Six Flags Darien Lake

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**Six Flags Darien Lake**

Location	Darien, New York
Website	Six Flags Darien Lake
Owner	Six Flags
Opened	1960s
Operating season	May through October
Area	980 acres (360 acres developed)
Rides	34 (excluding water park) total 6 roller coasters 3 water rides

Six Flags Darien Lake is a Six Flags theme park located between Buffalo and Rochester in Darien, New York, off the New York State Thruway (I-90). The park is now for sale.

1 History
2 Rides and Attractions
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

An older park logo.

The park first opened as just a campground without any amusement rides. In 1964, a pair of water slides called "Hydro Force" were added to the campground. Eventually, rides were added to the mix when investor Paul Snyder invested amusement rides into the park and called it "Snyder's Darien Lake." At first, the park had a country theme, earning it the nickname Darien Lake Fun Country. During the Fun Country years, the park became the showcase for Huss' flat rides. The park's first Roller Coaster, The Viper, was built by Huss and the now-defunct Arrow Dynamics and opened in 1982. At the time, it held the record for most inversions on a coaster. "The Ranger", another Huss ride, was added in 1982 as well. Eventually, in 1983, Snyder sold the park to Funtime Parks. The "Fun Country" theme, along with Snyder's name were dropped and the park operated as simply Darien Lake. The Funtime era brought the park numerous improvements, including the Vekoma-built "Fun Wheel" ferris wheel in 1983, which was the showcase of the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. At the time, the largest ferris wheel in the world. Other improvements of the late 1980's include a Kids' Area called "Adventureland" in 1987 and the Grizzly Run Rapids in 1989. The 1990's brought more improvemends such as the addition of the Barracuda Bay waterpark and the wooden roller coaster The Predator in 1990. In 1995, Funtime Parks was purchased by growing park chain Premier Parks (now Six Flags). Throughout the Premier era, the park experienced the most additions. Upgrades included three new coasters: the now-defunct Nightmare at Phantom Cave in 1996, Mind Eraser in 1997, and Boomerang: Coast to Coaster in 1998, along with the Popeye's Seaport themed kids area (now Looney Tunes Seaport), and two major waterpark additions (Hook's Lagoon and Crocodile Isle).

In May, 1999, the park opened for the first time under the Six Flags name after the numerous upgrades from the past few years. Millions of dollars were spent on adding Looney Tunes and DC Comics themed attractions. The most notable addition was Superman: Ride of Steel, the world's first Intamin Hypercoaster. A criticism of the Six Flags years at the park though were the lack of rides being added and poor customer service. Recently, Six Flags has announced that they will put Darien Lake, as well as five other theme parks, up for sale. It is uncertain at this time who the buyers might be, although in a radio interview on Buffalo, New York radio station WBEN on June 26, 2006, the park's original owner, Paul Snyder, told the interviewer that he has been in contact with Six Flags and was trying to buy the park. The park closed a month early for the 2006 season on October 1, 2006 due to Six Flags' fiscal situation after cutting park hours and closing several shows and attractions in August.

The park is the second largest in the Six Flags chain, along with the only on site campgrounds, and one of only two in the chain with their own hotel on site. The park also holds concerts at its performing arts center, the "Darien Lake Performing Arts Center".

[edit] Rides and Attractions

[edit] Roller Coasters

Boomerang: Coast to Coaster - Vekoma Boomerang coaster that flips riders forwards and back. Height/drop 116 ft.; speed 47 mph.
Brain Teaser - The park's only kiddie coaster.
The Mind Eraser - New York's only suspended looping coaster. Manufactured by Vekoma. Height 109 ft.; drop 87 ft.; speed 55 mph.
The Predator - New York's largest overall wooden roller coaster, made by the Dinn Corporation. Closed for rest of 2006, will reopen in 2007 after renovations. Height 95 ft.; drop 83 ft.; speed 50 mph.
Superman: Ride of Steel - One of the Northeast's tallest and fastest roller coasters. The ride takes riders up 208 feet and at speeds of 73 miles per hour. Designed by Intamin AG. Height 208 ft.; drop 205 ft.; speed 73 mph.
The Viper - The park's first major roller coaster, the ride was the first one anywhere to turn riders head over heels five times. Designed by S&S Arrow. Height 121 ft.; drop 75 ft.; speed 50 mph.

[edit] Water Park

The Big Kahuna water slide ride.

Big Kahuna - New to Darien Lake in 2006, Big Kahuna is a family tube slide relocated from Six Flags Astroworld.
Crocodile Isle - A large family wave pool.
Baracuda Bay - Four White Water West "tube slides" (two enclosed, two open) that replaced the old Rainbow Falls slide complex. Currently closed for the rest of 2006.

Aerial view of the Tornado.

Floodgate Falls - A cascade tube ride that has been closed for the rest of the 2006 season.
Hook's Lagoon - A huge, five story tall water playground with slides.
Tornado - ProSlide Tornado slide, riders go through a giant funnel.

[edit] Flat Rides

Bear Valley Bumper Buggies - Classic bumper cars attraction.
Giant Wheel - The icon of the park before the Six Flags era, the second largest Ferris Wheel in North America at 165 feet tall.
Grande Carousel - A carousel.
Haymaker - Small, spinning flat ride.
Lasso - Family wave swinger attraction.
Pirate - A swinging pirate ship ride situated on the lake.
Raging Seas - An intense spinning attraction.
Ranger - Inverting pirate ship attraction.
Rodeo Round-Up - A swinging and waving flat ride attraction; formerly the "Corn-Popper."
Scrambler - Classic spinning flat ride.
Silver Bullet - A 360 degree spinning ride that tilts; formerly the "Spinning Wheel."
Sleighride - Toboggan up and down the "slopes" of this intense ride.
Tin Lizzies - A relaxing antique car ride situated on the lakeside.
UFO - A HUSS UFO.
Twister - A Top Spin

[edit] Water Attractions

Grizzly Run - A soaking river rapids ride. It will be renovated, reopening in 2007
Shipwreck Falls - A soaking plunge ride that generates a 20 foot wave.
Thunder Rapids - A soaking log flume attraction.

[edit] Upcharge Attractions

These rides are not included in the admission price. Cost varies from ride to ride.

Boat Docks - Rent a paddle boat and paddle in the lake.
Miniature Golf - The park offers two different miniature golf courses.
Sky Coaster - An intense skydiving like attraction that soars 180 feet above the lake and rushes you at 70 mph.
Slingshot - A ride that catapults you to speeds of 80 mph and heights of 300 feet.
Watkins Glen Road Rally - Go-Karts attraction.
Turbobungy - A beefed-up version of the trampoline.