Six Flags still hopes to open this weekend, will make decision before Saturday

By Kristi E. Swartz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Six Flags over Georgia officials still hope to open the park this weekend regardless of the area around the Scream Machine remaining underwater, a park spokeswoman said.

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Phil Skinner, AJC Despite flooding, Six Flags over Georgia plans to open this weekend, a park spokeswoman said Tuesday.

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Phil Skinner, AJC Flood waters from Sweetwater Creek cover Six Flags.

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Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com Interstate 20 emains empty near the Six Flags Park exit on Tuesday. Flood waters from the Chattahoocee River covered parts of I-20 and Six Flags Over Georgia.

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Employees are at the park working, communications director Kendell Kelton said. She did not have any information on whether the Scream Machine or any of the other rides and attractions were damaged from the floods. The Scream Machine was completely submerged Tuesday.

"We just have to wait for the water to recede, and then we'll be able to address any potential issues," Kelton said Wednesday afternoon. "We will be making a full assessment prior to operation.

This weekend is the last before the annual Fright Fest Halloween festivities.

"We've handled floods in the past, and we know how to handle this," Kelton said.

The area around the Scream Machine has been underwater since Monday, she said. If the water doesn't recede, that area will remain blocked off this weekend, Kelton said.

Heavy rains and flooding have caused portions of I-285 and I-20 in Cobb County to close.

Six Flags over Georgia is the largest regional theme park in the Southeast. Its two parks — the Six Flags in Austell and the White Water property in Marietta — are the region's largest employer of seasonal workers.

Yet the park's New York-based parent company filed for bankruptcy in June as a way of dealing with $1.8 billion worth of debt. While the company said the move would not impact individual parks, the ability to open this weekend and prepare for Fright Fest remains important for Six Flags over Georgia.