A deadly accident at an amusement park is the latest trouble for struggling Six Flags Entertainment Corp.
The Arlington, Texas-based owner of Kings Island saw its shares fall to their lowest level all year following a fatal accident at the company's park in Georgia.
A man died and several others were injured while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12. The incident prompted Six Flags, which operates 34 amusement and water parks across North America, to temporarily close nine coasters at its parks, including two at Kings Island.
The company had faced years of financial challenges before the fatality, following fluctuating attendance and an $8 billion merger with its amusement park rival.
Shares slump following fatal crash
Shares for the amusement park operator
closed Oct. 13 at $10.20, down $1.72, or 14.43%, from its previous close.
Shares have gone down about 60% from their 2026 high of $24.94 on June 18, extending a months-long decline.
Public filings show $1.6 billion loss
Six Flags reported a net loss of $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2025, according toits annual report − the most recently available annual disclosure − even though it increased its revenue and attendance from 2024. The company reported:
- 47.4 million people attended its parks, a 13.8% increase from the previous year
- Net revenues increased 14.4% to $3.1 billion
- Operating costs increased by 20% to $2.4 billion
These challenges have continued this year.
Six Flags reported a net loss of $203 million on its second-quarter 2026 report, released in August. Its revenue decreased by $65 million from the same quarter last year, and its overall attendance decreased by 7% to 14.2 million.
Its net debt is $5 billion, according to the second quarter 2026 report.
A 'costly and time consuming' merger
The company's public filings offer some insight into Six Flag's financial challenges.
Six Flags merged with amusement park rival Cedar Fair, which previously owned Kings Island, in 2024.
In its annual report for fiscal year 2025 Six Flags pointed to the "costly and time-consuming" $8 billion merger as a potential risk for investors. It said Six Flags might not be able to "successfully" integrate the two businesses "or realize the anticipated benefits of the mergers."
The report also said that accidents and injuries "could result in negative publicity and could reduce attendance and result in decreased revenues."
At least 35 deaths are connected to rides at Six Flags parks since the company was founded in 1961, USA Today reported. This includes deaths that happened at parks that were previously under different ownership.
Six Flags also recently closed on of its roller coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, after riders reported brain injuries after riding and sued the company.
Travis Kelce-backed group urges sale
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce worked with activist hedge fund JANA Partners to acquire a9% stake of the company in 2025. Kelce is also abrand ambassador for Six Flags.
In September, JANA Partners urged Six Flags to explore a sale of the company after seeing the 2026 quarterly results, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Six Flags also sold seven of its parks in March. The company said the sale allows it to "concentrate on the Six Flags parks with the greatest potential for innovation, expansion, and elevated guest experiences."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Six Flags death magnifies brain injury concerns and call for sale
