A massive wave of changes is coming to theme parks across the United States—and it all starts with Six Flags. Following the company’s high-profile merger with Cedar Fair, Six Flags Entertainment has announced the elimination of presidential roles at all 27 theme parks it owns nationwide, including Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Point, and Kings Island.
The sweeping decision follows the previously announced closure of Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in Bowie, Maryland. Both theme parks will close their gates for good after the 2025 season.
But the most immediate shake-up comes in leadership. On May 26, the Orange County Register confirmed that Knott’s Berry Farm President Jon Storbeck and Six Flags Magic Mountain President Jeff Harris had both been let go.
That’s just the beginning. “Six Flags Entertainment recently moved to a new regional operating structure,” a company statement read. “Under this new alignment, we have centralized certain functions and responsibilities at the corporate level. The company also made some changes to the roles and responsibilities of park leaders, sharpening the parks’ focus on execution, the guest experience and associates.”
While some former theme park presidents will remain with the company in new roles, others are out completely. The restructuring eliminates the park president position at every Six Flags-owned property in the United States, including major parks like Kings Dominion, Carowinds, California’s Great America, and more.
The cuts extend beyond leadership. At four California theme park locations, 135 full-time roles will either be eliminated or reclassified. Depending on availability, impacted employees will receive either a severance package or a new role. The workforce reduction is expected to conclude by the end of June 2025.
This move follows Six Flags’ earlier announcement that 10 percent of corporate staff would be laid off following the merger. The decision was part of a broader effort to streamline operations and improve efficiency under a new business model that favors centralized management.
While the full effects of these changes remain to be seen, it’s clear that guests at 27 theme parks across the country will see a new version of their favorite destinations in the coming year.
How could Six Flags improve its theme parks? Share your ideas with Disney Dining in the comments!
