Whistlestop Park

Whistlestop Park
Ride statistics
Attraction typeThemed area

Whistlestop Park is a themed children's area with various rides at several Six Flags amusement parks.

History

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Magic Flyer at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Before being named Whistlestop Park, these themed areas were named Thomas Town from 2007 to 2010.

  • 2006: On December 12, 2006, Six Flags released their plan for 2007. It detailed new corporate alliances with Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles, Evel Knievel and Tony Hawk, among several others.[1]
  • 2007: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Six Flags New England opened Thomas Town at their parks.[2]
  • 2008: Six Flags Magic Mountain[3] and Six Flags Over Georgia[4] opened Thomas Town at their parks.
  • 2010: Six Flags America[5] opened Thomas Town at their park. In late 2010, Six Flags began the process of removing licensed theming from attractions. They terminated licenses with Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles, Tony Hawk, Evel Knievel, and Terminator. This resulted in all Thomas Town theming to be removed and rides to be renamed to suit the new Whistlestop Park theme.[6][7] Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Six Flags New England are the only parks that won't be transforming its Thomas Town to Whistlestop Park. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom themed area will be transformed to Seaside Junction.[8] Six Flags New England removed their Thomas Town.[9][10]
  • 2011: The LA Times reported Six Flags Magic Mountain plans to unveil the re-branded Whistlestop Park kiddie area on March 19.[11] All of the existing rides opened with new names and themes.[12] Six Flags New England released a statement on Facebook stating The Thomas Town section of the park will be home to future expansion at Six Flags New England.[10]
  • 2012: Six Flags Over Georgia removed Whistlestop Train before the 2012 season but still operating Whistlestop Park's other attractions.[13]
  • 2013: Six Flags New England announced before the 2013 season that the park will be opening up Whistlestop Park after closing Thomas Town in late 2010. SFNE also unexpectedly added Flying Aces to the area replacing Harold the Helicopter and Bertie the Bus both of which did not reopen.
  • 2015: Six Flags Over Georgia removed its last ride in Whistlestop Park in the fall of 2015, Whistlestop Park Playground. The playground was removed to moved to the new kids area of the park, Bugs Bunny Boomtown with a new name, Looney Tunes Adventure Camp. Whistlestop Park has been closed off.
  • 2016: Six Flags New England unannouncedly removed Flying Aces before the beginning of the 2016 season leaving the New England Express as the sole operating attraction.
  • 2019: Six Flags New England changed Whistlestop Park before the 2019 season to an all access area for Six Flags members service area. New England Express still operates. Sitting vacant for 4 years, Six Flags Over Georgia rethemed the area as Screampunk District and added Pandemonium.
  • 2023-2024: Six Flags America removed the kids area from their park maps and none of the rides open with the park and currently is Standing but not operating. Sky Jumper was removed and relocated to Six Flags Over Texas.

Locations

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Locations with a Whistlestop Park
Location First Season Last Season Notes
Six Flags Magic Mountain 2011 Replaced the Granny Gran Prix
Six Flags Over Georgia 2011 2015 Replaced the Déjà Vu roller coaster and was replaced by Pandemonium
Six Flags New England 2013 2018 Replaced by the Six Flags Member Plaza entrance area, with one attraction still operating
Six Flags America 2011 2022

Attractions

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Current

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Attraction name Ride type Locations[note 1] Notes
Magic Flyer Chance roller coaster Six Flags Magic Mountain Operating since 1971. The roller coaster has been renamed 5 different times
New England Express Miniature train ride Six Flags New England Operating since 2007, originally as Thomas the Tank Engine until 2010. Ride reopened and was renamed in 2013
Whistlestop Train Miniature train ride Six Flags Magic Mountain Operating since 2008, originally as Thomas the Tank Engine until 2010. Renamed in 2011

Former

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Attraction name Ride type Locations[note 2] Notes
Flying Aces Biplane Ride Six Flags New England Operated for two seasons from 2014-2015
Happy Junction Convoy ride Six Flags America Operated as Diesel Derby in 2010 and operated as Happy Junction from 2011 to 2022
Sky Jumper Hopper Six Flags America Operated as Cranky the Crane in 2010 and operated as Sky Jumper from 2011 to 2022
Splash Zone Water play area Six Flags America Operated as Thomas Town Pop Jet Fountain in 2010 and operated as Splash Zone from 2011 to 2022
Up, Up & Away Junior Ferris wheel Six Flags America Operated from 1993 to 2022. The Ferris wheel has been renamed 4 different times
Whistlestop Bus Line Bus ride Six Flags America Operated as Bertie the Bus in 2010 and operated as Whistlestop Bus Line from 2011 to 2022
Six Flags New England Operated from 2007 to 2010
Whistlestop Park Playground Playground Six Flags America Operated as Thomas Town Play Structure in 2010 and operated as Whistlestop Park Playground from 2011 to 2022
Six Flags Over Georgia Operated as Thomas Town Play Structure from 2008 to 2010 and operated as Whistlestop Park Playground from 2011 to 2015
Whistlestop Train Miniature train ride Six Flags America Operated as Thomas the Tank Engine in 2010 and operated as Whistlestop Train from 2011 to 2022
Six Flags Over Georgia Operated as Thomas the Tank Engine from 2008 to 2010 and operated as Whistlestop Train from 2011 to 2013
Whistlestop Whirlybirds Rotating helicopter ride Six Flags America Operated as Harold the Helicopter in 2010 and operated as Whistlestop Whirlybirds from 2011 to 2022
Six Flags New England Operated as Harold the Helicopter from 2007 to 2010

See also

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Notes and references

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Notes
  1. ^ Locations will only include attractions located within Whistlestop Park, and will not include other locations if the same attraction is located at a different park under a different themed area.
  2. ^ Locations will only include attractions located within Whistlestop Park, and will not include other locations if the same attraction is located at a different park under a different themed area.
References
  1. ^ "Six Flags Provides Game Plan for 2007". Six Flags. December 12, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  2. ^ "The Next Stop on this Train is Six Flags, as Parks Welcome Thomas & Friends to Two Locations in 2007". Six Flags. February 28, 2007. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  3. ^ Starrett, Charles (November 2, 2007). "Six Flags Magic Mountain announces 2008 rides". lifthill. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  4. ^ "Thomas Town rolls into Six Flags Over Georgia". Atlanta Business Chronicle. May 12, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  5. ^ Starrett, Charles (February 10, 2010). "Thomas Town to open at Six Flags America this summer". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  6. ^ MacDonald, Brady (November 25, 2010). "Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers". LA Times. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  7. ^ MacDonald, Brady (December 3, 2010). "Six Flags Magic Mountain renaming Terminator wooden coaster". LA Times. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  8. ^ "Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Kids Rides". Six Flags. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  9. ^ "Six Flags New England Kids Rides". Six Flags. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  10. ^ a b "How come thomas town isn't on the website anymore?". Six Flags New England. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  11. ^ MacDonald, Brady (January 18, 2011). "Five 'new' coasters coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain? Not so fast". News Article. Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ "Six Flags Magic Mountain Kids Rides". Six Flags. Retrieved December 25, 2010.
  13. ^ Six Flags Over Georgia (February 23, 2012). "Remove Whistlestop Train..." Facebook. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
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