2001 Season To Deliver New Thrills at Great Adventure

Jackson, NJ -- New Jersey's three Six Flags theme parks will offer brand-new, one-of-a-kind thrills to blast the 2001 season into the history books. Now in its third historic and record-breaking year of major expansion, Six Flags introduces a colossal new addition at Six Flags Great Adventure theme park - Nitro - the most explosive coaster on the planet, in addition to a new ride reservation program focusing on guest service, Fast Lane. An unprecedented new value-pricing program will also make the Six Flags Wild Safari free to theme park ticket purchasers beginning April 7.

NITRO! Blasting Thrills Into a New Stratosphere

The park with the most rides worldwide, Six Flags Great Adventure turns the heat up in 2001 with the powerhouse new extreme mega coaster Nitro. "This is no ordinary roller coaster," said Bill Muirhead, vice president and general manager of New Jersey's Six Flags. "It's more than just a powder-keg of thrills, it is nuclear in terms of the overall intensity and exhilaration of the ride experience."

The park's single largest addition, Nitro takes thrills to a whole new stratosphere. Nitro transforms the "mega coaster" -- an industry term meaning to tower in excess of 200 feet -- into a cutting-edge ultra thrill machine. Completely unique in design, Nitro will take thrill-lovers on a white-knuckled ascent 230 feet (23 stories), only to dive 215 feet back to Earth at hyper-speeds approaching 80 mph.

The ultra-intense, mile-long journey packed with relentless thrills features seven steep and dramatic drops for long "air time" -- when a rider lifts off the seat from negative gravitational forces -- and several extreme maneuvers including double highly-banked "flat loops," or pair of horizontal loops, an S-curve and high-speed "hammer head" featuring intense, tight twists and turns. Heightening the thrill, riders rocket through the maze of twisted steel in a revolutionary carriage composed of four-abreast, tilted-back seats and a simple lap bar. These open-air seats allow maximum air-flow, free of traditional confining fiberglass enclosures, but push the fear threshold since there's nowhere to hide.

Already the talk of the industry, Nitro has coaster experts stepping forward claiming it is the hottest new super thrill coaster for 2001. Coaster historian and life-long enthusiast Paul Ruben, editor of Park World magazine, raves, "Six Flags is taking the thrill ride to an entirely new level -- it's pushing the envelope big-time!" Adds Steve Urbanowicz, author of The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion, "Nitro overdoses on adrenaline producing a white-knuckled ride from start to finish! I dare you to catch your breath!"

"Nitro completes a world-class 12-pack of thrill machines, ranking Six Flags Great Adventure 'The Mother of All Coaster Parks,'" Muirhead said. Nitro is the brainchild of the amusement industry's premier roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) of Switzerland. It is the park's third B&M roller coaster, joining Medusaś and Batman the Ride.

"FAST LANE" Brings New Meaning to "Guest Service" Offering the Fast Track to Fun!

While Six Flags Great Adventure continues to push the thrill envelope with colossal, new attractions, the Park's focus always remains on guest service. This season, the nation's largest seasonal theme park will formally introduce a new, free ride reservation program known as Fast Lane. Aimed at enhancing the guest experience and decreasing wait time for the park's most popular attractions, fans of the park's most electrifying coasters -- including Nitro, Medusa, Batman & Robin: The Chiller, Great American Scream Machine and Batman the Ride -- can gain immediate admission without waiting in line.

"We are constantly working to improve guest service and expand the range of services provided to our guests," Muirhead said. "'Fast Lane' offers our guests an exciting, free and time-effective method of enjoying the park, and the feedback we've received thus far is outstanding," he added.

Guests can to choose from several major attractions and reserve specific times to ride. At the reservation time, guests are directed through a separate ride entrance and immediately boarded on a reserved row. The Park debuted a smaller-scale test program in August, 2000 which ran incredibly smoothly. "Based on the success of the test program, we are rolling out this new program to accommodate a much larger number of Guests this season," Muirhead said.

"Fast Lane" ride reservations are available on a first-come, first serve basis next to Guest Relations. Space is limited, and reservations are contingent upon adverse weather conditions, availability and ride maintenance.

Theme Park Guests to Enjoy "FREE SAFARI" All Season-long!

Theme park goers for the first time ever will gain free admission to the Wild Safari during the 2001 season, creating an extraordinary entertainment offer. This unprecedented decision has already been applauded by travel and tourism professionals, as well as returning theme park fans.

"Six Flags is known not only for bringing innovative thrill rides and attractions every year to millions around the world, but also for value entertainment the whole family can enjoy. This year, we're delivering family value by offering the Six Flags Wild Safari free with the purchase of a theme park ticket," announced Muirhead. "There's no greater value anywhere in the theme park industry."

A visit to the Six Flags Wild Safari is one of the most enthralling, amazing and educational theme park experiences in existence. The 350-acre wildlife preserve is the world's largest drive-through safari outside of Africa, featuring more than 1,200 animals from six continents. Its unique drive-through configuration makes it completely different from a visit to the zoo, as animals can walk right up to guests' vehicles for an up-close and personal experience. Guests in 2001 will enjoy the incredible antics of such safari favorites as giraffe, elephants, rhinos, ostriches, tigers, camels and baboons free with their theme park ticket.

Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari will kick-off their 28th season on April 7 with new shows, concerts, festivals, restaurants and attractions for every member of the family. For more information, visit the web site at www.sixflags.com.