Six Flags Darien Lake

Six Flags Darien Lake (also known as Six Flags Darien Lake Resort and formerly known as Darien Lake Fun Country, Darien Lake, and Darien Lake Theme Park Resort) is a 1,200-acre (4.86 km²) amusement park and resort located in Darien Center, New York. Six Flags Darien Lake features an amusement park, a water park, a campground, and lodging. It is owned by EPR Properties and operated by Six Flags.

In 1954, Darien Lake was excavated and filled. The lake had already been a popular swimming destination for many years. In 1964, investor Paul Snyder acquired a 164-acre (66.37 ha) parcel of land bordering the lake and opened a small 23-site campground and picnic area. Snyder continued acquiring more land, eventually increasing his holdings to almost 1,000 acres (4.05 km²) of land. This land included seven lakes, the largest of which was Darien Lake. He stocked one of the smaller lakes, Trout Pond, with fish, increased the number of campsites, and added activities for resort guests such as a small petting zoo, horseback and pony rides, paddleboats, skateboarding, tennis courts, and miniature golf.

From the late 1970s and into the early 1980s, Snyder added more attractions, including a set of water slides on a hill near the park's entrance called Rainbow Mountain, officially creating an amusement park, which at the time was called Darien Lake Fun Country. Snyder made a deal with HUSS Park Attractions, turning Darien Lake into the North American showcase for the German manufacturer's new rides. Through this deal, the park offered HUSS a location to display rides to potential American and Canadian buyers, and acquired rides such as Pirate, Ranger, Thrillbilly, and Corn Popper. In 1982, the newly merged Arrow Huss built and opened the park's first major roller coaster, Viper.

In 1983, Snyder sold a 50% stake in the park to Funtime, Inc., which also owned Geauga Lake and Wyandot Lake Park at the time. The park's name was shortened to simply Darien Lake, and Funtime began to introduce several major improvements and attractions. Funtime's first addition was the Vekoma-built Ferris wheel, which had previously been showcased at the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was the largest in the United States at the time. Live entertainment was also brought to the park, with the construction of the Tops Jubilee Theater (later the Grande Theatre), and the Lakeside Amphitheater, which was a large concert stage on the south side of the main lake. It presented many well-known acts, including The Who, Alice Cooper, and Black Sabbath. Cinema 2000, a wide-angle movie theatre, was also installed in the back of the park.

In the late 1980s, a water skiing show called Splashmania, was featured on Fun Lake. The improvements continued throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, with the 1988 addition of a themed kids area, Adventure Land for Kids, and the 1989 addition of the Grizzly Run river rapids ride. In 1990, six new water slides were added to the water park, and the water park was officially named Barracuda Bay. It now required an extra admission fee to enter, and several common water park amenities were added. Following the success of the Dinn Corporation-built Raging Wolf Bobs at Geauga Lake in 1988, Funtime contracted the company to build a new wooden coaster for Darien Lake. The Predator roller coaster opened in May 1990 and was met with praise. Around this time, Paul Snyder, sold his remaining share of the park to Funtime, turning over all control of it to them.

In 1992, a laser light show called Laser Light Fantasy (now known as Laser Light Night Time Spectacular) debuted, including laser graphics and fireworks. In 1993, this show was permanently moved to the Lakeside Amphitheater, while concert events were moved to the new and larger Darien Lake Performing Arts Center. In 1994, the old Rainbow Mountain water slides were replaced with a new slide complex known as 'Cuda Falls, and Barracuda Bay dropped its extra admission charge, becoming included with base park admission.^{[citation needed]}

In 1995, growing regional park chain Premier Parks bought Funtime, Inc. and its three parks. Upon taking control of Darien Lake, Premier dove right into changes and additions. In 1995, Skycoaster opened, located over Fun Lake. In 1996, Adventure Land for Kids was replaced by Popeye's Seaport, with all-new kiddie rides, including a miniature Ferris wheel, a hand-cranked train ride, a submarine ride, a play place, and several live-action children's shows, as well as several amenities. A new miniature golf course opened behind the then-new kiddie area near Viper, which replaced the old course.

A water park expansion took place through 1996 and 1997 with the Hook's Lagoon children's area and the Crocodile Isle wave pool, as well as many new food locations and improved pathways between sections of the park and new midway game offerings. Three former Adventure Land for Kids rides were moved to another part of the park as the Tiny Trio in 1997. From 1996 to 1999, Premier would also install a new roller coaster each year: the enclosed Nightmare At Phantom Cave in 1996, the inverted The Mind Eraser in 1997, the shuttle Boomerang: Coast to Coaster in 1998, and the Superman – Ride of Steel hypercoaster in 1999.