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So from the problems of building new parks, to taking over chains of existing parks...

Word association is great fun, but if playing with the average enthusiast, don’t be alarmed by the tirade of obscenities exchanged in return for your suggestion of ‘Six Flags’. Parks like Magic Mountain in America have become famous not only for rides like Superman and X, but for complete ineptitude in terms of basic functions such as customer service and cleanliness.

So, it was with a heavy heart that we waved goodbye to the Walibi in 1998 as the Meeùs family sold one of Europe’s greatest collections of theme parks, the Walibi Group, to the Microsoft of the theme park world; Six Flags.

Like a one legged bar stall, Robin Hood is made from wood. This was a great coaster in an average park.

By 2000, Walibi Flevo became Six Flags Holland. Millions and millions were invested, the park was virtually rebuilt and 30 new attractions including four full-sized coasters opened.

So what’s the problem? This is good, non?

Well, yes and no. Six Flags Holland was a good example of a one-legged bar stall in theme park form. Quirky, functional and does the job, but is so infuriatingly trying that you would much rather just stand.

The rides at Six Flags Holland are the single leg on this bar stall. It could be an absolutely flawless example of a leg carved out of the finest mahogany available, just like rides like Goliath, Robin Hood and Merlin’s Magic Castle are all great in their own individual way, but without the other ‘legs’ the park hasn’t got a leg to stand on.

Europeans would learn first hand the criteria of theme park mentality, and Six Flags would become the beautiful girl and the object of everyone’s affection... with absolutely no personality – the golden goose that you can’t bear to be in the company of for more than an hour without going mad.

Customer satisfaction dipped as staff became despondent, and cutbacks such as running single trains on coasters and running rides on show times meant that Six Flags Holland showed us where the parks real interests laid – in making money.

This is ironic, as whatever you say about Six Flags, and despite their best efforts, making money has never been their forte. Six Flags’ reliance has long been on selling cheap season tickets, which are great for keeping the turnstiles spinning, but poor in terms of keeping tills ringing. Regular visitors are less likely to stock up on food and souvenirs, and have very short attention spans. If the park doesn’t keep investing for this breed of visitor, they’ll just move on to pastures new.

Splash Battle is a popular new addition now that Walibi is aiming for the family market again.

Bill Gates, one of Six Flags’ major shareholders warned the company not long ago and suggested selling their assets while they have been skirting bankruptsy for years, and soon after his words of warning Six Flags European Division was sold in 2004 to Palamon Capital Partners, a private equity firm who would operate the seven parks as StarParks, who hurriedly hailed the return of the Walibi as Six Flags Holland became Waili World and Six Flags Belgium was renamed to Walibi Belgium.

After the Six Flags debacle, StarParks is poised for a prosperous future. They’ve inherited the very best aspects of Six Flags’ reign such as the line-up of rides, and are already making progress on addressing Six Flags’ less impressive legacy of poor customer service.

Furthermore, they’re are steering the good ship StarParks on a new course, aiming for the family market with rides such as Splash Battle, an interactive water ride at their flagship park, Walibi World. Continues...