Flags Fly For New Six Flags Book

Very few theme parks have celebrated a 50th anniversary. One of those few is Six Flags Over Texas, which turned 50 a few years ago.

Following a visit to Disneyland soon after that park opened, Texas real estate developer Angus G. Wynne, Jr. decided that his home state deserved a local park for entertainment. Planning began during 1959. Construction started during August 1960.

The name "Six Flags Over Texas" refers to the flags of the six different nationsl that have governed Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. The original design of the park created six separate themed areas to represent each of the governing entities. Although additional themed areas have been added over five decades, the original six still can be found within the park.

Six Flags Over Texas is the original Six Flags theme park. The gates opened on August 5, 1961. Everything that a person possibly would want or need to know about this park from conception through its 50 birthday celebration year (2011) is documented in Davis McCown’s Six Flags Over Texas - The First Fifty Years.

Every fan of every theme or amusement park that still exists, has transitioned, or, sadly, has been dismantled would treasure a book similar to the one that this park’s fans have received from McCown. The author first visited the park as a child during the 1962 season. He later was employed by the park, working several of the attractions. He and his wife met as they worked together on the Log Flume Ride.

The book’s 270-plus pages are filled with history categorized by season. Detailed descriptions of park attractions and events dovetail with the yearly happenings occurring at other theme parks around the country. Many references are made to Disneyland, Freedomland U.S.A., the original Magic Mountain, Pleasure Island and other parks. More than 200 photos are included showcasing the park’s early days, middle years and the golden anniversary.

A Theme Park Timeline

One of the most interesting features of the book is the descriptions provided about the morphing and/or changing of each attraction in the Texas park during its five decades. McCown’s work actually is a timeline that explains the storyline of each attraction as it appeared, moved, or was removed.

Throughout the book, significant attention is bestowed upon C.V. Wood, who was Walt Disney’s right-hand man as Disneyland was built and opened. Wood then created his own theme park/entertainment company, Marco Engineering, that built Magic Mount (Golden Colorado), Pleasure Island (Wakefield, Massachusetts) and Freedomland U.S.A. (The Bronx, New York).

Marco Engineering provided design and management for these parks, but each was conceived and financed by local interests. Not all of those interests had the parks’ best interests as a priority. Separate books about each of these parks (published by Arcadia Publishing) provide the ownership/investment stories along with tales and photos.

While Freedomland was enjoying its first couple of fun seasons, Wood already had moved on to the Texas project. Wynne had turned to this fellow Texan and his company for professional assistance in designing the latest park.

Wood is a common thread that weaves through many of these parks from the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the other companies and people involved in theme park development at this time also receive attention in Six Flags Over Texas - The First Fifty Years. These companies include ride developer Arrow Development and skyride manufacturer Von Roll Company.

The reader of Six Flags Over Texas will enjoy this theme park history book even if he or she never visited the park, or if the visits only occurred during the early, middle, or contemporary years. The book can be found on Amazon.com.