyrus Comos invention, is added to the Goodtimes Square section of the park.
At the end of the 1975 season, the Small Theater is removed along with Sid & Marty Kraft show.
The end of the season is November 30th, 1975 and 27 million people are shown to have visited the park all year. The average daily attendance is shown at 15,000 people.

1976
The season starts on March 13th, 1976 with tickets at $7.50 and children under 3 free. Season passes are introduced at $25.00.
The Intamin Parachute Drop attraction, Texas Chute Out, is added to the Goodtimes Square section of the park.
At the end of the year, the Tower Slide, along with the Skull Island Rafts, are removed from the park.
The season ends on November 28th, 1976.

1977
Spinnaker, a Schwarzkopf Enterprise attraction, is added to the to the Tower section of the park.
Stand up baskets are added to the Texas Chute Out.
The Pirate Puppet Show is added to Skull Island.
At the end of the season, Missle Chaser is removed from the park.
On July 3rd, 1977, a record breaking crowd is reported at 45,496 people. This is the same day K. C. and the Sunshine Band performs at the park.

1978
Tickets are at $8.50 and children under 3 are free. 32 million guests are on record.
A Schwarzkopf multi-looping steel roller coaster attraction, Shockwave, is added to the Tower section of the park. Shockwave is the first running consecutive looping coaster.
At the end of the season, the skull is removed from Skull Island and Fiesta Train II is removed from the park.
A record attendance of 2.78 million people in one year is recorded. Average yearly attendance is at 2.5 million people.

1979
The attraction Sensational Sense Machine is added to the Modern section of the park where Missle Chaser once existed.
The attraction People Mover Machine is added to the Mexico area of the park.
At the end of the season, the roller coaster Big Bend is removed from the park, sent to Six Flags St. Louis, and put up in storage until the late 80's. Big Bend is eventually sold for scrap. Banderas de Colores (Covered walkway) is removed from the park.
Angus Wynne passes away at the age of 65.

1980
Judge Roy Scream, a wooden out-and-back roller coaster designed by Bill Cobb, is added to the Goodtimes Square section of the park.
On August 5th, 1980, Six Flags Over Texas celebrates its 20th anniversary.
Track 1 of the Happy Motoring Freeway is removed.
Astro-Lift, Crazy Legs, and the Miniature Circus Exhibit is removed from the park at the end of the season.

1981
Conquistador (Swinging Pirate Ship) is added to the Spain section of the park.
The Kiddie Ferris Wheel is added in the Tower section near Oil Derrick.

1982
Penn Central sells Six Flags Corporation. Bally Manufacturing Corporation then buys Six Flags Corporation.
Texas Cliffhanger, a First Generation Intamin Freefall (1st In World) is added to the Boomtown section of the park.
The attraction, La Salle River Adventure, closes on August 15th, 1982 and is removed from the park.
At the end of the season, the Petting Zoo is removed from the park along with the Last of Skull Island and the Pirate Puppet Show.
Spindletop is moved to the Texas section of the park.

1983
Roaring Rapids (A River Rapids Attraction) is added into the Tower section of the park in the spot where Skull Island and La Salle River Adventure once existed.
Pac-Man Land is added to the Modern section of the park where the Petting Zoo once existed.
"Soft-Play" playground is added to the Modern section of the park.
The Red Baron and Ferris Wheel attractions are moved to Pac-Man Land.
Texas Tornado is added to the spot where Crazy Legs had once existed in Goodtimes Square.
The People Mover Machine is renamed Pac-Man Show.
At the end of the season, the Caddo War Canoes are removed from the Boomtown section of the park and the Dolphins are removed from the Tower section of the park.

1984
The Great Air Racer, a bi-plane tower attraction, is added to the Tower section of the park.
US High Diving Show is added to the Tower section of the park in the pool where the Dolphins had once existed.
Spindletop is moved to the Texas section of the park.
The first "Spring Break Out" takes place in the 1984 season.
At the end of the year, Pac-Man Land is removed.
Attendance is recorded at 2.35 million people.

1985
Tickets are priced at $14.95 for adults and at $7.95 for children under 42".
Looney Tunes Land is added to the Modern section of the park.
Daffy Duck Boats are added, Red Baron is renamed Tazmanian Devil Flying Ace, and Rugged Bunny is renamed to Road Runner Runaround, all of these changes happening in Looney Tunes Land.
"Holiday In The Park" is introduced with a total of 100,000 guests.
At the end of the season, the Antique Carousel is removed from Boomtown for rebuilding and the US High Diving Show is removed from the Tower section of the park.

1986
Tickets are at $14.95 for adults and $7.95 for guests under 42".
The attraction, the Avalanche Bobsled roller coaster is added to the Mexico section of the park. The Avalanche Bobsled roller coaster is from Six Flags Magic Mountain.
The dolphins come back to the dolphin pool.
The Music Mill is expanded and now contains 10,000 seats.
The park celebrates its 25th anniversary on August 5th, 1986 with a grand total of 52 million guests since the park opened.
At the end of the season, the Happy Motoring Freeway is removed.

1987
Six Flags Corp. is bought by Wesray Capital Corp. for $617 million.
The attraction Splash Water Falls is added to the area that once was the spot of Happy Motoring Freeway.
During the summer, the Incredible Acrobats of China perform.

1988
The carousel reopens in the front of the park as the Silver Star Carousel after being restored.
The Gun Fighter Stunt Show is added to the site of the Dolphin Show in the Tower section of the park.
The third largest crowd is reported on October 22nd, 1988, Fright Night, at an attendance of 45,000.
At the end of the season, Rotoriculous is removed from Goodtimes Square and the Gun Fighter Stund Show is closed in the Tower section of the park.

1989
The park begins the season on March 4th with tickets at $20.50 for adults and $14 for children and senoirs.
The Flashback roller coaster is added to the Goodtimes Square section of the park.
The Texas Tornado is moved to the former site of the Antique Carousel in Boomtown.
The Dolphin Show returns for its second run in the Tower section of the park.
The park season ends December 31st as Spindletop is removed from the Tower section of the park.

1990
The park's season begins on March 17th.
The Texas Giant roller coaster is added to the Texas section of the park for $5 million. It is the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster when it first opens.
Over 3 million guests are recorded to make 1990 a record season.
The park's season ends December 31st.

1991
Time Warner buys one-half of Six Flags Corp. while the Blackstone Group and Wertheim Schroder buy the other half.
At the end of the season, the Spee-Lunkers are removed from the Cave in the Confederacy section of the park.

1992
Yosemite Sam and the Gold River Adventure is added to the spot that once held Spee-Lunker's Cave.
The Batman Stunt show is added to the site of the old Stunt Show and Dolphin Show in the Tower section of the park.

1993
Tickets for adults are at $25.95 and $19.95 for seniors and children.
Time Warner buys the second half of Six Flags Corp. from the Blackstone Group and Wertheim Schroder.

1994
Adult tickets are sold at $26.95 and senior and children tickets are sold at $20.95.
There are 2,500 seasonal employees along with 225 full time workers.

1995
The Right Stuff: Mach One Adventure is added to the new Ulitmate Adventure Theater in the USA section of the park.
Cliffhanger, a 1st Generation Intamin Freefall, is renamed to G-Force.
Splash Down Falls is renamed to Splash Water.
Roaring Rapids is renamed LaSalle's River Rapids and the entrance to the attraction is moved from the Tower area to the France area.
Chameleon Virtual Reality is added to the Goodtimes Square section of the park.
The Music Mill is doubled in size to 10,000 seats.
At the end of the season, Spinnaker is removed from the Confederacy section of the park.

1996
The Runaway Mountain roller coaster is added to the spot where Spinnaker once stood.
The Dive Bomber Alley skycoaster attraction is added to the Tower section of the park.
The Runaway Mine Train is renamed to Mine Train.
The Goodtimes Square Train Station is removed at the end of the year.

1997
A brand new railroad station, Boomtown Depot, is added to the Boomtown section of the park.
The Mr. Freeze roller coaster is added to Goodtimes Square, but does not operate during the season.
At the end of the season, Elmer Fudd’s Little Ferris Wheel is removed from the park.

1998
Premier Parks buys Six Flags Inc.
The Mr. Freeze roller coaster opens.
A rebuilt Mini Mine Train opens in the Boomtown section of the park.
LaSalle's River Rapids is renamed Roaring Rapids and the entrance to the attraction is moved back to the Tower area from the France area.
The Right Stuff theming and movie is removed from the motion simulator theater at the end of the season.

1999
Gotham City, a new themed area, is added next to the Goodtimes Square section of the park.
Batman: The Ride roller coaster is added to the new Gotham City section of the park.
The Ultimate Adventure Theater is rethemed to a dinosaur exhibit and is named Dino Island 3-D.
Six Flags Speedway is added to the Tower section of the park.
The Air Racer attraction is removed from the Tower section of the park.

2000
The Missle Chaser attraction is brought back to the Tower section of the park where Air Racer once stood.
The G-Force freefall attraction is renamed Wildcatter

Answer 2

If you want water rides I suggest going to Hurricane Harbor (spl?) It is in Arlington right across Six Flags. Six Flags has about 3 water rides. The log ride, Splash, and there's one that is like a small river and you go through in on a huge tire. Good Luck and have fun.

Answer 3

Judge

Answer 4

That's a fun place. Wasn't there a ride called the switchback, and I remember the spelunkers cave, nice when it was so hot. And the 18 story wooden roller coaster. What about the cliffhanger? All great rides, but haven't been there in years.

Answer 5

The Texas Giant is still there, right?
Then the water slide where everyone got wet.
I haven't been there in so long that I cannot even remember the names of the rides.

Answer 6

There used to be a slide on the tower that you walked up and then slid down on one of about 10 lanes on a potato sack.

Also, there used to be the Spindletop at the bottom of the tower that spun around, pressing you to the wall and then dropping the floor so you were just stuck there.

There was also The Tree slide where you went up the stair around a huge fake tree then slid down the winding slide inside.

Finally, there was the Mine Train and Mini-Mine Train; I don't know if they're there anymore.

Answer 7

I miss the Spinnaker and the Spindletop.

Answer 8

Spindletop used to jack me up so bad when i was a kid, i don't how my brother etc ever convinced me to go a second and third time, it was one of the worst feelings i can remember.

I recall trying to lift my head off of the wall to look below and it felt like my face was melting off

Answer 9

Spindletop is the only one I can really remmeber... It was awesome... totally unique... talk about dizzy... wow.....

Last time I was there I think both mine train rides were still there...

Answer 10

You raise some good points here.

Answer 11

Not sure what to say