by Sheila-Ann Bender

Created on: July 24, 2008   Last Updated: July 26, 2008

When Angus Wynne, Jr. decided that Texas should have its own version of Disneyland, life became so much better for children like me, who were already born by August 1st, 1961and for all the future generations yet to come. We owe a huge debt to that oil tycoon and real estate developer who had a big dream of a stationary theme park in his own home state.

Today, Mr. Wynne's dream is very much still alive. The Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas is considered the entertainment capital of Texas, filled with over 100 total rides. Thousands of visitors visit the world's first theme park daily.

HISTORY OF THE NAME
Since Europeans first entered this country almost five hundred years ago, six flags have flown over the state of Texas at one time or another: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and Texas as an independent state. The term "Six Flags" was popularized by the 1897 book entitled "Under Six Flags: The Story of Texas".

Legend has it that Wynne originally wanted to name his theme park "Texas Under Six Flags", but his wife told him, "Texas isn't under anything!" Thus, it was named "Six Flags Over Texas" instead.

SIZE AND LOCATION
Mr. Wynne and his partners (Great Southwest Development and a group of New York investors) chose 212 lush acres of land in Arlington, just east of Ft. Worth and 15 miles west of today's Dallas.

SIGNIFICANT "FIRSTS"
First Theme Park in the nation (1961)
First amusement park to introduce one price admission ticket for rides AND Broadway type shows (1961)
First Log Flume (El Aserradero) 1963
First Mine Trail Roller Coaster (The Runaway Mine Train) 1966
First Roller Coaster with Consecutive Loops (Shock Wave) 1978
First Freefall Ride (Texas Cliffhanger, later renamed Wildcatter) 1982

AWARDS:
Tallest (245') and Fastest (85 mph) Roller Coaster in Texas (Titan)
Tallest (325') Freefall Combo Tower in the World (Superman: Tower of Power)
Largest (300') Land-based Oil Derrick
World's Best Wooden Roller Coaster of 1999 (Texas Giant)

SPECIAL EVENTS
Six Flags Over Texas-Arlington hosts a number of special events during the off-seasons (non-summer). Two of the most popular are Fright Fest (during the Halloween season) and Holiday in the Park (during the winter holiday season, November-January). For each event, the park is dressed up for the holiday it is commemorating, and limited rides are open that fit in with the holiday theme. Prices are a little less for these events (included in season ticket prices) and hours of operation are shorter.

In keeping with the Texas tradition of bigger is always better', on January 20, 2008, it was announced that the biggest single expansion in theme park history would happen with the addition of ten rides to Six Flags Over Texas-Arlington. The first roller coaster to be added to the park in seven years (Tony Hawk's Big Spin) was added on May 17, 2008.

My favorite childhood memories have always been centered around carnival rides, and I fondly remember the time my parents took me and a group of cousins to Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington the very first year it opened. The little girl inside of this writer still loves amusement parks, and Six Flags Over Texas-Arlington is still my favorite theme/amusement park in the universe. If you haven't visited it yet, plan a vacation there soon. Your children will remember the trip as fondly as I still remember mine.

Sources:
www.sixflags.com
www.en.wikipedia.org/wi ki/Six_Flags_Over_Texas
www.associatedcontent.com/art icle/5521/six_flags_over_Texas_the_history_behind.ht ml

Learn more about this author, Sheila-Ann Bender.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.