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Brett Friedman and his family described his special day Friday as “a brisk birthday.”
“I’m here with my daughter and son and their friends today because they are off from school, and this is perfect way for me to celebrate my 41st birthday,” said Friedman of Glenview, who didn’t mind temperatures hovering around the same number as his age.
“This was really my son’s idea, and so we wanted to arrive as soon as it was open to be first inside,” he said. “The weather’s really not too bad, just brisk.”
Friedman and his birthday bunch were among the first patrons through the gates at 10:30 a.m. Friday for Six Flags Great America’s opening day of the 2022 season.
His son Coty, 12, was quick with his cellphone to greet the theme park’s costumed cartoon ambassador Bugs Bunny for photo opportunities.
Six Flags management said one of the draws for theme park fans this new season is to experience what they bill as, “the largest array of improvements in more than 15 years.”
Besides beautification, added dining options, trees and refreshed landscapes for the sprawling 300 acres of amusements, a new section of the park called DC Universe promises what Six Flags Great America President John Krajnak describes as, “a wow factor.”
Originally planned to be unveiled in time for Friday’s opening day, weather delays have pushed back the launch of the new roped-off area likely until next month.
“This exciting new space is immersive as an invitation into the DC comic book-inspired world,” said park President John Krajnak, who has been in his new role for two months and worked for the theme park for 28 years.
“We’ve re-imagined the attractions in this new section, which includes The Flash: Vertical Velocity, our high-speed launch coaster, Aquaman Splashdown, our winding flume ride and the DC Super-Villains Swing, which is a spinning attraction,” he said.
“And in this same area, of course, are the other park favorites Batman: The Ride and The Joker Free-Fly Coaster,” Krajnak continued. “Not far from the new area is our Superman coaster, which also fits the theme as you make your way to the new section.”
The new DC Universe terrain will also feature an outdoor beer garden, and Flash supervillain Captain Cold will get his own themed ice cream vendor opportunity.
The 2022 season also includes the return of Roaring Rapids, a white-water rafting adventure spanning three acres which was closed during the previous two years.
Caitlin Kepple, communications and marketing manager for Six Flags Great America, said Friday’s opening day required more than 1,200 employees, a contrast to the staff of more than 4,000 required during the height of the season in July.
“We are still looking to hire for this season and applicants age 15 and old just need to text the word ‘FUN’ to 224-335-9600 to apply, or visit our website for the application,” she said.
Kepple, who has worked at the theme park for four years, said in addition to new options and purchase plans for season pass holders this year, another improvement is an upgrade to the Flash Pass park feature which allows guests to pay for the advantage to maneuver to the front of long lines to avoid waiting.
“The Flash Pass will no longer be the box unit version distributed, and now, it’s a mobile app accessed with a smartphone,” she said.
Kepple said every season opening day is exciting, but ranks last year, the 2021 start of the season, as “extra special” since the pandemic forced the park to pause in 2020 from the usual season opening day spring tradition.
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“We have some employees who work here who’ve been here for all 46 years of our season opening days,” she said. “The season opening day has become like our Six Flags Great America Family welcoming back all of the other families and friends we await to walk through our gates after months of anticipation for all.”