California’s Great America to close permanently Sept. 6, 2027

California’s Great America has set a date for its final goodbye. The Santa Clara theme park will reopen in March 2027 for a Farewell Season, then close permanently on Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2027, according to Yahoo Travel, publishing a report originally from Parade. Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced the decision this week, turning years of uncertainty into a final opportunity for families to return.

The farewell is intended to be more than a last round of rides. Yahoo Travel reports that the park plans legacy-themed programming, retrospective celebrations and storytelling experiences honoring the attractions and traditions that have shaped its place in Northern California family life.

“For more than five decades, this Santa Clara theme park has brought people together, created family traditions and served as the backdrop for unforgettable memories,” said Dave Vosejpka, park manager at California’s Great America, according to Yahoo Travel.

Great America’s Final Season Runs Through Labor Day

The March reopening and Sept. 6 closing date establish the window for a farewell visit, but they are not yet a complete operating calendar. A specific opening date has not been announced, according to CBS News. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Six Flags will announce additional details about the 2027 calendar later.

The final schedule also differs from the park’s most recent season. According to the East Bay Times, Great America extended its 2026 season with fall dates through Nov. 1. The announced 2027 farewell instead ends on Labor Day; returning visitors should not carry this year’s fall schedule forward into their plans.

Rides and South Bay Shores Remain Part of the Farewell

The park’s rides and attractions are expected to continue operating during the final season, subject to normal maintenance, weather and other operational considerations, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. South Bay Shores water park is also expected to operate on its usual seasonal schedule.

That makes the farewell a continuing operating season, rather than simply a commemorative event. Still, the distinction between the theme park’s calendar and the water park’s seasonal schedule is important for families whose priority is a water-park day. Likewise, the operating qualifications mean a final visit cannot be treated as a guarantee that every favorite attraction will be available.

Organized outings will remain part of the park’s final year. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that group outings, corporate events, and school and youth programs will continue through the farewell season. The East Bay Times also reports that schools can still book outings and employers can arrange company picnics.

What the 2027 Gold and Prestige Passes Include

For guests considering more than one goodbye, 2027 Gold and Prestige season passes are available, according to Yahoo Travel. Both provide unlimited visits to California’s Great America during the farewell run and include admission to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. The San Francisco Chronicle also reports those same access benefits.

The second-park inclusion is a useful distinction for Bay Area families weighing a season pass against a single farewell outing. The reported benefit extends beyond visits to Great America itself; Yahoo Travel describes Discovery Kingdom as combining roller coasters with wildlife and marine animal exhibits.

Why the Park Is Closing Before Its Lease Ends

The closure follows a land transaction in 2022, when real estate company Prologis paid $310 million for the property beneath Great America and leased it back to then-owner Cedar Fair, according to the East Bay Times. That lease runs through June 2028 and includes an option to extend it by as many as five years.

Six Flags has decided not to renew the lease, Yahoo Travel reports. The East Bay Times notes that the company had already indicated last year that 2027 could be the park’s final season. This week’s announcement confirms the outcome and supplies the final operating date.

Travelers should keep those dates separate: June 2028 is the reported lease expiration, while Sept. 6, 2027, is the announced last day for guests. The lease’s later end does not extend the farewell visiting window.

A Final Return to a Bay Area Landmark

Great America opened on March 20, 1976, as one of two theme parks developed by Marriott Corp., according to the East Bay Times. The Santa Clara and Illinois parks were initially known as Marriott’s Great America. The California park celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

Among its enduring landmarks is Carousel Columbia, the 100-foot-tall double-decker carousel that has greeted visitors at the entrance since opening day, the East Bay Times reports. Yahoo Travel also identifies The Grizzly and Flight Deck among the attractions woven into the park’s family history.

The future of those rides remains unresolved. According to SFGATE, Six Flags has made no decisions about the attractions’ eventual destinations; relocation to another Six Flags park or sale to another operator are among the options. For returning guests, the confirmed opportunity is to experience Great America in Santa Clara during its final season, before the gates close on Labor Day.