The Years!!
May 1958, Frontier City opens to the public. Rather than a traditional ribbon cutting, Frontier City was scheduled to have Governor Gary aim an old fashioned six shooter at a piece of rope stretched across the stockade entrance. I have no information on whether he hit the rope or not, but Frontier City opened in May 1958. Oklahoma City dignitaries were scheduled to arrive by stagecoach.
Treasure Mountain opens as a dark ride from 1958 ~ 2007 and was updated several times to its present modern darkride version. Known for its unique mountain shaped structure. It was removed to make way for QUICK DRAW in 2007.
In 1964 -1966, a 60 acre park called "Dodge Park Playland" in Council Bluffs, IA was condemned by the state to build the I-480 bridge. The bulk of the major rides were sold at auction. Some would later go to Frontier City.
In 1969, Abe Slusky buys Frontier City and was operated by his son Howard Slusky.
Sometime in the early 1970`s, Frontier City had another wooden rollercoaster a "Wild Mouse" rollercoaster. It was never erected due to the frame being damaged.
In 1980 or 81, the Slusky's sold the park to Tierco (now Premier/Six Flags Inc.).
In 1983, Gary Story arrives from Sydney, Australia to become General Manager of Frontier City.
In April of 1986, Frontier City would purchase the Silver Bullet form the State Fair of Texas (which Operated at The State Fair Of Texas from 1980-83).
In April or May of 1989, The Orange Blossom Special was moved from the corner of the park (the parking lot area) that originally operated outdoors and moved to it`s current location, the park cleverly created a "reverse tunnel" to become the Nightmare Mine.
In December 1990, Tierco Group acquired White Water Bay from Silver Dollar City, Inc . It was also the same year Frontier City (Tierco Group) would install the Wildcat from the now defunct Fairyland Park in Kansas City, MO.
In 1991 the Wild Kitty (a children's coaster) opened.
In April of 1993, the park added one of only a few shuttle loops in the country called The Diamondback. And it would also mark the parks 35th anniversary.
In 1994, Tierco Group, Inc. changes its name to Premier Parks, Inc . Kieran Burke becomes Chairman of the Board and remains Chief Executive Officer. Gary Story is promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer.
On April 1, 1998, Premier Parks purchases 100% of Six Flags for approximately $1.9 billion. Click here to read the entier article of the buyout. It would also mark the parks 40th anniversary with installment of the Tomahawk from Vekoma.
On Thursday, June 18, 1998, Frontier City reopened Thursday, after being ravaged by a tornado on Saturday June 13, 1998. The park sustained over $3 million dollars in damage as a result of the twister that touched down while the park was occupied by more than 2,500 guests. Miraculously, only a few people sustained minor injuries. The park had been hoping to reopen on Wednesday, but decided to delay the reopening for one more day, to give crews a little more time to do some necessary repairs. After an extensive inspection for damage to the rides, engineers from the ride manufacturers, state and park, found no major damage to any of the rides. The decision to delay the opening was made, so crews could repair damage to two major reservoirs, that hold water for two different water rides. The one day delay would dramatically improve the experience guests would have in the park, once it reopened. On Thursday, guests lined up again to enter the park for the first time since the disaster. The first visitors to the park were given t-shirts that read, I survived the Terrible Twister at Frontier City, mocking the disaster and the ride with the same name. But, the real terrible twister, is one attraction the park and the guests who experienced it, will never want to ride again. Frontier City was among the hardest hit businesses. The tornado passed through the parking lot damaging numerous vehicles before striking a two-story concrete block building at the northeast corner of the park. This building suffered partial failure of external walls and the entire roof was removed. Damage to adjacent areas of the park was mainly due to strong inflow into the tornado.
Here you can see the damage of the park :
Tree snapped near "Terrible Twister" at Frontier City
Damage at Frontier City
Air conditioner unit blown off roof at Frontier City
In July of 2000, Premier Parks Inc. changes its name to Six Flags, Inc .
In March of 2000, Six Flags removed the Excalibur mine coaster from (the now defunct) Six Flags Astroworld park, and was brought to Frontier City, but it was never installed. Some rumors have it that the reason for not installing the coaster was that it was poorly dismantled from a company in the Houston area and most of the steel was damaged. Although most of the ride still lays in on the other side of the park now called the storage area. It`ll never be known if the ride will ever be erected.
In April, of 2003, Frontier City and Six Flags, added the multi-million dollar thrill ride, an S&S Sling Shot dubbed Eruption for the parks 45th anniversary. Approximately 12,000 guest packed the park on that day.
On November 26, 2003, Gary Story resigns from Six Flags effective January 1, 2004, due to health concerns associated with his diabetes.
On December 13, 2005, Six Flags Inc. in Oklahoma City announced the appointment of Mark Shapiro as President and Chief Executive Officer to replace long time President and Chief Executive Officer, Kieran Burke.
On January 18, 2006, Six Flags Inc. in Oklahoma City announced Jeffrey Speed as chief financial officer, effective Feb. 1 to replace long time chief financial officer James Dannhauser.
On January 27, 2006 Six Flags Inc. in NYC closed its office in Oklahoma City; and to sell Frontier City and White Water Bay as theme parks at the end of the 2006 season!
On January 31, 2006 Industry pioneer Bill Crandall dies. Following his departure from Six Flags, Crandall took over a management contract for Frontier City in Oklahoma City where he once again boosted attendance at the troubled park thanks to securing a Schwarzkopf Looping Star coaster called the Silver Bullet. It was during his time at Frontier City that he would also play in the water once again, creating numerous designs fro waterslides that could be ridden in street clothes, thus the creation of the wet/dry waterslide. He left Frontier City to launch a new company called New Wave Rides, which specialized in these wet/dry attractions. His largest sale of these slides was a 16-slide themed area at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., in the 1980s. He will be dearly missed!!!
On Feb. 27, 2006, a fire breaks-out at Frontier City causing about $30,000 in damage.
On April 21, 2006, some 30 Six Flags executives from Oklahoma City relocated to Grand Prairie, TX. to form a satellite corporate office. Six Flags Inc. officially closed it`s doors in Oklahoma City.
On June 22, 2006 Six Flags received multiple bids for the purchase of Frontier City and White Water Bay as theme parks.
On Dec. 12, 2006 Six Flags in NYC announced that if sold, parks will continue to operate as ongoing concerns.
On January 11, 2007 Six Flags Inc. sells Frontier City and White Water Bay to PARC 7F-Operations Corporation (PARC) of Jacksonville, FL along with Six Flags Darien Lake in Buffalo, NY; Six Flags Elitch Gardens in Denver, CO ; SplashTown in Houston, TX; Waterworld USA in Concord, CA; and Wild Waves and Enchanted Village in Seattle, WA. for $312 million, consisting of $275 million in cash and a note receivable for $37 million.
On March 20, 2007 Frontier City removes the Tomahawk from park.
On April 9th, 2007, SIx Flags Inc. completes sale of the parks to PARC Management and CNL Income Properties Inc.. A new and inproved website for Frontier City and White Water Bay starts.
In May 2007, Frontier City and PARC Management repaints the Diamondback.
In June 2007, Frontier City opens Quick Draw a new interactive dark ride, the first ride installed in 4 years.
