New Splash Park, Roller Coaster At Six Flags Debut For Memorial Day

JACKSON, NJ — While many people will be headed to the beach for Memorial Day weekend, Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor are unveiling new attractions as part of the 50th anniversary season.

Six Flags Great Adventure has been teasing its new roller coaster, The Flash: High Velocity, since earlier this year.

The coaster, a "super boomerang," is the first-of-its-kind in North America and only the second in the world and treats riders to a sense of micro-gravity as the ride runs upside down almost 100 feet off the ground.

The ride also has a 180-degree twisted drop followed by a Zero-G roll back to the vertical tower, reaching speeds of up to 59 miles per hour. The train pauses, and then changes directions on a dime and rushes backward along the track.

The Flash joins the fan favorites, including Kingda Ka, Nitro, El Toro, the Jersey Devil Coaster, and there will be milder thrills and two areas dedicated specifically to junior thrill-seekers, officials said.

For families who want to spend time by the water, Hurricane Harbor has its new Splash Island, a family-centric area. It includes a new play structure, 14 new kids’ slides, added rental cabanas, increased shade and a revitalized outdoor dining option.

Kids will delight in the new tree house that has more than 50 play features, including mini slides and curtain waterfalls and a gigantic water bucket perched high above to soak the those below.

There are seven new colorful slides meant for smaller riders, Cowabunga, Jellyfish Twist, RipCurl, Shark Attack, Splashin’ Seal and Stingray Racer, which bring drops and twists for little ones seeking a gentle thrill.

Six Flags is offering season pass deals for Memorial Day weekend, and has 50th anniversary bricks for sale for the pathway at the park entrance.

Hurricane Harbor opens weekends beginnng Saturday through June 9, then is open daily June 15 through Sept. 2. Great Adventure opens daily beginning Saturday.

The parks are open 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.