
Six Flags has extended for another five years its license to use the Peanuts characters in select theme parks.
As a lifelong Snoopy fan, I am happy that we will continue to be able to see Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of Charles Schulz’ characters at Knott’s Berry Farm. But as fan who is long past childhood, I wish that Six Flags would do more with these characters than offer kiddie rides in a children’s land.
Knott’s first obtained the rights to the Peanuts characters from Schulz back in 1983. When Cedar Fair bought the park from the Knott family in 1997, it also obtained the Peanuts license, which it extended to the company’s other theme parks.
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Those parks are now part of the new Six Flags chain, following the merger of Cedar Fair and the old Six Flags last year. Cedar Fair’s license to use the Peanuts characters was set to expire this year, but that deal included an option to extend through 2030, which Six Flags now has exercised. At the legacy Six Flags parks, such as Six Flags Magic Mountain, children’s lands remained themed to the Looney Tunes franchise.
As a parent, I love when parks offer attractions scaled to little kids — places where they could feel like the hero in an adventure, rather than just struggling to see around the grown-ups next to them. I especially appreciate attractions that promote active play. Waiting in queues can be agony for little kids. Those who are able need the reward of physical play when it is their turn.
I also love when parks acknowledge that franchises such as Peanuts and Looney Tunes appeal to multiple generations, not just today’s kids but yesterday’s, as well.
Six Flags has been investing in new and renovated Camp Snoopy attractions at several of its parks, including at Knott’s Berry Farm and Ohio’s Kings Island last year and North Carolina’s Carowinds this year. Yet nothing that Six Flags or its predecessors have done with Peanuts or Looney Tunes rises to the level that other companies have done with these franchises abroad. That’s a missed opportunity for Six Flags and its fans.
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I would love to see Six Flags build an interactive Looney Tunes dark ride on the level of the delightful Acme Factory-themed AniMayhem at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. That park is located on the Yas Island resort where Disney is planning its next theme park. For Peanuts, I would love to see an experience like the newly renovated Snoopy Studios at Universal Studios Japan. That one is an indoor attraction that includes multiple active play opportunities, photo ops, character meets, a live-action theater and Snoopy-themed roller coaster.
Yes, those companies have more money than Six Flags does. The theme park industry always has been one that rewards smart capital investment. Whether you are a theme park company or its guest, you have to pay to play.
Millions of fans of all ages adore Peanuts and Looney Tunes. That is value that is just waiting for Six Flags to unlock.
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Robert Niles covers the themed entertainment industry as the editor of ThemeParkInsider.com.

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