User blog:RCTFan2002/What If? Episode 4: What if Six Flags stayed in charge of Walibi Holland?

Hello, and welcome back to my “What If?” series. This week I will be tackling the scenario “What if Six Flags stayed in charge of Walibi Holland?” And yes, I do know that most of my episodes so far have tackled just mainly Six Flags parks (or former SF parks), but this is NOT intentional. It’s just hard to try to talk about theme parks without mentioning Six Flags, and besides, Six Flags has such a rich history when it comes to owning and operating theme parks - it’s just OOZING with many different possibilities and outcomes. I may also do one about “Walibi Belgium” as it was also owned by Six Flags at the time as it’s sister park, but that will be for another week and post. So let’s get started!

Introduction
Walibi Holland opened in 1971 as “Flevohof”, a small theme park themed to agricultural and farming. The park operated for 20 years before closing due to bankruptcy, and was purchased by Walibi Group in 1993. It reopened the following year as “Walibi Holland”, a full blown amusement park. In 1998, the Walibi parks were purchased by Premier Parks and in 2000, Walibi Holland was renamed and rebranded as “Six Flags Holland”, featuring four new coasters. However, several years later in 2004, Six Flags ended up going through bankruptcy and as a result had to sell several of their parks, including Six Flags Holland and the other Walibi parks. The park was bought by Palamon Capital Partners and reverted back to “Walibi Holland” in 2005, with all of the Six Flags branding removed. The park now operates as Walibi Holland to this day. But what if Six Flags somehow avoided going bankrupt, and was able to keep their international parks? What if Walibi Holland still operated as “Six Flags Holland” to this day? How would the ride and coaster lineup be different? Find out right here, right now.

Year-by-year predictions
(NOTE: Since Six Flags never sold Walibi Holland in this scenario, all rides and coasters will still retain the same names and themes that they had during the Six Flags era of the park; “Xpress: Platform 13” stays as “Superman the Ride”, etc.)

2004 - Park Improvements: If Six Flags was going to add anything new to the park for the 2004 season we would’ve heard about near the end of the 2003 season or at least seen it being built at the park over the off-season. Since we obviously didn’t, I’m going to assume that for 2004, Six Flags didn’t have any plans to add anything new to the park and would’ve just done some general park improvements, such as new paint on the rides/buildings and such. Nothing really else to say, soooo moving on.

2005 - S&S Sky Swat ride, Tornado removed: Since Six Flags already built one of these rides at “Six Flags Astroworld” in Houston, I think they probably would’ve added another one to another SF park at some point, had the ride model not get such a bad reputation. Since Thorpe Park in England had an S&S Sky Swat of it’s own at the time and Six Flags is notoriously known for trying to one-up other parks (as proven by its massive expansion of Geauga Lake/Six Flags Ohio/Six Flags Worlds of Adventure), I think it’s safe to say that they’d try to take guests and popularity away from Thorpe Park by adding their own Sky Swat to Six Flags Holland - and yes, I know Six Flags Holland is in another country than Thorpe Park, but it still most likely wants to maintain its popularity as one of Europe’s most thrilling theme parks, and since Six Flags was adding Sky Swat models to their parks around this time and Thorpe Park already had one nearby…yeah, I think it’s highly likely that Six Flags would try to throw people off of Thorpe Park’s trail by adding their own Sky Swat to Six Flags Holland just to divert people away from England. Also, “Tornado”, the park’s Chance Chaos ride, is removed as everyone pretty much knows that these Six Flags installations were plagued with technical and mechanical issues.

2006 - Gerstlauer spinning coaster: At this point it’s been 4 years since the park last received a coaster (in the form of Goliath), so I think this would be a good time for Six Flags to add their newest coaster to the park. However, given that at this time Mark Shapiro, the CEO of Six Flags starting this year, didn’t want to add any more large scale coasters to the SF chain, and the fact that the park already has a large scale coaster (again, in Goliath), I think the new coaster would be a more family oriented ride. A year before, Six Flags New England received the chain’s first Gerstlauer spinning coaster, “Mr. Six’s Pandemonium” (now just “Pandemonium”), and given what a hit these small yet thrilling coasters there, I predict that one could maybe possibly find its way to Six Flags Holland as well. This type of coaster would appeal to both families and thrill seekers, and for a somewhat smaller Six Flags park, this type of coaster along with “Goliath” would further boost the park’s popularity as well as cement the park’s status as “Europe’s roller coaster capital”. However, I think that this coaster would NOT have a Tony Hawk theme to it like the other, later SF parks had, due to the fact Tony Hawk is an American license so I can’t really see a Tony Hawk-themed coaster in Holland. I predict that this coaster would instead take a page out of SFNE’s book and name the ride “Mr. Six’s Pandemonium”, as well as a similar paint job to the one at SFNE. I feel like naming the coaster after Six Flags’ mascot at the time makes more sense than giving it an out-of-place Tony Hawk theme.

2007 - New Kids Area (Thomas Town?) added, Flying Dutchman Gold Mine closes: Most Six Flags parks stereotypically have two kiddie areas in them, and since Six Flags Holland only has a Looney Tunes kids area so far, I think this would be a good time to add another kids area to the park - especially when other parks in the SF chain have had new kiddie areas added this year as well. However, since this is a European park I don’t think the new area would get an American license like “The Wiggles” or anything like that. The only idea I can think of is maybe a “Thomas Town” area, since “Thomas & Friends” is technically British, so it fits more of the park’s European style than, say, “The Wiggles” would. So, yeah, a new “Thomas Town” kids area would be added for the 2007 season, and as for location I predict it would be built in the patch of land in between the Looney Tunes area and the Wild West area, as well as take up Tornado’s old spot. Speaking of “Flying Dutchman Gold Mine”, this year I predict that the coaster will suddenly close near the end of the park season and be removed, but it won’t be permanently closed. Instead it will be relocated and refurbished heavily for next year’s addition:

2008 - The Dark Knight Coaster, Aztec removed: Honestly, I feel like this is the most obvious out of all of my predictions so far. The park already has a Wild Mouse coaster in it, and since the Dark Knight movie came out this year and SF was trying to cash in on it with new coasters, I think it’s obvious that they would try to convert “Flying Dutchman Gold Mine” into “The Dark Knight Coaster” by relocating it to the Hollywood Main Street area, putting it indoors and giving it a new Batman theme. This wouldn’t really be that uncommon for an international Six Flags park to do, because just a year later Six Flags would also install a Dark Knight Coaster at their park in Mexico, so this proves they’re not above putting these types of Batman coasters in their international parks. This would also fill in the gap for lack of a Batman ride at the park so far, since what is a Six Flags park without a Batman coaster in it? Also, I predict that Six Flags would quietly and unceremoniously remove their Huss Rainbow ride, “Aztec”, after the season already ends, as many parks were already removing their own Huss Rainbow rides this year following the accident at Liseberg.

2009 - Park Improvements, New Park Entertainment, Le Tour des Jardins removed: Since Six Flags was going through financial issues around this time IRL, and the fact that Six Flags doesn’t really focus much on their international parks as they formerly did (save maybe Six Flags Mexico), I don’t think we would see any new attractions at the park this year. Instead I predict that Six Flags would just focus mostly on park improvements as well as new park entertainment - either a “Glow in the Park” parade like what Six Flags Great America did this year or maybe a new festival with a cultural European/Holland theme (since the park IS in Europe after all). This new park event wouldn’t be as thrilling as, say, a new coaster, but it would still provide the park with a fresh and exciting new atmosphere to appeal to those who don’t prefer heavy thrill rides. Sadly though, this would also be the last season for the park’s popular car ride, “Le Tour des Jardins”, as it’d be taken out following this season for 2010’s new addition.

2010 - Mack Splash Battle ride: Since Walibi Holland in real life already has a Splash Battle-style ride in the park at this time (2005 to be exact), and Six Flags did recently add a Splash Battle ride to Six Flags Great America the year before, I predict that SF would add a Mack Splash Battle ride to the park in the former spot of “Le Tour des Jardins”. Since this ride would technically be located in the France area of the park, I predict that instead of “Buccaneer Battle”, it would have a different name, something fitting the France area theme, as well as a somewhat French theme to it (why am I getting Pepe LePew’s Rafts of Romance vibes all of a sudden?). This new water ride would provide the park with an exciting and interactive new water ride, and fill in the gap for a new water ride that “Splash Battle” in real life left behind. Though this ride would mainly be targeted for families and children, it would definitely provide an appeal to other park guests during the hot summers (if it even does get hot in Holland during the summer, IDK).

2011 - New Park Festival, Thomas Town(?) area rebranded/renamed: Like most other Six Flags parks, this year I predict that this year, Six Flags will try and do something special to celebrate the park’s 40th anniversary (since the park did open in 1971 after all). Since this is one of the smaller Six Flags parks, I predict that Six Flags would just add a brand new, one season only park festival, that’ll celebrate the park’s history. Also new this year would be the renaming and rebranding of the park’s “Thomas Town” area, since Six Flags no longer has the “Thomas and Friends” license in their parks starting this year. It could possibly become “Whistlestop Park” like the other SF parks have done, but since this is a European park, I wouldn’t be surprised if it obtained another name and/or theme entirely instead. What that name/theme is, I currently don’t know, so if anyone has any ideas please let me know in the comments.

2012 - Flat Ride Package, Robin Hood removed: At this point in time, Six Flags Holland has gone 7 years since the addition of the last thrill ride in the park - that being the S&S Sky Swat in 2005. That’s why I think that this year, Six Flags will decide to throw the park a bone and finally give them some more, well-needed thrill rides. This flat ride package would consist of a Larson Flying Skooters in the Italy area (I don’t know why, but I can totally see it being put in this area and nowhere else LOL), a Zamperla Disk’O in the Speed Zone area, and finally, I think we could see the first Zamperla Watermania ride in the SF chain being added, probably to the Looney Tunes area like it’s future counterpart at Six Flags Over Texas (like before, I can’t see it going anywhere else XD). I think these rides would definitely benefit a “smaller” park like Six Flags Holland, as it would finally bring some much needed more exciting thrill rides to the park and entice more families and thrill seekers into coming to the park. It would definitely help bring a boost in the park’s overall yearly attendance. Sadly, this year would also see the closure of the park’s sole wooden coaster “Robin Hood”, as in classic Six Flags style it would be rebuilt and converted into…

2013 - RMC Robin Hood conversion, Sky Swat removed: By now it’s been 5 years since the park has gotten a “new” coaster (7 years if you don’t count Flying Dutchman Gold Mine’s transformation to “The Dark Knight Coaster”), so I think this would be another good time for Six Flags to add a well-needed thrill ride to the park. In this case, the ride would be an RMC conversion of “Robin Hood”. This would give Europe’s it’s very first wood/steel hybrid coaster and put Six Flags Holland back on top as the rollercoaster capital of Europe, enticing and drawing many coaster enthusiasts and thrill seekers from around Europe and even the world. However, this year would also see the removal of the park’s Sky Swat ride, as like mentioned before, many SF fans would know how much of a technical nightmare these types of ride are. Six Flags New England also removed their Sky Swat ride this year anyways, so it kinda makes sense that the company would try to get rid of both rides at the same time. Don’t worry though, cause like SFNE it would get replaced next year with…

2014 - SkyScreamer added, Los Sombreros removed: Since Six Flags was adding many different clones of this type of ride to their parks around this time, I predict that this year, SF would add a 400-ft tall SkyScreamer ride to Six Flags Holland. This would give Holland it’s only swing tower ride so far and provide park guests with an exciting and breathtaking ride experience. This wouldn’t be that uncommon of a ride for an international Six Flags park to have, as just a year later Six Flags Mexico would also get their own “SkyScreamer” attraction. Like mentioned above, this ride would be built over the Sky Swat’s old ride pad, probably in the Speed Zone area (because at this point that is the only place where I could see both of these rides being placed). This ride would definitely help bring more guests into the park, especially those who want to have a thrilling ride experience, but don’t like rollercoasters. I also predict that this year, Six Flags would remove the park’s “Los Sombreros” attraction, as it’s already 20-21 years old at this point and has pretty much reached the end of its service life. It would be replaced with next year’s addition.

2015 - Larson Super Loop: Another new thrill ride that Six Flags was adding to their parks around this time, I predict that this year Six Flags Holland would receive one of their own versions of this ride in their park. It would replace “Los Sombreros” in the Mexico area of the park and be named - you guessed it - “El Diablo”, like the one that was formerly located at Six Flags Great Adventure, and the one currently located at SFOT. Not that surprising, at least to me. This new flat ride would provide the park with another exhilarating new thrill ride experience, and bring in some more thrill seeker guests into the park.

2016 - Justice League: Battle for Metropolis dark ride, Excalibur removed: Since Six Flags Mexico had their own version of this ride installed at their park this year, I think it’s safe to say that this type of ride could be installed at any of SF’s other international parks as well. Besides, this type of ride would be perfect for Six Flags Holland since they currently lack any kind of exciting dark ride. This ride would be located in the Hollywood Main Street area, the building conjoined to that of the Dark Knight coaster next to it and sandwiched right next to one of the park entrance buildings. This dark ride would finally provide Six Flags Holland with an exciting and thrilling dark ride that it deserves, and help shield park guests from the elements during the hot summers (again, if it even does get hot in Holland during the summers). However, I also predict that, courtesy of Six Flags’ “No Top Spin” policy, the park would remove it’s Huss Top Spin “Excalibur” following the end of the park season. It will be replaced next year with…

2017 - Zamperla Giant Discovery, Holiday in the Park, Go Karts removed: Yes, I know that Six Flags Holland already has a Frisbee ride named “Tomahawk”, but SFNE and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom also had Huss Frisbees already installed in them, and that didn’t stop them from adding “Harley Quinn Spinsanity” and “Wonder Woman Lasso of Truth” respectively around this time period. That’s why I predict that Six Flags Holland would continue this trend of adding two of the same ride type by adding a Zamperla Giant Discovery to the Sherwood Forest area, where “Excalibur” was previously located. The ride would, obviously, have a medieval theme to it and likely have a medieval-sounding name as well…maybe “Titan” like La Ronde? This new thrill ride would serve as the first new flat ride added to the area in a long time, and, along with the new RMC conversion of Robin Hood, would without a doubt bring a lot more park guests into the back of the park to provide them with a thrilling ride experience. I also think that starting this year, Six Flags would bring “Holiday in the Park” to Six Flags Holland, as an attempt to increase their overall seasonal park attendance and revenue, and quietly remove the park’s go karts attraction.

2018 - Batman: The Ride 4D Free Spin coaster, El Condor refurbishment: I know the park already has “The Dark Knight Coaster”, but it still lacks an actual “Batman: The Ride” coaster, which is why this year I predict that the park will finally open one, in the form of an S&S 4D Free Spin coaster. This type of coaster is very common in SF parks nowadays, and with Six Flags adding a buttload of them to each of their parks during this period, I think it’s very likely that Six Flags Holland would’ve gotten one as well. This coaster, located over the old go karts attraction, would not only give the park an actual, solid “Batman” coaster, but also provide Europe with its first and so far only 4D coaster, thus boosting the park’s popularity even more than it already is and seeing an increase in coaster enthusiasts going to the park yearly. I also predict that this year, like what SFNE did with “Mind Eraser”, the park would give its Vekoma SLC “El Condor” a complete refurbishment, since this coaster is already TWENTY FOUR years old and is pretty much in desperate need of an improvement. It would get new trains and a new paint job, though I think could retain its name unlike “Mind Eraser” at SFNE.

2019 - Kids Area Converted to DC Superfriends, G-Force removed: I think at this point its been what, 8 years since Six Flags has done anything to the park’s kiddie areas, and even that was just a simple retheming/rebranding of the area. That’s why this year I predict that Six Flags will turn their attention to both of the park’s kids areas - Bugs Bunny “Wereld” and Whistlestop Park(?) - and give it a major uphaul and improvements. This includes combining both kiddie areas into one and retheming some of the rides to DC heroes, like what Six Flags Over Georgia had already done at this time. The new kids area, “DC Superfriends”, would bring some more DC cash-in to the park without seeming too out of place, and provide an overall much needed refreshed atmosphere to the kids area. This new themed area would entice lots of families and children into the park and show park guests that the park does still try to appeal to younger audiences as well, thus making the park enjoyable for guests of all ages. However, I believe that this year would’ve also seen the park’s enterprise ride “G-Force” be removed, as it’s one of the more older flat rides in the park (21-22 years old) and has pretty much reached the end of its service life just like “Les Sombreros” did. It would be replaced in the next few years with…

2020/21 - Zamperla Endeavour: As I’ve said before in my previous posts, the reason this is dated “2020/21” is because this would’ve been Six Flags Holland’s new addition in 2020 before it was pushed back a year due to COVID-19. This ride is pretty much a next generation Enterprise model, so I think it’d be pretty appropriate that this would be G-Force’s replacement. This ride would give the park its first thrilling flat ride in almost 5 years and help bring park attendance back from the abyss following the whole COVID pandemic. Not much else to say here for a change, just that this would be a good idea for Six Flags to add as a replacement for the old Enterprise ride.

2022 - Park Improvements: Considering Six Flags Holland is one of SF’s more smaller parks, and the fact that the company is still most likely recovering from COVID-19 at this point, I don’t think we would see any new attractions being added this year to the park. Instead I predict that this would mostly just be an off-season for the park, and would just focus solely on overall park improvements, to help improve the park’s atmosphere a bit. New attractions would most likely come again starting 2023, but for now we can put them off for just a bit.

Conclusion
In conclusion, this is what I believe Walibi Holland would look like today if it was still owned by the Six Flags chain. Do you agree with my predictions? If not, then why? What are your possible predictions for this park scenario? Please leave your feedback as well as own possible predictions for this scenario below in the comments!