DC Universe (Six Flags Great America)

For other similarly-named themed areas, see DC Universe.

DC Universe
Park	Six Flags Great America
Theme	DC Comics
Soft opened	April 23, 2022
Opened	May 29, 2022
Replaced	Yankee Harbor

DC Universe is an area at Six Flags Great America, based on DC Comics. It was officially opened on May 29, 2022 for the 46th anniversary of the park and replaced Yankee Harbor, a New England themed-area which closed at the end of the previous season.

DC Universe is the second area at Six Flags Great America to be based on DC Comics, after Metropolis Plaza, which opened in 2016.

History

Background

On May 29, 1976, Yankee Harbor opened as part as one of the five original areas at Six Flags Great America. Based off of Cape Cod, the New England themed area had five original rides, two of which, Whirligig and Yankee Clipper still operated on Yankee Harbor's last season in 2021.

The first DC Comics themed ride to be added to DC Universe was Batman: The Ride, a one-of-a-kind inverted coaster by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) in 1992. It was B&M's second project at Six Flags Great America & overall, and their first inverted coaster. The second would be The Joker: Free Fly Coaster, a S&S - Sansei Technologies "Free Fly Coaster" that replaced East River Crawler in 2017.

Teasers

In 2021, the theme park closed down Vertical Velocity early before its Fright Fest event, to be repainted to a red and yellow color scheme. The sign outside of the ride's entrance hinted at a Flash theme. The park had also removed all of Whirligig's ride pieces during Holiday in the Park Lights.

In 2022, Six Flags announced in their 2021 annual report that Yankee Harbor would be re-themed to DC Universe, with three rides being re-themed, along with the other existing DC Comics-themed rides, The Joker and Batman: The Ride. The park had not formally announced it themselves at the time, but hinted at an announcement due to an event on their website showing up as a "2022 Capital Announcement."

Announcement

The area was announced on March 24, 2022. In addition to the already existing DC-themed rides, Batman: The Ride and The Joker, it also included three other re-imagined attractions including:

• The Flash: Vertical Velocity, an impulse coaster themed to The Flash that was formerly known as Vertical Velocity.
• AQUAMAN Splashdown, a flume ride themed to Aquaman that was formerly known as Yankee Clipper.
• DC Super-Villains Swing, a swing ride themed to DC Comics super-villains that was formerly known as Whirligig.

The park would also include new dining options, such as selling Dole Whip treats at Captain Cold Ice Cream near The Flash: Vertical Velocity and alcoholic items at Steelworks Pub. The area would also include shading spots and would remove the building that formerly housed Antique Photo Emporium and Yankee Glow to open up the pathway. The area was originally planned to be opened on Friday, April 15 for the start of the 2022 season, but was not ready in time due to inclement weather and "supply chain issues". The area was soft-opened in the following week on Saturday, April 23 with only the existing Batman and Joker rides operating. However, the area was not officially opened until the following May 29th, when all the rides had been re-themed in time for the Memorial Day holiday.

The Flash: Vertical Velocity during repainting

The Flash: Vertical Velocity was the first ride of the three re-imagined rides to re-open, which opened on May 7, 2022. DC Super-Villains Swing was the second ride of the three, opening on May 27. Two days later, AQUAMAN Splashdown was the last to open on May 29, 2022, coinciding with Six Flags Great America's 46th anniversary. As these rides started opening, the park added DC Universe theming to the Yukon Territory entrance and opening restaurants.

On June 21, 2022, the DC Universe archway was erected at the entrance from the Mardi Gras area, completing the DC Universe re-theme.

Attractions

• AQUAMAN Splashdown (opened 1976)
• Batman: The Ride (opened 1992)
• DC Super-Villains Swing (opened 1976)
• The Flash: Vertical Velocity (opened 2001)
• The Joker (opened 2017)

Shopping

• DC Universe Store

Restaurants

• Steelworks Pub
• Central City Snacks
• Gotham City Snacks
• Captain Cold Ice Cream

Gaming

• Gaming House (expected to open in 2023)

Former

• Gotham City Arcade (closed 2022)

Reception

Six Flags Great America's DC Universe has generally received mixed reviews. John Gregory of the Theme Park Tribune criticized Six Flags Great America and the addition of DC Universe, calling it an insult to guests. They also stated the park "dishonestly [sold] new paint and signs as 'the largest and most exciting park enhancement in recent memory.'" Overall, the re-theme was given a D- by Gregory. Brhett Vickery of FOX6 Chicago called The Flash: Vertical Velocity a "fun" roller coaster with a "great view." Vickery also complimented how the area kept its' original rides while giving the rides a refresh. John of Coaster101 praised the new area, praising the “huge upgrade” and “improvement” the park gave into the area.

Trivia

• AQUAMAN Splashdown is the only original ride of DC Universe to have retained its original position in the park since park opening in 1976. DC Super-Villains Swing, another original ride located in the area, was relocated two times within the park.
• All ride names in the area share names with other rides in the Six Flags chain.
• Batman's Batmobile was refurbished during the re-theme process.
• The DC Universe sign near Mardi Gras' entrance has two sides, the front for the superheroes and the back for the supervillains.
• Three buildings were demolished to complete the DC Universe renovation, two near the Yukon Territory entrance and one near DC Super-Villains Swing's entrance.

Gallery

Videos

Six Flags Great America DC UNIVERSE

Concept images

Rendering of the DC Universe entrance from Yukon Territory

Rendering of the DC Universe entrance from Mardi Gras

Rendering of the central plaza

AQUAMAN Splashdown sign mockup

DC Super-Villains Swing rendering

Photos

The area was not ready in time for the park's season opening on April 15, 2022

DC Universe entrance from Yukon Territory during soft opening

DC Universe entrance with new signage

The sign for AQUAMAN Splashdown sign

DC Super-Villains Swing

References

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Carousel Plaza Columbia Carousel • Sky Trek Tower • Maxx Force • Flags • Victory Lane Orleans Place Superman: Ultimate Flight • The Dark Knight Coaster • Condor • Rue Le Dodge Mardi Gras Roaring Rapids • Big Easy Balloons DC Universe Batman: The Ride • The Flash: Vertical Velocity • The Joker • AQUAMAN Splashdown • DC Super-Villains Swing • Steelworks Pub • Central City Snacks • Gotham City Snacks • Captain Cold Ice Cream• DC Universe Store Yukon Territory Logger's Run • Winner's Circle • Little Dipper • Cartoon Cabin • Wizards Workshop • Maw & Paw's Trail Grub • Mooseburger Lodge • Claim Jumpers Chicken Metropolis Plaza Justice League: Battle for Metropolis County Fair American Eagle • Goliath • Demon • Fiddler's Fling • X-Flight • Sky Striker • Wrath of Rakshasa • County Fair Food Court Hometown Square Hometown Fun Machine • Triple Play • Whizzer • The Lobster • Lady Bugs • Red Baron • Tot's Livery • Firehouse Snacks • Grand Music Hall Southwest Territory Raging Bull • Viper • Chubasco • Ricochet • River Rocker • Giant Drop • Mijo's Authentic Mexican Food • Fiesta Fries Cantina • The Oasis • El Mercado