One of California’s top theme parks will close permanently next year, ending more than five decades of cross-generational entertainment.
Operator Six Flags Entertainment Corporation has confirmed that the Santa Clara, California park will mark its final year with a Farewell Season, giving visitors one last chance to experience its rides, attractions, and seasonal events before operations end on Labor Day.
The announcement ends years of uncertainty surrounding the park’s future, following the decision not to renew its existing land lease, which expires in June 2028.
The Farewell Season will begin in March 2027, with Six Flags planning a programme of experiences celebrating the park’s history and its relationship with generations of visitors.
California’s Great America first opened in 1976 as part of the United States’ Bicentennial celebrations. Since then, the destination has welcomed tens of millions of guests, becoming an established part of the Bay Area’s leisure and entertainment offering.
Throughout its final season, the park will encourage visitors to return to favourite attractions, revisit family traditions and share memories of their experiences through activities at the park and across its digital and social media channels.
Dave Vosejpka, Park Manager of California’s Great America, said: “For more than five decades, this Santa Clara theme park has brought people together, created family traditions and served as the backdrop for unforgettable memories.
“The Farewell Season is an opportunity for generations of Bay Area guests to return, spend time with family and friends, and revisit the attractions and traditions that have made the park in Santa Clara, California such a meaningful part of the community.”
Reasoning behind the closure
The announcement brings an end to a period of uncertainty that has surrounded California’s Great America since 2022, when the park’s underlying land was sold by its then-owner, Cedar Fair, to property company Prologis for $310 million.
The transaction allowed the park to continue operating through a lease agreement, with the existing arrangement due to expire in June 2028. The agreement also included an option to extend the lease for a further period, but the company subsequently confirmed it would not pursue a renewal.
Cedar Fair later merged with Six Flags in 2024, creating the combined Six Flags Entertainment Corporation that now operates the park.
The decision to conclude operations in September 2027 means California’s Great America will close several months before the existing lease expires.
Although the closure date is now confirmed, the future of the site and its attractions after the park ceases trading has not been detailed by Six Flags in its announcement.
The Farewell Season will therefore provide the park with one final operating year before the end of its presence in Santa Clara. The move follows the corporation’s decision to close an additional park, Six Flags America and its water park Hurricane Harbor Maryland, last year.
Final opportunity to experience the park
Six Flags is encouraging visitors to make the most of the final season through its 2027 Gold and Prestige season passes, both of which include unlimited admission to California’s Great America throughout its last year of operation.
The passes also provide access to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California, giving passholders an alternative destination within the company’s portfolio.
Discovery Kingdom combines amusement park attractions with animal and marine life experiences, allowing visitors to encounter a variety of animals alongside its rides and entertainment.
The inclusion of the neighbouring destination provides an additional benefit for existing California’s Great America visitors who want to continue visiting a Six Flags park after the Santa Clara property closes.
The 2027 passes are available through the California’s Great America website.
End of an era
California’s Great America opened in 1976 and has remained a feature of the Santa Clara landscape for more than 50 years, welcoming families, school groups and visitors from across the region.
Its final season will give the park an opportunity to celebrate that history while providing one last chance for guests to experience its attractions and traditions.
The Farewell Season is scheduled to begin in March 2027 and conclude on Monday 6 September, coinciding with the United States’ Labor Day holiday.
Further information about the programme, operating calendar and season passes will be made available through the park’s official website as preparations continue for its final year.
