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New surprises from Six Flags Great Adventure to start 2024 season

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With the official start of spring just around the corner — and the busy Spring Break season — it is about time for New Jersey's ten-week theme park hiatus to come to an end.

For months, Six Flags Great Adventure has been rustling up excitement for the 2024 season. And with good reason — the park will celebrate its silver 50th anniversary on July 1.

The theme park is set to open weekends starting March 16, followed by daily operation for Spring Break from March 28 to April 7. The adjacent Hurricane Harbor Water Park is scheduled to open May 18.

New Jersey's largest theme park has faced a bumpy road in recent years, following a delayed 2020 opening due to the COVID pandemic, a dramatic shift in pricing policy to no longer serve as a "cheap daycare center," and after the El Toro roller coaster suffered a severe malfunction and extended closure. In November, Six Flags and Cedar Fair announced a merger that is expected to close this year.

New Park President Brian Bacica sums up the goal of Great Adventure's 50th anniversary season , pledging to remain "committed to innovation and thrilling adventures, blending the present with a nod to our 50-year history. Whether it’s a guest’s first visit or their 50th, everyone, regardless of their thrill level, will discover new attractions, enhanced park features, exciting events and nostalgic highlights within our resort destination."

A number of new attractions and features have been announced in recent months. And now we are getting a peek at some of the other updates and changes coming to Six Flags Great Adventure on opening day next weekend.

Already Announced

The entire complex now has a new name — Six Flags Great Adventure Resort — reflecting the four experiences now on-site, theme park, water park, safari park, and glamping resort/spa.

To celebrate its milestone 50th anniversary season, a grand celebration will kick off this summer including special character experiences and entertainment.

One special renovation for the 50th anniversary is the Dream Street Pathway at the park's original entrance. (Near the four big tents, between the Boardwalk and Frontier Adventures sections of the park.) The public can purchase commemorative engraved bricks to be installed along this new walkway.

In addition, some of the park's oldest rides — log flume and the Ferris wheel — have undergone extensive rehab work to reopen in 2024.

Now under construction and expected to open this summer, Great Adventure will welcome its 15th roller coaster, The Flash: Vertical Velocity . Packing a top speed of 60 mph, it was announced as the first "super boomerang coaster" in the Western Hemisphere.

At the end of the 2023 season, the Wild Safari Park closed as a drive-through experience . In 2024, a refreshed Safari Off-Road Adventure will once again offer guided tours from the theme park instead. Starting March 30.

Also brand new this year, the Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa will offer luxury "glamping" accommodations amid the Wild Safari Park along with VIP experiences. Reservations are now available. The resort opens June 14.

When Hurricane Harbor begins its operating season in May, we will finally see the grand opening of the delayed Splash Island family play structure. It promises seven waterslides for the littlest splashers.

Improvements to the toll plaza and parking lots have been underway too. That includes new preferred parking areas, upgraded electric vehicle charging stations, and a new Speedy Parking add-on.

New Surprises

In addition to the return of the Safari Off-Road Adventure from the theme park, a new Safari Base Camp at the Wild Safari entrance/exit. Guided tours will be available for non-theme park guests, in addition to retail, dining, a children's play area, and close-up animal experiences.

Some old familiar attractions will sport new names starting in 2024 too. Congo Rapids will revert to its original name held from 1981 to 1991, Roaring Rapids. In addition, the upgrades to the Ferris wheel warrant an upgraded name — Big Wheel will now be known as Giant Wheel.

Great Adventure also officially confirmed the planned return of many fan-favorite celebrations and festivals in 2024, including Pride Night, 4th of July (presented by Coca-Cola), Oktoberfest, Boo Fest, Fright Fest, Veterans Weekend, and Holiday in the Park.

In some exciting news on the dining front, Best of the West Grill & Saloon will apparently reopen as a public eatery, after spending a year as a VIP member lounge.

Additionally, Sweet Cakes, at the front of the park, will become Sweet Treats, offering desserts like crepes and gelato. New premium and signature cocktails will be available throughout the theme park. And expanded gluten-free options will be offered at Primos Pizza. Other restaurant remodels are in the works for Main Street Pub, Kickin’ Chicken Sports Bar, Funnel Cake Factory and Yum Yum Café.

Coffee fanatics will be happy to know three new Roller Coaster Cafe stands will open, serving Starbucks coffee products.

On the retail side, two new shops were announced. Six Flags Adventure World will adjoin the new Dream Street Pathway, featuring park gear and essentials. And the new The Flash: Vertical Velocity roller coaster will come with it's very own merchandise outlet, The Flash Store. (Insert "exit through the gift shop" joke here.)

Main Street Market and Thrillseekers have also been remodeled and refreshed. And exciting news for Halloween and Christmas lovers alike, the previously seasonal-only stores Fright Fest Fanatics and Holiday Memories will now be open year-round.

Single-day tickets and season passes for Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor are on sale now at SixFlags.com . The resort is also hiring for all positions for the 2024 season.

Dan Zarrow is Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. Check out Dan's weather blog or follow him on Facebook for your latest weather forecast updates.

When will NJ theme parks open for the 2024 season?

Gallery Credit: Dan Zarrow

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Great Adventure Drive-Through Safari To Close Again at End of Season

JACKSON, NJ – Six Flags Great Adventure announced that the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will cease operations this Fall. It is set to reopen in 2024 as the Safari Off-Road Adventure, featuring guided tours through its 350-acre safari.

The returning experience will allow guests to board safari off-road vehicles at two locations: Frontier Adventures within the theme park and the main Wild Safari entrance.

The Safari at Six Flags Great Adventure has a storied past dating back to July 1, 1974, when it first opened as a self-drive-through experience. This format remained in place until 2012. Starting in 2013, the park began offering guided truck tours of the Safari to provide a more curated experience.

The park returned to the self-drive-through model temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, that service model will come to an end this year, making way for the new guided tour format.

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Six Flags Wild Safari presents Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa (Photo: Business Wire)

Wild Safari Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa logo (Photo: Business Wire)

Six Flags Great Adventure 50th Anniversary logo (Photo: Business Wire)

As Six Flags Great Adventure turns 50, readers share their favorite memories

4 minute read.

Who would ever think you could see rhinos running across open plains, a life-sized Bugs Bunny, and the world's largest roller coaster in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey?

A half century ago, Warner LeRoy did. Or at least, the beginning of such a place.

As the son of "The Wizard of Oz" producer Mervyn LeRoy and Doris Warner, daughter of the Warner Brothers Studios executive Harry Warner, you could say making magic was in LeRoy's blood. The world he created, originally called Great Adventure, opened in Jackson on July 1, 1974.

Now known as Six Flags Great Adventure, the park begins its 50th season this weekend. It will be open weekends at first, then daily from March 28 to April 7 for spring break, followed by varying open days in April and May before the summer season begins Thursday, May 23, park spokesperson Staci Wheeler said.

▶ What's new at Six Flags Great Adventure this year? A 'super boomerang coaster' and more

According to Harry Applegate, the theme park's unofficial historian and operator of greatadventurehistory.com , LeRoy believed his creation — which was originally going to be called "Enchanted Forest and Safari Park" — would rival Walt Disney World in Florida.

His plans were scaled back due to production costs, but two of his ideas became iconic locations in the park: The Fort, which houses the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster and one end of the Skyway that traverses the park; and an ice cream parlor and restaurant called Yum Yum Palace.

The theme park now has more than 50 rides, including 14 roller coasters, family rides, a water park and a 350-acre drive-through safari. New additions coming this year to celebrate the golden anniversary include The Flash: Vertical Velocity roller coaster, described as "a super boomerang coaster," and Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa ,

Fifty years of memories at Six Flags

Fifty years in business means half a century's worth of memories for the guests who have passed through the front gates, like John Tracy Jr. of Jackson, who visited as a child then went on to work at Great Adventure.

"It’s April 14, 1984. The park and I are both 10 years old," he wrote. "Rednuht Gnillor (a temporary name for one side of Rolling Thunder) is operating to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the roller coaster, and "The Shirt Tales" (a cartoon series) have taken over Kiddie Kingdom with a whole new look.

"The Rainbow Logo is at the (Route) 537 entrance, and the Lion with his Great Adventure flag is welcoming people to the safari. It’s been almost 40 years and I remember it like it was yesterday."

Tracy reflected fondly on his time as a park employee.

"It’s Oct. 29, 1995, and it’s a beautiful fall Sunday. The park and I are now both 21 years old, and I am in my fourth season as a supervisor. I am proud of our park, and I love my job.

"We are at the very height of the Time Warner era, and the park is in top shape," he added. "This is our closing weekend, and we have already achieved the highest attendance record ever for the park. However, the previous day's attendance has put us (in a) position to break another ceiling. We were originally budgeted for 12,000 (guests), but there’s not a cloud in the sky, and 22,000 will put us through the 4 million attendance ceiling.

"If I close my eyes, I can still hear the radio transmission giving the announcement that we had broken 4 million guests for the season. ... I am proud to have been part of that team."

A day of fun at Great Adventure

Great Adventure was kind of like a day camp for me when I was a preteen in the late '70s/early '80s. I would go several times a week with a friend. One of our parents would drop us off when the park opened in the morning, and another parent would pick us up in the late afternoon. We had enough money for lunch and maybe some games and spent our days completely unsupervised running around the park.

I remember we would usually start at the Log Flume so we could ride a few times before a line formed, and then we’d head over to the Runaway Train and do the same thing. Then we’d head to the Haunted House, then Lightening Loops! I can’t imagine dropping two 10-year olds off at an amusement park today…

I also remember seeing cars with shredded vinyl tops and knowing they must’ve gone to the drive-through safari. You could always tell a car roof that had been shredded by the baboons. I also remember the fire at the Haunted House in 1984 (by then I was a sophomore in high school) and thinking that could’ve been me. We had spent so much time there.

I have so many great memories of Great Adventure. It was great to grow up so close and at a time when kids had so much freedom and our parents felt safe just dropping us off for the day unsupervised, knowing we’d be in the parking lot waiting for them at the end of the day.

— Allison Sacks of Philadelphia , formerly of Lakewood

A Great Adventure together

Editor's note: Childhood sweethearts Brian and Donna Lapcznski of the Forked River section of Lacey spent lots of time together at Six Flags Great Adventure. Life took them apart, but the couple reconnected in 2010 and married in 2016 , and the park holds a special place in their hearts. Hear more in the video at the top of this story.

When our lives reconnected, we came up with few lines that encompass our love for each other:

Decided at birth.

Cemented in youth.

Entwined for life.

(We have) very fond memories of our times spent at Great Adventure.

Whether it was walking, holding hands through the park, or sitting on the grassy areas talking about anything and everything (and kissing) to riding Lightening Loops, the Rotor, and taking the Sky Ride under the warm, starry nights, (these) will always and forever be memories cementing our youth and being forever entwined in life.

— Donna Lapcznski

Can't wait to go back to Six Flags

First of all, I have to say that I'm truly blessed that Six Flags Great Adventure is my home park!

I came to the park every Saturday in July, August, September and October of 2023 on the NJ Transit 308 bus, and I can't wait for the 308 bus to start operating on May 25, this year so I can start going back to the park every Saturday.

I also can't wait to go back and experience the park's 50th anniversary this year. I bought a Six Flags Great Adventure Dream Street Pathway Anniversary brick! I'm so very grateful that I'll always be a part of the 50th anniversary.

Kingda Ka is my all-time favorite ride ever. I can't wait to ride the new 2024 Flash Vertical Velocity roller coaster. I'm a roller coaster enthusiast and I have a strong love for extreme rides, and Six Flags Great Adventure has so many of them.

— Dashawn Bethea, East Orange

Favorite place on earth: Six Flags Great Adventure

My very first Great Adventure memory dates back to being 3 years old in 1994. My mom, pregnant with my sister at the time, took me to the park every single day and from there, I was hooked. All I wanted was Great Adventure, nothing else.

My love for the park grew as I did, and I found myself working there from 2007 to 2014 and recently, seasonally, as a Fright Fest Ghoul for fun.

Although I have drifted away professionally from the theme park world, my goal in life is to eventually run the amazing property we all know as Great Adventure. Happy 50th to my favorite place on earth! 

— Jordan Horowitz, Manalapan

Days with Dad at Six Flags Great Adventure

Like most children, I enjoyed playing amusement park games where there was very little chance of winning, like ring toss and throwing a quarter onto a glass plate.

On two visits to Great Adventure (we never called it Six Flags), my dad humored me and let me play. I remember flinging little plastic rings toward a sea of bottles, hoping with all I had that one would land. That's all I needed to win a prize.

Imagine my delight when I succeeded! My dad let out a whoop and I chose my prize: a very large, very purple stuffed wooly mammoth. And by large, I mean large — this thing barely fit in the car. I remember being so proud, carrying it all the way from the games section of the park to the parking lot.

The second visit, it was the quarter game. The goal was to flip a coin through the air so it landed in a circle on a glass plate. Quarters were pinging everywhere when I let one fly, and again, success!

This time, I chose a very large, very sleek snow leopard. We didn't keep it; I had the mammoth, after all. We gave it to a little girl as we left the park.

I no longer have the stuffed animal, or my dad. But I'll never forget his huge smile and delight when I won those games.

— Sarah Griesemer

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected] ,   follow on Instagram  at Jersey Shore Eats   and  subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari Returns!

By: Author Jennifer Auer

Posted on Published: April 3, 2023  - Last updated: August 10, 2023

Growing up the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari was pretty epic. It was something every family wanted to try at least once. We all had our stories of what it was like.

Years later the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari would close and visitors enjoyed it as a perk with their Great Adventure admission ticket.

These last few weeks you may have been wondering what fun things you can do this spring in New Jersey. You may be thinking about what your summer may look like. Perhaps you’ve even reflected on the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari in New Jersey. Did you make it there last year?

Did you want more time to experience it?

Were you worried that maybe the safari would go back to normal and driving through it would no longer be an option?

You can!! Because the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari is back for 2023!

Six Flags Great Adventure has its Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure as open for 2023 on April 1, 2023, and operating daily beginning May 19, 2023 weather permitting. It’s also open daily for spring break from April 5, to April 16, 2023.

Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari is OPEN Again!!

Six Flags Great Adventure has reopened its Safari adventure as a drive-through experience. This year there’s, even MORE, to see as the Animal Care Team looks forward to welcoming an array of adorable babies, and new animals.

About the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari

Six Flags Great Adventure’s Safari operated as a self-drive-through experience from 1974 through 2012. Since 2013, Great Adventure has offered guided truck tours of the Safari. Returning to a standalone, drive-through format enables guests to enjoy the Safari’s 1,200 exotic animals from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles while allowing for proper social distancing.

How do I get tickets to the Drive Thru Safari at Great Adventure?

Advance reservations are recommended, but not required at this time for the 2023 season.

Active Members, Season Pass Holders, and single-day ticket holders can make reservations NOW at www.sixflags.com.

How do I make a reservation to visit the safari?

Tickets are required. If you are an active Member or Season Pass holder, you do not require a separate ticket.

For those that need to buy a ticket, visit this Six Flags Great Adventure page on their site . Choose a date from the calendar that is available for your ticket type. Choose the ticket quantity. You will need 1 ticket for each person in the car. Then, enter your payment information and proceed.

When you have completed the registration, you will receive a confirmation. Please print this confirmation sheet if possible. A printed sheet is easier to scan through the car window than a phone screen. We want this experience to be as contact-free as possible.

Ticket sales are for individuals. No group sales are available.

When will it open? When will it be open?

The Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will open March 19, 2022, and operate daily beginning May 5, 2022 weather permitting.

How much will it cost?

Each guest will need a ticket. The admission price for the Great Adventure drive thru safari is as follows:

• General Admission weekends, holidays, & spring break — $19.99 to $24.99
• General Admission weekdays — starts at $14.99
• Admission is free to Six Flags Members, Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor New Jersey Season Pass holders.

How long is the drive thru safari?

It’s a 350 acre safari with a 5 mile roadway. It will takes about 1.5 hours to 2 hours to drive through to see all the animals.

Can I stop to take pictures?

Stopping is not allowed. For the safety of all guests and animals the traffic flow needs to keep moving.

How can I take great photos and videos safely?

If you are driving through buy this dashboard cam with our Amazon affiliate link. With this dashboard camera and a memory card you can record video and take pictures throughout the drive thru safari and dinosaur experience SAFELY. You’ll never miss a moment or an animal as the Rove R2- 4K Dash Cam Built in WiFi GPS Car Dashboard Camera Recorder dashboard camera can catch everything.

This dashboard cam even allows you to livestream safely while recording. Take the grandparents with you on your drive thru adventures without them ever leaving home or show off to all your Instagram followers. You can also rotate the camera and do a little family caroake video.

Bonus… since we fully expect spring and summer and even Christmas drive thru events to continue, you’ll get so much use from your dashboard camera.

What kinds of animals are in the safari?

The Great Adventure safari has 1,200 animals from six continents including elephants, rhinos, tigers, giraffes and lions. They are separated into 10 areas. While most animals roam freely in the safari, predators are kept safely behind fences. All animals are clearly visible from car windows.

Guests can learn all about the animals and their habitats on the park’s website at www.sixflags.com/safari. During your drive through the safari, you can follow along the virtual tour on at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure to learn more about 11 sections of the safari, and the animals that reside in each section.

Safari Adventure Lands

• The Americas – Explore the inhabitants of the Americas featuring Rhea, Fallow Deer, Bison, Roosevelt Elk, Llama and Wild Turkey.
• Afrikka – A mix of exotic and endangered animals indigenous to Africa like Ostrich, African Elephant, White Rhinoceros, Asian Water Buffalo, Marabou Stork and Grant’s Zebra.
• Wild Plains – Wild Plains are home to a large variety of animals including the Common Eland, Ellipsis Waterbuck, Southern Ground Hornbill, Beisa Oryx, Peacock, Dama Gazella, Red Ankole Cattle, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Reticulated Giraffe and much, much, more.
• Serengeti Grassland – Take a trip through the Serengeti Grasslands and encounter Blackbuck, Addax, White Tailed Gnu and Aoudad.
• Kingsland – In the animal kingdom there is one mammal that reigns the title of king, and in Kingsland you will find your pride with plenty of Lions.
• Black Bear Ridge – Bear dens are plentiful in Black Bear Ridge, where you will find plenty of mamma bears and their cubs playing in the grass or relaxing in the water.
• Terra Urus – European Brown Bear cousins to the Grizzly Bears.
• Conservation Area – Travel through an untouched part of the safari left for NJ native species like birds, foxes, turtles and even the great bald eagle.
• Didgeradoo Pass – Drive through the outback where you can come face to face with Red Kangaroo, Emu and Black Swan.
• Tigris Asiana – There are plenty of tigers to be found in Tigris Asian and other animals to meet such as Nilgai, Yak, Bengal Tiger and Siberian Tiger
• Baboon Village – Guests will be able to visit the Baboon Jungle prior to exiting the safari.

What’s new at the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari?

Similar to 2022, there are new animals to see and new enhancements to the Six Flags Safari.

New animals at the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari

Here’s what guests visiting the drive thru safari this spring can expect to see.

Five Stunning Siberian Tiger Cubs  

• Five Siberian tiger cubs turn one-year old in May and will be introduced to an exhibit in a new area of the safari.

Young Animal Additions 

• Adorable European brown bear cubs under specialized care, a rare newborn bongo calf and a sable antelope calf all join the safari in 2023.

In 2022, these were the new Six Flags Safari animals.

Sawyer, the Southern White Rhinoceros  

• Six-year-old (now 7 years old) Sawyer joins three adult female rhinos in the Afrikka section of the safari. Although grey in color, the southern white rhinoceros is the largest living species of the five species of rhino, averaging 4,000 to 6,000 pounds. At 3,800 pounds and growing, Sawyer has a youthful bounce in his step and enjoys human touch like scratches from a bristle brush. With a diet of hay and grain, Sawyer and his fellow rhinos are one the world’s last remaining “mega-herbivores” – a large animal that eats mainly plants. He lives side-by-side with other animals native to Africa such as elephants, ostriches and zebras.

Three Reticulated Giraffe Calves  (now toddlers)

• Three adorable and graceful calves were born in the safari this winter and join the safari’s “tower” (group) of 13 giraffes. Native to Africa, giraffes are the tallest land mammal on Earth. They can stand up to 17 feet tall and weigh from 1,500 to 3,000 pounds. A giraffe’s long neck measures up to seven feet long, and despite its length, contains seven vertebrae just like humans. Due to habitat loss, poaching, and other human-wildlife interferences, giraffes are considered “vulnerable to extinction.”

Two sable antelope calves (now toddlers)

• This striking, horse-like antelope from Africa boasts a tufted tail, mane, and impressive, ringed horns that curve like a scimitar. Typically settling near water, the sable is an herbivore. In the wild, their beautiful horns are a highly prized trophy for hunters. Born in the safari, the pair of sable calves now reside in the Serengeti Grasslands section along with exotic hoof stock like addax, white-tailed gnu (black wildebeest), and aoudad.

Two red lechwe calves (now toddlers)

• Identifiable by their reddish fur, white-ringed eyes, and tall horns reaching up to three feet long, this type of antelope is usually found near aquatic areas in Zambia and Botswana and are considered a “near threatened species” in the wild. The safari’s red lechwe calves, born onsite this winter, reside in the Wilde Plains section with a vast array of African species such as giraffe, greater kudu, ankole cattle, dama gazelle, white-bearded gnu (blue/brindled wildebeest), bongo and more.

Two Asian water buffalo calves 

• Two adorable Asian water buffalo calves join the Afrikka section. While they bear some similarities to their African cousins, the Cape buffalo, these are domesticated animals. In the wild, they are commonly found on farms as beasts of burden. Their milk, which has more fat than that of domestic cattle, is used for making liquid butter in India. In the safari, they are true to their name and are often found submerged in ponds with only their heads visible above water.

Spring brings more baby animals to the Drive Thru Safari (now toddlers)

The Animal Care Team looks forward to welcoming an array of adorable babies including the exciting arrival of giraffe babies and scimitar calves.

Safety improvements at the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari Made in 2022

• Roadway Enhancements – Guests enjoy a smooth experience on an expanded, two-lane roadway with five newly paved miles of blacktop. The wider roadway helps to better accommodate guests who wish to enjoy the tour at their own pace and accommodates school buses for educational programs.

More Highlights for the 2023 Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari

• Georgia the Giraffe  celebrates thirty-one years of life, likely one of the oldest giraffes under human care and a grandmother to many giraffes on property.
• Save an Icon Pin Program  returns with proceeds benefitting the Wildlife Conservation Network. This 2023 collectible pin will feature both the Bald Eagle and Blue and Gold Macaw.
• Monthly Safari Overnights  Six Flags Wild Safari will host their popular monthly overnight camping adventures this summer, a unique experience for a lifetime of memories.

Other enhancements to the Six Flags Great Adventure Drive Thru Safari made in 2022

• Enhanced Safari Entrance –  Six Flags’ expansive modernization and beautification efforts included a new roadway entrance and upgraded safari plaza to welcome guests;
• Enhanced Mobile App  – A new mobile app feature allowed guests to add their safari pass to their Google Pay Wallet or Apple Wallet expediting the admission experience and reduce wait time.
• New Audio Tour –  Guests can immerse themselves in the animal world with a new audio tour. Energetic narrators will showcase 11 simulated natural habitats featuring more than 70 different species of animals. Guests will learn fun and educational facts about the animals, hear fascinating animal sounds and music from around the world. At the start of their adventure, guests will receive a handout with QR codes that take them to the audio tour and safari map. The audio tour is free and can be streamed from any mobile device.
• Volta Electric Vehicle Charging Stations  – Compatible with all electric vehicles, units are available in the safari parking lot.
• Safari Off Road Education –  This fun and educational tour on a giant, off-road vehicle features a personal tour guide and driver, and an opportunity to feed giraffes and meet small exotic animals up close.
• Science on Safari  – This contactless safari experience features a special Academic Adventure audio tour, grade-specific guidebook and optional visit with an animal educator.

Is it safe?

The safety of guests, team members, and animals is Six Flags’ top priority. The new safari journey will offer a contact-free experience.

A new list of safety requirements is available on the park’s website at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure and include

• SLOW – 5 mph speed limit.
• Maintain space between your car and others.
• Animals always have the right of way.
• Remain in your vehicle and on paved roadway at all times.
• Windows and sun roofs must remain completely closed.
• Convertible tops must be closed.
• No pets, including service animals, are permitted inside cars.
• Do not feed or touch the animals.
• No smoking or littering.
• No parking or stopping, other than yielding to animals.
• All vehicles will be screened by Six Flags Security prior to entering Wild Safari.
• No items are permitted in pickup truck beds or in vehicles with open storage.
• Cars, SUVs and consumer pickup trucks only permitted – no buses, RVs, box trucks, commercial vehicles, pickup trucks larger than a consumer pickup allowed.
• Plan ahead – no restrooms, food, or gasoline available (only portable toilets at entrance and exit).
• Enter at your own risk.
• Guests who violate the rules will be escorted from the park without a refund and may be prosecuted.

What happens if my car breaks down?

If your car can still move, please drive to the side of the road (but stay on the roadway) and place your flashers on. If you cannot move your car, just place your flashers on. One of our team members will come to assist you. Do not exit the vehicle for any reason.

Are there any differences between the new drive thru safari and the old one?

The safari was renovated in 2013 for the opening of Safari Off Road Adventure, and some of the sections were redefined. That pathway remains in place. Plus guests will be able to visit the Baboon Jungle prior to exiting the safari. Camp Aventura will remain closed.

You no longer have to worry about the baboons. No. In 2003, fencing was added along the roadway to separate the baboons from the cars.

How long will the drive thru safari be available?

To ensure the safety of guests and maximize on social distancing guidelines, the safari will remain a self-drive-thru experience after Six Flags Great Adventure opens for the regular season. They do plan to reopen the Safari Off Road Adventure in the near future. No date has been set.

Will there be restrooms available?

There will be indoor restrooms available at the exit of the safari.

Will there be any souvenirs to buy?

Yes! There will be concession stands for souvenirs or refreshments at the end of the safari tour.

Stay tuned. This is a developing story and we can’t wait to bring you more details.

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Saturday 26th of August 2023

Do I need to purchase a ticket for two years old baby?

Jennifer Auer

Sunday 27th of August 2023

You would need to check with Great Adventure. - Jenn

Friday 12th of May 2023

Do we need a ticket for Wild Safari for 6 months old babies?

Sunday 14th of May 2023

You do not need a ticket for 6 month old babies. - Jenn

Colleen Carman

Thursday 20th of April 2023

I am a social director for seniors, we have a 13 seat bus.. is this allowed ? And do we pay per bus our per passenger

You would need to reach out to Six Flags Great Adventure. You have left your comment with Jersey Family Fun. - Jenn

Darlene Bennett

Thursday 28th of July 2022

I am bringing a 4 year old for the first time. What us the best time for him to have the best experience possible, he is such an animal lover!!! Thank you!

I think at dusk might be best, we've only been a few times. Perhaps give their reservation department a call and see if they have any recommendations. - Jenn

Friday 8th of April 2022

Is the safari open in the rain and do the animals come out in the rain?

We believe the safari is open rain or shine unless weather conditions would make it dangerous to do so. - Jenn

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Six Flags Great Adventure Closed After Storms Rip Through Jackson, NJ

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If you're on Spring Break this week and wanted to head to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ, you're going to have to wait a few days.

The amusement park and safari are closed temporarily after a tornado touched down close by on Saturday night (April 1, 2023) causing extensive damage to the area.

Six Flags Great Adventure posted on social media , "Due to the Township of Jackson Emergency Declaration, as well as for the safety of our guests and team members, Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari will be closed today, April 2nd. We anticipate re-opening Wednesday, April 5th for Spring Break.

Six Flags officials didn't specifically say if there was damage to the theme park or safari, but the surrounding area took a beating according to Eyewitness News .

As of Monday (April 3rd) at 5:30pm, The US National Weather Service confirmed five tornados in New Jersey on Saturday evening, leaving a path of destruction behind.

The areas affected are Jackson, Jackson-Howell Township, Sea Girt, Cinnaminson-Delran-Moorestown and Palmyra-Riverton.

Other New Jersey towns still being investigated for tornadic activity are Crosswicks to Cream Ridge and Mays Landing.

KEEP READING: Get answers to 51 of the most frequently asked weather questions...

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Six Flags Great Adventure closes after severe storm hits Jackson Township

Six flags great adventure and safari closed on sunday just a day after their season opening due to an emergency declaration in jackson township..

News 12 Staff

Apr 2, 2023, 3:36 PM

Updated 393 days ago

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Six Flags to end safari drive-thrus, close early

JACKSON, N.J. (AP) — Six Flags Great Adventure will stop letting park guests use their own vehicles for drive-thru tours of its animal sanctuary, the company said Monday, 38 years after first giving visitors close-up views of giraffes, elephants, rhinos and lions from their family cars.

The amusement park company did not give a reason for the change, which takes effect next year. The Wild Safari portion of the park also will end its 2012 season a month early, on Sept. 30, except for previously scheduled VIP tours, park officials said.

Park officials said details about how the animal sanctuary will operate in the future will be made public Aug. 30.

Six Flags currently lets visitors either drive their own vehicles through its 350-acre animal sanctuary or take guided bus tours.

Since opening in 1974, the Wild Safari animal park at Six Flags has had more than 10 million drive-thru visitors.

The park's president said the sanctuary's 1,200 animals will remain at Six Flags.

"Animal preservation and education has been a cornerstone of Six Flags Great Adventure since we opened our gates in 1974," John Fitzgerald, the park president, said in a written statement. "While significant changes are on our horizon, our veterinary and animal husbandry staff will continue to provide excellent care for the more than 70 species of exotic and domestic animals that live here."

Safari Director Bill Rives, also chief veterinarian, said the drive-thru park "has been an institution for many families whose first glimpse of exotic animals was with their faces pressed up against a car window. That chapter of our history is now drawing to a close."

Park spokeswoman Kristin Siebeneicher said operational changes are based on guest feedback and research, but she declined to provide any details on what led to the decision to end the drive-thru tours. She said the company does not release business data, such as number of visitors to different attractions, for individual parks.

Six Flags Entertainment Corp., based in Grand Prairie, Texas, and New York, owns and operates 19 regional theme parks and water parks, 17 in the United States and one each in Mexico City and Montreal.

Only two sites offer animal parks, and the New Jersey Six Flags has been the only one to allow drive-thru tours.

In July, Six Flags reported that net income had more than doubled companywide in the second quarter, in part due to increased attendance. Six Flags emerged from bankruptcy protection two years ago.

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Safari Glamping Coming To Six Flags Great Adventure

JACKSON, NJ — Camping overnight at the zoo has been a popular activity in recent years at zoos all over the country.

Six Flags Great Adventure plans to take that to another level when it opens a luxury safari "glamping" experience in 2024, as part of the park's 50th anniversary celebration.

The Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa, described as "an authentic African lodging experience" within the 350-acre safari park, is one of two changes being made to the Wild Safari, park officials announced.

"Overnight guests will enjoy ultra-luxurious 'glamping' accommodations, scenic vistas, spa services and VIP dining, all creating an unforgettable safari getaway," park officials said.

"Glamping" is defined as "outdoor camping with amenities and comforts (such as beds, electricity, and access to indoor plumbing) not usually used when camping," according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

The safari park opened at Great Adventure in 1974, when the amusement park opened, according to Great Adventure History, a fan website about the theme park .

It opened as a drive-through attraction with a three-lane road that allowed guests to travel through the park and see the animals, instead of seeing them in small cages, which was falling out of favor in the 1970s.

"One common problem encountered in the Safari, especially on hot summer days, was car radiators overheating in the stop-and-go traffic as people crawled through to watch the animals," the fan site noted. "The Safari wardens spent almost as much time helping stranded motorists as they did tending their animals."

The drive-through experience, which had been discontinued several years ago and replaced with a guided tour, was revived during the COVID-19 pandemic to limit guest interaction and allow visitors into the safari.

Park officials said the drive-through adventure will be closing again this fall, and in the spring the Off-Road Adventure will return.

The Off-Road Adventure will be a guided tour of the safari in off-road vehicles, accessible at two sites, including Frontier Adventures within the theme park or at the main Wild Safari entrance.

Six Flags also is adding a new roller coaster for 2024. Read more: New Coaster Coming To Six Flags For 50th Anniversary In 2024

The article Safari Glamping Coming To Six Flags Great Adventure appeared first on Brick Patch .

Watch CBS News

Six Flags Great Adventure closed due to emergency declaration

By CBS News Philadelphia Staff

April 3, 2023 / 8:00 PM EDT / CBS Philadelphia

UPDATE: Six Flags provides update on Great Adventure opening after storm damage JACKSON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) - Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari is closed Monday because of an emergency declaration in Jackson Township.

It's not clear if the amusement park was damaged by  the severe weather over the weekend . At least four tornados were confirmed to have hit parts of New Jersey on Saturday, including Jackson, Ocean County.   

Due to the Township of Jackson Emergency Declaration, as well as for the safety of our guests and team members, Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari will be closed today, April 2. We anticipate re-opening Wednesday, April 5 for Spring Break. — Great Adventure (@SFGrAdventure) April 2, 2023

Six Flags says for the safety of guests and team members it will be closed until at least Wednesday. 

The CBS News Philadelphia Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSPhiladelphia.com.

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Safari ‘glamping’ resort coming to Six Flags Great Adventure

• Updated: Sep. 07, 2023, 2:04 p.m. |
• Published: Sep. 07, 2023, 1:39 p.m.

The new Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa at Six Flags Great Adventure will open next year, officials said. Six Flags Great Adventure

• Brianna Kudisch | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A new overnight “glamping” safari experience is coming to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, the theme park announced as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.

Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa will have visitors “waking up in an ultra-luxurious tent, watching the sunrise over scenic fields as giraffes freely roam just feet away while you enjoy your morning cup of coffee,” the company said on its website.

The resort will be set within the 350-acre Wild Safari Park and is slated to open next year, officials said. Further details, including the price of a stay, have not been released.

Great Adventure has long had a safari park that visitors can tour to see giraffes and other animals.

At the new resort, visitors can experience the animal safari through an off-road guided tour and wake up in the “glamping” accommodations, which will include a spa and fine-dining restaurant.

The overnight luxury camping experience is one of several new project openings at the Ocean County-based theme park.

Great Adventure is also unveiling its 15th roller coaster, called THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity . It is the first “super boomerang” coaster to open in North America, according to the company.

The roller coaster will open in 2024 as the theme park celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The new attractions are part of a larger investment Six Flags has made at its theme parks nationwide this year, the company said.

More than 13 attractions will soon launch across the nation — one of the “most substantial planned investments” at the parks in more than a decade, the company said.

The new thrill ride at Six Flags Great Adventure will open in 2024. The roller coaster will shoot riders up toward a vertical tower at 59 miles per hour before pausing and dropping backwards toward the ground, according to the theme park. Courtesy of Six Flags Great Adventure

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