Editor’s note: The video attached to this article is from a segment on Six Flags Great America that preceded WGN’s morning news.
Six Flags Entertainment, the parent company that owns Six Flags Great America in north suburban Gurnee, announced in a press release Thursday that it has reached an agreement to sell seven of its parks as part of the company’s plan to “optimize and enhance (its) park portfolio.”
Great America is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary season this year, but it is not among the parks for sale in the parent company’s portfolio, which now includes 34 parks in 23 locations across North America.
Coastal vacation with Marcus Leshock
The parks being sold are Michigan Adventure in Muskegon, Michigan; Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Galveston, Texas; Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, New York; Six Flags La Ronde in Montreal, Quebec; Six Flags St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri; Valleyfair in Minneapolis; and World of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri.
Six Flags said the parks are being sold to EPR Properties for a total cash consideration of $331 million.
Coastal State: Six Flags Great America cancels rides and cleans out Cartoon Camp family area ahead of 50th anniversary season
“Consistent with our strategy, this divestiture allows us to focus our capital, leadership and operational focus on assets that we believe will generate the strongest returns and provide the greatest long-term upside,” Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly said in the release.
“Since joining the company, it has been clear to me that Six Flags’ profitability has not been fully realized. This transaction will simplify our portfolio, strengthen our balance sheet and allow us to execute with greater clarity and discipline.”
No, according to Six Flags, they will continue to operate, just under different ownership.
Six Flags said EPR Properties “will work with experienced operators … to ensure a smooth, seamless transition.” Those partners include Enchanted Parks at Six Parks in the U.S. and La Ronde Operations, Inc. in La Ronde, Quebec.
According to Six Flags, all seven parks will continue to operate normally through the 2026 season. Additionally, Six Flags said all 2026 season passes and active memberships will be available year-round, including multi-park admission.
So if you purchased a Six Flags all-park season pass this year, it will still be good for those parks despite the upcoming sale
“We are confident in the future of these parks under the management of EPR and its operating partners, who have extensive experience managing parks of this size,” Six Flags said in a post on its website explaining the changes.
“At the same time, this decision allows Six Flags to invest more deeply in parks with the greatest opportunities for growth and innovation.”
Well, as Six Flags says, there should be more investment.
The changes come during a tumultuous time for the company, which was created when the former Six Flags merged with the former Cedar Fair on July 1, 2024, making the current Six Flags the largest regional amusement park operator in North America.
However, Six Flags is seeing a decline in attendance and revenue in 2025 for a number of reasons, especially in the first half of this year. The company posted huge losses in the second quarter of last year, leading to the ouster of former president and CEO Richard Zimmerman.
In October, a group that included activist investor Jana Partners and NFL star Travis Kelce announced that it had amassed one of the largest stakes in Six Flags and intended to pressure the company’s leadership to improve the business amid a poor quarterly earnings report.
Reilly was named to lead the company shortly after the news was announced. Six Flags later reported a net loss for 2025 in its year-end earnings report.
Separately, a federal class action lawsuit has been filed against Six Flags, alleging that the former Six Flags company misled investors about the condition of its parks, leading to its merger with the former Cedar Fair Company.
Read more: Latest Chicago News and Headlines
Lowey Dannenberg PC, a law firm that specializes in obtaining compensation for consumers and investors, announced in November that it had notified Six Flags of the lawsuit.
With all this in mind, it’s no surprise that the company is looking to sell some of its underperforming parks. Six Flags, which retains 34 parks in its portfolio, including Great America, said in its web post that its focus will be:
-
“Invest in new rides and attractions.”
-
“Upgrading park infrastructure and technology.”
-
“Enhancing the guest experience with more immersive entertainment.”
-
“Introducing innovation to make every visit more memorable.”
“Our goal remains the same: deliver excitement, create memories and deliver the fun that only Six Flags can bring,” the company said. “This next chapter is not just about creating a more focused company, but about unlocking our full potential and building a stronger Six Flags for our guests, team members and communities.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.