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Theme Parks: All Aboard for More Family Fun! Six Flags America to Open Thomas TownSM in 2010

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Maryland theme park to be home to North America’s largest permanent destination based on Thomas & Friends™

Six Flags America, the Nation’s Capital of MORE FLAGS and MORE FUN announces details of Thomas TownSM, a new family entertainment area based on the popular Thomas & Friends™ brand. Thomas Town is the park’s largest expansion in over a decade and will feature eight rides and attractions and a new retail store and a new character. Opening this summer, Six Flags America’s Thomas Town will be the largest Thomas Town in North America.

"Thomas & Friends have entertained and educated more than three generations with messages of teamwork and friendship, " said John Winkler, Six Flags America park president. "Now families who visit the park will have a new, permanent, place — the largest in North America — to enjoy and interact with these wonderful characters. We are delighted to welcome Thomas Town to Six Flags America and offer our guests more ways to experience family-friendly fun together."

Gary Krakower, senior vice president for consumer products and live events at HIT Entertainment, parent company of Thomas & Friends, said, "We are thrilled to be working with Six Flags theme parks, as they have an outstanding reputation for providing quality family amusements. The wholesome appeal of Thomas & Friends comes to life at Thomas Town and allows children to experience the themes of discovery, perseverance and friendship that are synonymous with the Thomas & Friends brand."

Encompassing more than three and a half acres of the popular theme park, the cornerstone of Thomas Town will be a train ride on a Thomas the Tank Engine™ replica that will take guests on a journey through Thomas’ mythical home on the Island of Sodor. Other new rides and attractions in the all-new Thomas Town include:

Harold the Helicopter — Kids can control how high they can fly through the air above Thomas Town in their very own helicopter. 
Cranky the Crane Tower Ride — Guests will enjoy high-flying family thrills on this unique, 30-foot drop tower on Cranky the Crane.
Bertie the Bus Ride — Bertie the Bus takes riders on an unforgettable trip as they go round and round and high into the sky.
Diesel Derby — Guests join the parade of train cars moving through Thomas Town.
Sodor Carnival Ferris Wheel — Guests of every age will experience Carnival Fun on the Island of Sodor while riding this classic Ferris wheel.
Thomas Town Play Structure — This multi-level play area is themed with Thomas & Friends character images and features slides, climbing areas, and interactive fun!
Thomas Town Pop Jet Fountain — Children and children-at-heart can take a break and cool off in this delightful pop-jet water feature.

In addition to these fun rides and attractions, Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway — a new character at Six Flags America — will greet visitors and pose for photos throughout the day. The Knapford Station Shop, the park’s first retail location since 2005, will feature themed merchandise, including the popular Thomas & Friends die cast trains, apparel, and storybooks.

The addition of Thomas Town will nearly double the number of thrilling family attractions at Six Flags America. The park is also home to LOONEY TUNES Movie Town with rides, shows, and attractions; and Crocodile Cal’s Caribbean Beach House and Buccaneer Beach, both located in Hurricane Harbor water park.

With more than 100 awe-inspiring rides, games, shows, and family attractions, Six Flags America is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier destination for family fun. The park boasts seven thrilling roller coasters — headlined by the hyper-coaster SUPERMAN: Ride of Steel, one of the tallest coasters on the East Coast and BATWING, Maryland’s first flying coaster. Hurricane Harbor features slides and splashes for thrill seekers of every age, including the six-story funnel of FUN Tornado and Hurricane Bay, one of the largest wave pools in the United States. Six Flags America theme park opens Saturday, March 27 and is open for Spring Break through Monday, April 5, then weekends in April and May, with daily operation resuming Memorial Day weekend. Hurricane Harbor begins its season on Saturday, May 22.

Six Flags America offers family-friendly value all season long with a 2010 Season Pass. Passholders enjoy unlimited admission to Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor Water Park as well as receive exclusive benefits, including free tickets for friends and more than $300 in savings on in-park food and fun. For a limited time, Season Passes are just $49.99, a $20.00 discount from the regular Season Pass price of $69.99. Visit sixflags.com to purchase Season Passes online and learn more about park hours and special events.

About Six Flags:

Six Flags Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation headquartered in New York City and is the world’s largest regional theme park company with 19 parks across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

About HIT Entertainment:

HIT Entertainment is one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT’s portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment’s Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations.  HIT also acts as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan.   HIT is a part-owner of
US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China). For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.

About Thomas & Friends™

Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son 65 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 185 territories and in 30 languages.  The #1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story. Children embark on adventures with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation.  Thomas & Friends makes tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS®,
PBS KIDS SproutSM and with downloadable episodes available through iTunes. For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, please visit www.thomasandfriends.com.  

See also:
Theme Parks: Judge approves Six Flags exit plan
Theme Parks: Six Flags White Water Announces New Interactive Addition for 2010 Inspired by The Wiggles…The World’s Premier Children’s Entertainers

Theme Parks: Six Flags announces Third Quarter and 9 Month results and Reaffirms 2009 Adjusted EBITDA Forecast of $190 Million

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