Carowinds owner announces big shift for 2027

CHARLOTTE — Six Flags Entertainment Corp. plans to relocate its corporate headquarters next year from Charlotte to Arlington, Texas.

The move marks the loss of a Fortune 1000 corporate headquarters for the Charlotte region just two years after Six Flags established its base in the city.

The corporate shift comes as Six Flags grapples with financial losses and operational challenges following its merger with Cedar Fair. Out of 114 team members at the company’s Charlotte corporate office in the Oak Hill Business Park, about 100 are expected to relocate to Texas.

Despite shifting its corporate headquarters, Six Flags will maintain a significant regional footprint through its ownership of the Carowinds amusement park. The park spans more than 400 acres on the North Carolina-South Carolina border and includes the Carolina Harbor water park.

John Reilly serves as president and CEO of Six Flags. Reilly detailed the operational rationale behind consolidating executive personnel in Texas.

“The decision to return the company’s headquarters to Arlington is a continuation of our efforts to evolve the organization and enhance operational efficiency,” Reilly said. “After an extensive review, we determined that concentrating our personnel, processes and decision-making in our Arlington office, where a portion of Six Flags corporate employees are located, is the best path forward for the company.”

Arlington previously served as home to the legacy Six Flags organization prior to its merger with Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair. Company officials stated employment offers and transition arrangements for Charlotte staff will be determined on an individual basis based on role responsibilities and business needs.

Local business leaders raised concerns about the economic impact of losing corporate headquarters. Charles Miley, who moved to Charlotte during the pandemic and runs a local trucking business, considered moving his company out of North Carolina before choosing to remain in the state.

“We need that tax base for our schools, our roads, our government and we need that tax base,” Miley said. “You keep moving that tax base, it’ll take away the resources in your state.”

Six Flags operates as the largest amusement park operator in the United States. Its overall portfolio includes 20 amusement parks, 14 water parks and nine resort properties across 13 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico, as well as an amusement park in Saudi Arabia.

The company is moving forward with corporate relocation plans for next year while preparing to open its record-breaking attraction, Rip Roarin’ Falls, at Carowinds in 2027.

The Charlotte Business Journal contributed to this report.