Synopsis
Six Flags Over Texas: 50 Years of Entertainment by Clint Skinner is a comprehensive chronicle of the history and evolution of America’s first regional theme park, Six Flags Over Texas, located in Arlington. The second edition of the book, published in 2013, begins by exploring the vision of the park’s founder, Angus G. Wynne Jr., a real estate developer inspired by Disneyland’s success to create a unique entertainment destination in Texas. Skinner details Wynne’s ambitious plan to establish a park that would reflect the six nations that historically governed Texas—Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States—through its themed areas. The narrative traces the park’s origins as a temporary project meant to boost the Great Southwest Industrial District, highlighting Wynne’s innovative “Pay One Price” admission model, which allowed guests to enjoy all rides and attractions for a single fee, a departure from the pay-per-ride systems of the era, including Disneyland.
The book meticulously documents the park’s construction, which began in 1960, and its grand opening on August 5, 1961, following a soft opening for local corporations. Skinner paints a vivid picture of the park’s inaugural year, taking readers on a virtual tour of its original six themed sections: Mexican Marketplace, Indian Village, Frontier Settlement, Confederacy Section, France Section, and Modern America Section, along with attractions like Skull Island and the Animal Kingdom. From there, the narrative progresses chronologically, covering each year of the park’s 50-year history up to 2011. Skinner delves into the park’s formative years (1962–1963), marked by new attractions and early successes, and the subsequent decades of expansion, ownership changes, and challenges. Key periods include the Pennsylvania Railroad’s acquisition in 1969, the Bally Era (1981–1986), the turbulent years under various management shifts (1987–1996), and the influence of Time Warner and Six Flags Entertainment Corporation from 1997 to 2011. The book highlights significant milestones, such as the introduction of the Texas Giant roller coaster, the park’s first major accident, and its first major crime, as well as cultural shifts like the removal of licensed theming (e.g., renaming Tony Hawk’s Big Spin to Pandemonium).
Skinner enriches the historical account with detailed anecdotes and behind-the-scenes insights, such as the park’s first special event, the introduction of live entertainment, and the development of the Star Mall. The second edition enhances the original with updated information and exclusive content, including an index of attractions, lyrics to the Six Flags March and Fiesta Train Theme Song, a collection of vintage postcards, and spiels for iconic rides like the Six Flags Railroad, Casa Magnetica, and La Salle’s Riverboat Adventure. Despite its thoroughness, the book has drawn criticism for its limited inclusion of photographs, with some readers wishing for more visuals of discontinued attractions like the lumberjack animations on the log flume. Additionally, the writing has been faulted for grammatical errors and a dry tone, likened by some reviewers to an unpolished high school essay. Nevertheless, Skinner’s work stands as a definitive resource for amusement park enthusiasts, offering a fact-filled exploration of Six Flags Over Texas’s legacy, from its pioneering beginnings to its status as a cultural and entertainment landmark by its 50th anniversary.