‘Superheroes are what get people excited right now’
Six Flags Great America embraces the DC Universe
Holy rebrand, Batman. Those looking to kick off summer this Memorial Day weekend with a trip to Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor will find some new faces this year, although chances are this won’t be their first introduction to these costumed crusaders.
This season marks the opening of the DC Universe, a newly re-imagined section of the park that features superheroes and villains from the popular comic book franchise.
Six Flags Great America has long been home to rides based on comic book characters — Batman: The Ride, the world’s first “suspended outside-looping roller coaster,” debuted at the park in 1992. But this redevelopment has created a new portion of the park dedicated to characters of the DC Comics universe.
“It’s the largest update to the park, both the dry park and Hurricane Harbor, in recent memory,” said Caitlin Kepple, communications and marketing manager at Six Flags Great America. “We’re so excited to be welcoming people back to the park with this immersive experience.”
Located in an area formerly known as Yankee Harbor, the DC Universe includes five superhero-themed rides, as well as restaurants, shopping and an extended patio area for relaxing between adventures.
The two roller coasters remaining are the already DC-branded Batman: The Ride and The Joker. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Batman: The Ride takes riders suspended from the rails — think a ski chairlift — 10 stories high, and reaches a top speed of 55 mph.
The Joker is a more recent addition, debuting in 2017. It gives riders the thrill of nothing above or below them as they’re strapped into a vehicle and taken through a series of maniacal twists and turns. (Think of that same ski chairlift, but this time attached to the track at the side rather than above or below.) Two 90-degree drops give the riders the sensation of free-falling.
The three newly imagined attractions include The Flash: Vertical Velocity, Aquaman Splashdown and the Super-Villains Swing.
The Flash ride is another high-tech coaster in which people are suspended below the track and ride back and forth along a U-shaped route. It starts by accelerating from zero to 70 mph in four seconds, taking riders to the top of a 185-foot vertical tower, where the ride stalls, and then runs backward down the track to rise to the top of a matching tower.
Those who aren’t inclined to put their bodies through such contortions may appreciate the other two rides more, both of which were original to the park in 1976.
The Aquaman Splashdown is the new name of the traditional log flume, which offers a winding ride with excellent skyline views before plunging down a final, 60-foot drop to a splashy finish. The Super-Villain Swing resembles the carnival staple, in which people sit in a swing that rises above the ground and then is spun in a circle.
“It’s nice that we were able to incorporate some of the rides that have been part of the park’s history,” Kepple said. “We’re known for our roller coasters, but that’s just a small part of what we have here.
“We want families to be comfortable here,” she said. “We want them to make memories, and superheroes are what get people excited right now.”
In addition to the rides, the DC Universe features four dining areas, including turning what was formerly Capone’s Kitchen into the Steelworks Pub.
“It’s got a nice beer garden, with a big patio, which will be the place people want to go to relax whether you’re chaperoning young ones or just between thrills yourself,” Kepple said.
The other DC-themed restaurants include Gotham City Snacks, Central City Snacks and Captain Cold Ice Cream.
Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor will be open daily starting Memorial Day weekend.
At a sneak-peak event to preview the new DC Universe section, several members of Special Olympics Illinois were among those on hand to give the newly themed roller coasters a whirl. The organization holds its Coaster Challenge fundraiser in September, in which participants pledge to ride roller coasters in the park enough times to add up to various distances, ranging from a 5K to a 26.2-mile marathon. They gave the new Flash ride high marks.
“I’ve been on other ones in the park before, and this one was the fastest,” said Ava Krall, who plans to participate in the coaster challenge this fall. “It’s a little scary, but mostly just fun.”