Temperatures are climbing into the 80s this weekend, and summer is already on everyone's mind. Fortunately for thrill-seekers, the timing couldn't be better: Six Flags Great America in suburban Gurnee reopens today for the 2025 season. What better way to kick off the season?
Here are some park updates to keep in mind when visiting: the destination's 16th roller coaster, the 180-foot Wrath of Rakshasha, has arrived. With a 96-degree beyond-vertical drop and gravity-defying inversions, the ride is, according to the park, the "steepest and most inverted dive coaster in the world."
The coaster isn't for the light-hearted: with a 171-foot drop and cruising 67 miles per hour, we'll surely hear the screams from patrons all the way in downtown Chicago.
If opting to ride the classic roller coaster Demon instead, note that officials have implemented a new 48pinch height requirement. Scrambler ride Condor now requires patrons to be at least 54 inches tall. The full list of updated heights per ride can be found on the park's website.
In other news, designated smoking areas within the park's boundaries have been removed. Smokers—which include folks who enjoy vapes and e-cigarettes—have to head to a designated area outside of the park's boundaries for the 2025 season.
There's more: last year, the park implemented a chaperone policy during Fright Fest after 5pm for anyone 15 or younger. The site is still encouraging the policy and recommends that anyone under the age of 18 be accompanied by an adult.
As for 2025 events at Six Flags, Star Spangled Nights for the Fourth of July, Viva la Fiesta in August, Oktoberfest and Fright Fest are all on the docket, so add them all to your calendar.
Opening hours at Six Flags Great America are 10:30am to 6pm on Friday, 10:30am to 8pm on Saturday, and 11am to 7pm on Sunday until mid-May. Weekday hours will be extended starting May 26th.