Six Flags opens as planned

By Kristi E. Swartz and Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Six Flags Over Georgia opened this weekend as scheduled with all major rides available, said park officials.

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Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com The Batman roller coaster (left) and the Mind Bender (right) were submerged by rising rivers.

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Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com Near the back of the park, the Scream Machine and Ninja coasters were swamped, but the park says it will open Saturday.

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Park employees have been working "around the clock" to make sure anyone who wants to head out to the theme park can. This weekend is the last one before "Fright Fest," which is planned for every weekend in October.

The park is in Austell, one of the areas hit hardest by the heavy rain. Cobb County schools were closed earlier this week, as were parts of I-20.

Arial photos shot earlier this week showed the Scream Machine submerged in floodwaters. Despite an official stance that the park would open, the photos, picked up by TV and other news media, left many people wondering.

Friday morning parks spokeswoman, Kendall Kelton confirmed that there was no standing water in the park.

"Everyone made ‘water park' jokes, but we're going to prove we're not a water park, we're a theme park," she said.

Kelton said the park's rides were structurally built to handle severe weather.