January 14, 2006

Six Flags Great America Adds Giant Tornado Attraction To Hurricane Harbor Water Park

Gurnee, IL -- A year after the launch of the Caribbean themed water park, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, the park will be expanded again this spring with the addition of the new "Tornado" attraction.

This unique and thrilling family water slide will be added to the park's already impressive collection of water attractions. This spring, the award-winning giant Tornado slide will take the Midwest's most popular water park by storm.

"This extreme tubing experience is the perfect addition for Six Flags Hurricane Harbor," said Ron Sevart, vice president and general manager for Six Flags Great America and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. "Tornado combines traditional and nontraditional water park elements with the height and speed of a theme park thrill ride. It will quickly become a favorite with our park guests."

Thrill seekers will ride the ultimate storm after boarding a four-passenger cloverleaf shaped inner tube. The ride begins from a 75-foot high platform where riders are sent down a 132-foot long tunnel by more than 5,000 gallons of water.

Once inside the giant 60-foot wide funnel, the tube will be sent whirling and spinning back and forth from side-to-side.

After weathering the turbulence, riders are sent through the eye of the storm as they splash through a waterfall and into a refreshing catch pool below.

"We pride ourselves on bringing the most exciting and innovative attractions to our parks and Tornado is one of the best water experiences out there," Sevart said. "Its enormous size and unique shape has garnered quite the buzz in the water park industry and is sure to spark interest with Six Flags Hurricane Harbor guests. Perhaps the best part of the ride is enjoying it with your family and friends.

Six Flags says Tornado's massive blue and yellow checked funnel will easily be seen from I-94/I-294 in Gurnee, IL towering high above the Castaway Creek adventure river.

This latest Six Flags ride joins a long list of high-energy water adventures at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, which is included free with Six Flags Great America theme park admission. The water park has dozens of speed, tube and mat slides, a large wave pool and the world's largest interactive water playground for families.

Tornado has received some of the amusement industry's top awards including the Golden Ticket Award for Best Water Park Ride and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Best New Product Award in the Water Park Category.

Six Flags Great America opens for the 2006 season on Saturday, April 29 and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor opens Saturday, May 27.

For more information, see Six Flags Hurricane Harbor or visit http://www.sixflags.com

Photos courtesy of Six Flags Great America. All rights reserved.

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