Six Flags Closes an Iconic Ride, Abandoning the Past for New Dark Ride Tech

Six Flags Fiesta Texas will soon have park goers asking, “Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you?”

The Six Flags in San Antonio is retiring the Scooby-Doo Ghostblasters attraction at the Boardwalk on January 7, the last day of its Holiday in the Park run. Say goodbye to the gang.

The 15-year-old rolling video game ride invites visitors to ride on their very own Mystery Machine through spooky settings like a hall of mirrors, a Ghastly Manor, and a haunted library. Visitors blast ghosts with light guns throughout, comparing their scores at the end of the ride.

There’s no mystery of why it’s shutting down for good. Meddling kids may miss the Scooby-Doo when it closes, but a new ride is already in the works. There may be something high-tech on the horizon. The attraction’s “current location will become the future home to the latest dark ride innovation later in 2018.” The theme of the new attraction hasn’t been revealed at this time.

Dark ride refers to indoor amusement park rides where passengers are transported on guided vehicles through specially lit scenes that often contain sound, music, special effects, or animation.

Notable examples include some rides that Disneyland has dreamed up. You can peer at pirates as you float down a canal at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Anaheim or Orlando. Or you can seek out specters as you roll through the Haunted Mansion.

Scooby-Doo Ghostblasters’ replacement won’t be Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ dark ride debut. In 2015, the theme park opened Justice League: Battle for Metropolis. Six Flags describes the ride as “a cutting edge, fully immersive dark ride experience,” with life-size animatronics, 4-D environment, and special cars that are programmed to twist and turn 360 degrees. Jinkies!