Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Iron Rattler before and after its conversion in 2013, showcasing the profile of the first drop before 2013 and after. The renovated ride features a steeper and longer first drop. It also features a steel (I-Box) track with wooden supports (hybrid).

Before Six Flags Fiesta Texas opened in 1992, the park used to be the site of a limestone quarry created in 1934.[2] The portion where Fiesta Texas is located was depleted in 1988 and the land was available for development.[3]

A development team consisted of property owner USAA Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of the USAA insurance company and Gaylord Entertainment Company, a company that owned Opryland USA, a theme park in Nashville, Tennessee. When the initial ownership group began investigating a possible major theme park development in San Antonio, Texas, they faced significant competition in the Texas market. There were similarly established Six Flags parks in Arlington and Houston. Based on the competition, the development team believed the opportunity in San Antonio (an established regional leisure destination) was there and that the stable, slow growth direction of the theme park industry in the U.S. was in their favor.[1]

The concept plan and master plan were developed by FORREC International based in Toronto. FORREC handed over a detailed design of the project to San Antonio-based architecture and engineering groups: Benham/Jones Kell and Pape Dawson. Actual construction of the theme park took approximately 23 months, running from early 1990 to the park's opening in March 1992.[1] Construction of the theme park was overseen by a joint venture of two general contractors, Lyda Inc. of San Antonio and Manhattan Construction Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The park had four theme sections; Crackaxle Canyon, Los Festivales, Spassburg and Rockville, along with a water park called, Ol' Waterin' Hole. In its third season, 1994, Fiesta Texas added a new themed area, Fiesta Bay Boardwalk, with multiple new rides and attractions including a Ferris wheel, swinging ship, scrambler, and a roller-skating pavilion.[4]

Time Warner took over management and operations of Fiesta Texas in 1996 and added the Six Flags name to the park, while USAA remained as the sole owner. Premier Parks, which acquired the Six Flags theme park chain from Time Warner, purchased Fiesta Texas from USAA in October 1998.[5][6] In 1999, Fiesta Texas saw the biggest expansion ever in park history with more than 10 new rides and water rides, as well a rename of the water park to Armadillo Beach. With the infusion of new rides, the park saw its annual attendance increase by more than one million visitors.[4] Also in 1999, Six Flags Fiesta Texas was awarded Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Award for Best Shows in the theme park industry. The park continued to receive the award every year until 2008.[7]

Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced the rename and expansion to its water park to White Water Bay in 2006, with the water park's largest expansion.

The Six Flags company began the process of removing licensed theming company wide across its theme parks from attractions that the park had built in previous years. Six Flags Fiesta Texas had to rename and retheme seven rides as well as the kids theme area from Wiggles World to Kidzopolis, all in time for the 2011 season.[8][9]

In 2019, the park begin (for the first time in its history), operating at a year-round schedule. Before 2019, Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas both ran their operating seasons from March to the end of the year. For the first time since 1994, Six Flags Fiesta Texas will be opening up its sixth new theme area to the park, DC Universe, which will include most of the already established DC Comics themed rides, along with the new ride to the park, The Joker Carnival of Chaos in 2019.[10][11]

A day before the park's 28th anniversary (March 13, 2020), Six Flags suspended all operations across all their properties due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] During the time of closure, the park has donated food and supplies to a local hospital and food bank.[13] On June 4, Six Flags announced the park would reopen on June 19 to members and season pass holders, and to the general public on June 22.[14][15]

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is currently divided into five themed areas along with an adjacent water park, White Water Bay.

Los Festivales

Goliath located in Los Festivales

Los Festivales is a Spanish themed area that guests first encounter upon entering Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It was one of the original themed sections when the park opened in 1992 and is dedicated to the rich Hispanic culture that is integral to San Antonio.

Among the first things upon entering Los Festivales from the front gate is Goliath, which dominates the visible skyline. The area also features Boomerang, which is seen as the "centerpiece" of the area. Los Festivales is home to two theater venues, the Teatro Fiesta and the Zaragoza Theatre.

The Zaragoza Theatre is known for the park's most popular shows during the summer months, as well as Creature Feature during the park's annual Fright Fest event and The Majesty of Christmas during Holiday in the Park. Los Festivales is home to one sit down restaurant that caters to the area during certain events, La Cantina.

Crackaxle Canyon

The Gully Washer located in Crackaxle Canyon

Crackaxle Canyon is themed after a 1920s Texan boomtown. It can be entered from neighboring areas Los Festivales and Spassburg. The area is home to Iron Rattler, the tallest roller coaster in the park, as well as six other attractions such as Road Runner Express and The Gully Washer.

Crackaxle Canyon is home to two theater venues, Lone Star Lil's Amphitheater and the Sundance Theatre. Lone Star Lil's Amphitheater is known for Mayor Slayer's Monster Mash Bash, a show during Fright Fest and a host site to watch the end of the day fireworks during the summer months. Iron Rattler and Gunslinger are the two newest rides added to the area which were added in 2013.

Crackaxle Canyon is also home to two sit-down restaurants, Bubba's and Canyon Smokehouse, along with a Chop Six location, which serves Asian cuisine.

Spassburg

A welcome sign to Spassburg

Spassburg is themed after a German village, and is dedicated to German heritage in Texas. Spassburg also has a kids sub-section called, Kidzopolis. The area can be entered from Los Festivales, Crackaxle Canyon and Rockville.

The village is home to Superman: Krypton Coaster, one of the world's first floorless roller coasters as well as thirteen other attractions such as Bugs' White Water Rapids and SkyScreamer. Spassburg is also home to two theater venues, Sangerfest Halle and a character encounter building in Kidzopolis.

Sangerfest Halle is home to many shows throughout the year as well as a food court offering a wide range of food. SkyScreamer is the newest ride added to the area which was added in 2012. Spassburg has two sit-down restaurants that cater to the area, Johnny Rockets and Sangerfest Halle. In 2016 the park added a virtual reality experience to Superman: Krypton Coaster.

Rockville

Looking towards Rockville

Rockville is a fictional town themed to the 1950s. Rockville can be entered from Spassburg with a railroad crossing at both of the entrances. The area is home to Batman: The Ride, the world's first 4D Free Spin roller coaster as well as eight other attractions such as Poltergeist and Scream. Rockville is home to Rockville High, an indoor theater that is themed to a high school. Batman: The Ride and Soaring Eagle Zipline are the two newest rides added to Rockville which were both added in 2015. The area has two sit-down restaurants that cater to the area — Pete's Eats and Primo's Pizzeria. Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster is a steel roller coaster located in this area that opened on May 12, 2018.

Fiesta Bay Boardwalk

Fiesta Bay Boardwalk Marquee

Fiesta Bay Boardwalk is themed to a boardwalk setting. The area is the only area of the park that has an entrance before entering the boardwalk. The boardwalk is home to Pandemonium, a spinning roller coaster, and seven other attractions. Fiesta Bay Boardwalk was established in 1994 and was the last themed area created in the park. The planks of the boardwalk were replaced in 2016 and the area was updated. The newest additions to the area were three new rides: Fireball, Hurricane Force 5, and Spinsanity. Johnny Rockets is the main restaurant in the area.

The Six Flags bus in front of Rockville High, June 2004

Six Flags Fiesta Texas has featured numerous forms of in-park entertainment throughout its history. The park generally has kept the theme of the shows to the location of the theater, such as country & western shows at the Sundance Theatre in Crackaxle Canyon and the former Rockin' At Rockville High show (a 1950s style show) at the Rockville High Theater.

Guests of the park are welcomed by a wide array of characters and performers all throughout the park such as, characters from the Looney Tunes universe to the superheroes of DC Comics. From 2009 to late 2010, another brand of characters from the Wiggles would also greet guest in the park in, before Six Flags had dropped the license to carry on the brand.[16]

Fiesta Texas’ is known for having some of the best shows in America and was awarded by Amusement Today the Golden Ticket Award for “best theme park shows” for ten straight years from 1999 to 2008. Several of the shows have won individual awards like “Best Sports Show of 2005" (Xcelleration)[17] and IAAPA's Brass Ring Award for "best show with a production value of $25,000–$50,000" (Mayor Slayer's Monster Mash Bash).

Six Flags Fiesta Texas hosts a number of events for different holidays all throughout the operating season that often draws thousands of visitors to the park.

• Fright Fest (September–October) takes over the park with ghouls and monsters that wander around the park for the Halloween season. From Thrills by Day to Fright by Night, the park hosts themed live shows, scare zones and haunted houses. In 2020, the park reimagined their Halloween event to Hallowfest, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The change from Fright Fest to Hallowfest, includes no haunted houses and indoor shows.[18][19]

• Holiday in the Park (November–January), transforms the park during the Christmas season with millions of different lights scattered throughout the park. From Santa Claus to themed rides such as Frostee's Skating Rink. Started as Lone Star Christmas in the 1990s before the cancellation of the event after the 1997 season, but was reinstated for the 2007 season and years to come as Holiday in the Park.

• Mardi Gras (January–March), a New Orleans–style Mardi Gras celebration throughout the park. A nightly parade with employees of the park and park-goers on many themed floats.

• Official website
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas at the Roller Coaster DataBase