Is Great America Closing? Last Day Is Sept. 6, 2027 (Labor Day)
Yes, Great America is closing. The Santa Clara park's last day is Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2027, after a March farewell season. Dates, 2027 passes and what's next.
Yes. California's Great America in Santa Clara is closing for good, and its last day will be Labor Day, Monday, September 6, 2027. Before that, the park will reopen in March 2027 for one final "Farewell Season."
Six Flags Entertainment, which owns and runs the park, made the announcement on November 5–6, 2026. The decision ends a run of more than 50 years for a park that opened on March 20, 1976, built by the Marriott Corp. as part of the country's Bicentennial celebrations. For generations of Bay Area families it was the nearby big theme park: a first roller coaster, a school trip, a first summer job.
Why is Great America closing?
The main reason is the land. The park no longer owns the 112 acres it sits on. In 2022, the park's then-owner, Cedar Fair, sold the land to Prologis, a San Francisco-based logistics real estate company, for $310 million, and then leased it back. That lease runs until June 2028, with an option to extend it for up to five more years.
Cedar Fair and Six Flags merged in 2024. Six Flags has now confirmed it will not extend the lease, so the closure that many fans expected since 2022 finally has a date. The Bay Area News Group reported that in May 2025, Six Flags' chief executive told investors the Santa Clara park ranked near the bottom of the company's parks on profit margins.
The news came the same week Six Flags reported third-quarter results. Reported revenue fell 11% to $1.17 billion, which the company said was mainly because it now runs eight fewer parks than a year earlier. At the parks it still operates, revenue rose 1.4%.
Key dates to know
- November 5–6, 2026: Six Flags announces the 2027 Farewell Season and closure.
- March 2027: the Farewell Season opens. Six Flags has not yet named the exact opening day.
- September 6, 2027 (Labor Day): Great America's last day of operation.
- June 2028: the land lease ends.
Six Flags says the full 2027 operating calendar, including which days the park is open and its hours, will be announced later. If you are planning a trip around a specific weekend, check the official calendar before you book anything else.
Great America 2027 season pass: what we know
Six Flags is selling 2027 Gold and Prestige passes, which include unlimited visits during the final season plus passholder benefits. Both also include access to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, which will stay open after Great America closes.
Because the 2027 season runs only from March to early September, it is shorter than a typical year. Before buying, it is worth comparing how many times you realistically plan to go with the price of single-day tickets. Valid current passes and their benefits will be honored according to their terms, Coaster Nation reported from the company's announcement, and the official Farewell Season page answers common questions about passes, dining plans and add-ons.
What will be open in the final season?
Six Flags says guests can expect the usual park experience in 2027, with rides and attractions operating subject to weather and maintenance, and South Bay Shores returning on its normal seasonal schedule. The park has more than 40 attractions, including nine roller coasters and the South Bay Shores water park, according to Bay City News. Highlights include Gold Striker, a wooden coaster that Amusement Today ranks among the top 20 in the world, and Carousel Columbia, the double-decker carousel that has greeted visitors at the entrance since opening day.
Group outings, company picnics, school trips and youth group visits will continue to be booked through the Farewell Season, the company said. The park also plans special Farewell Season experiences, with details still to come.
What happens to the workers?
The park has about 100 full-time employees and around 235 seasonal and part-time workers, with seasonal staffing rising to about 1,500 at peak times, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Six Flags says it remains committed to supporting employees through the transition.
What will replace Great America?
No plan has been announced. Prologis is best known for warehouses and logistics centers, but it has not said what it will build. The site sits next to Levi's Stadium with access to Highway 101, Highway 237, light rail and an ACE train station. When Prologis bought the land in 2022, commercial real estate brokers told the Bay Area News Group the site could fit a mix of homes, offices and shops. As for the rides, Six Flags has said no decisions have been made; moving them to another Six Flags park or selling them to another operator are among the options, Coaster Nation reported.
Is Six Flags Great America near Chicago closing too?
No. This closure is only the Santa Clara park. Its sister park in Gurnee, Illinois, Six Flags Great America, opened the same year under the Marriott name and remains open, the Los Angeles Times reported. If you see "Great America closing" headlines, they refer to the California park.
Nearby alternatives after 2027
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo): a theme park with rides and animal attractions, included with 2027 Gold and Prestige passes.
- Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord: a Six Flags water park in the East Bay.
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: a seaside amusement park with free entry and pay-per-ride or wristband options.
- Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park: a nonprofit park in Gilroy with family rides, water attractions and its famous Circus Trees.
Tips if you plan to go
The Farewell Season is likely to be busy, especially on weekends and in the final weeks before Labor Day. Visiting on a weekday, arriving at opening time and riding the most popular coasters first can help you avoid the longest lines. Watch for the official calendar release so you can lock in your dates early.
For more news explained in plain words, browse our US stories, read our guide to lowering your electric bill this winter, or see why Godzilla Minus Zero broke a box office record.
Frequently asked questions
Is California's Great America closing for good?
Yes. Six Flags says the Santa Clara park will close permanently after its 2027 Farewell Season because it chose not to extend the land lease, which expires in June 2028.
When is Great America's last day?
The last day of operation is Labor Day, Monday, September 6, 2027. The Farewell Season opens in March 2027, and the exact opening date has not been announced yet.
Can I still buy a Great America 2027 season pass?
Yes. Six Flags is selling 2027 Gold and Prestige passes with unlimited visits during the final season. Both include access to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo.
Is Six Flags Great America near Chicago closing too?
No. Only California's Great America in Santa Clara is closing. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, remains open.
Sources
- Six Flags: Santa Clara theme park will celebrate final season in 2027
- Los Angeles Times: Great America is closing for good. Here's when
- CBS San Francisco: Great America confirms farewell season in 2027
- SFGATE: Great America sets Farewell Season
- Bay City News (Local News Matters): Great America sets farewell season
- Bay Area News Group (Times-Herald): Great America sets official closing date
- Silicon Valley Business Journal: Great America closure and jobs
- Six Flags Q3 2026 earnings release (SEC filing)
- TheStreet (via Kansas City Star): Great America closing down forever
- Coaster Nation: Six Flags closing California's Great America after 2027 Farewell Season
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (official site)
- Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park (official site)
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