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California's Great America will close after its 2027 season

· By Theme Park Spot

The two-level Carousel Columbia behind a flower bed spelling California's Great America, in Santa Clara, California, in 2015
Carousel Columbia at California's Great America in 2015.Image: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Six Flags Entertainment announced on November 6, 2026, that 2027 will be the final season at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California. The park plans to open for what it calls a Farewell Season in March 2027 and to close for good after Labor Day, September 6, 2027. Operating days and hours for 2027 have not been announced.

"For more than five decades, this Santa Clara theme park has brought people together," said Dave Vosejpka, the park's manager. The park opened in 1976 and, according to Six Flags, has welcomed tens of millions of guests. It has more than 50 rides, including the wooden roller coaster Gold Striker, and the South Bay Shores water park.

Why it is closing

Six Flags does not own the land. Cedar Fair, the park's previous owner, sold the property to the real estate company Prologis in 2022 for $310 million and leased it back. Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags in 2024. According to a Six Flags statement, the lease expires in June 2028 and will not be renewed; it included an option to extend it by five years. At the company's 2025 investor day, then chief financial officer Brian Witherow said the park's profits were very low and that, without an extension, it would close after the 2027 season.

Gold and Prestige season passes for 2027 also include visits to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Six Flags closed another park, Six Flags America in Maryland, after its 2025 season; its last day was November 2, 2025.

In this story

Sources

  • sixflags.com/blog/santa-clara-theme-park-will-celebrate-fina... (Official Six Flags announcement: 2027 is the Farewell Season and final year; opens March 2027 and ends Labor Day 2027; operating days and hours to be announced later; opened 1976; tens of millions of guests; 2027 Gold or Prestige Passes include Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo; Dave Vosejpka, park manager, quote.)
  • ktla.com/news/california/california-amusement-park-closing-p... (KTLA: park officials announced the closure on Friday, November 6, 2026; final day September 6, 2027 (Labor Day); Cedar Fair sold the land to Prologis in 2022 for $310 million and leased it back; lease runs to mid-2028 with an option to extend to mid-2033 (per the Los Angeles Times); Six Flags decided not to extend after the 2024 merger.)
  • ktvu.com/news/californias-great-america-announces-2027-will-... (KTVU, November 9, 2026: close on Sept. 6, 2027; Six Flags statement that the land lease expires in June 2028 and will not be renewed, five-year renewal option not exercised; Cedar Fair sold the land to Prologis in 2022 for $310 million and leased it back; Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags in 2024; former CFO Brian Witherow at 2025 Investor Day on very low profits and the park's last year without an extension being after 2027; more than 50 rides including the wooden Gold Striker; South Bay Shores water park.)
  • blooloop.com/news/six-flags-california-park-closure (Trade press, November 9, 2026: land sold in 2022 and leased back, lease expires June 2028 and will not be extended; Farewell Season March 2027 to Labor Day, September 6, 2027; opened 1976; more than 50 rides and attractions.)
  • patch.com/maryland/bowie/six-flags-officially-closed-after-5... (Patch, November 4, 2025: Six Flags America's last day of operation was Sunday, November 2, 2025.)

Written by Theme Park Spot from the announcement listed under Sources. Plans and opening dates can change; check the park's own website for the latest.