Carowinds Parent CEO Steps Down After 2Q Loss and Declining Attendance

Leadership Change at Six Flags Amid Financial Challenges

The CEO of Six Flags Entertainment, the parent company of Carowinds, is stepping down as the company faces significant financial challenges. Richard Zimmerman, who has served as CEO and President since the $8-billion merger with Carowinds' former owner, Cedar Fair, will leave by the end of the year. This decision was announced ahead of the company’s second-quarter earnings call, which revealed a net loss of $100 million for the period.

Zimmerman's tenure as CEO of Six Flags began following the merger, during which he previously held the role of CEO at Cedar Fair. The announcement coincided with the release of the company’s financial results, which highlighted the impact of adverse weather conditions, including hurricanes and extreme heat, on operations.

Despite the losses, the company reported an increase in net revenue for the second quarter of 2025, reaching $930 million compared to $572 million in the same period last year. This growth was attributed to the newly merged operations of Six Flags and Cedar Fair. However, overall park attendance declined by 9%, with approximately 1.4 million fewer visitors than the previous year. Six Flags recorded 14.2 million visits, down from 15.6 million in the same quarter last year.

The company noted that 379 out of 2,042 operating days were affected by weather, with 49 days resulting in full park closures. Nearly 60% of these impacted days occurred on weekends, which are typically high-attendance periods. The disruption during May and June significantly affected park operations, guest visitation, and season pass sales.

In recent weeks, however, combined attendance showed improvement, with an increase of more than 300,000 visits or 4% year-over-year. At Six Flags’ 15 largest locations, including Carowinds, attendance rose by over 290,000 visits, or 5%.

Carowinds, a 400-acre amusement park located on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina, is the largest amusement park in the Carolinas. It holds a notable position on Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best list for water and amusement parks nationwide.

Zimmerman will remain on Six Flags’ board and will continue to serve until a new CEO is appointed. He expressed confidence in the company’s future, stating that the board and he believe it is the right time to begin the search for the next leader. “Someone who will build on the progress we've made so far and propel Six Flags to its full potential,” he said.

The Merger and Its Impact

This is the first season for Carowinds operating under the Six Flags Entertainment umbrella. In July 2024, Cedar Fair, based in Sandusky, Ohio, merged with Six Flags, which was then headquartered in Arlington, Texas. As part of the merger, Zimmerman was named president and CEO of the combined company. With 38 years of experience in the entertainment industry, he had led Cedar Fair since 2018.

Six Flags CEO Selim Bassoul became executive chairman of the combined company’s board, which includes 12 directors—six from Cedar Fair and six from Six Flags. The company has since relocated its headquarters to Charlotte, North Carolina, just five miles northeast of Carowinds.

Employee Reductions and Operational Changes

Carowinds has faced several rounds of layoffs this year. In January, the company announced a strategic restructuring that led to the reduction of full-time staff systemwide by over 10%. More recently, another round of layoffs was confirmed, though the exact number of employees affected remains undisclosed.

New Attractions and Future Plans

Six Flags has also introduced new initiatives to enhance the guest experience. Season pass holders for the 2026 season will now have access to any of the company’s 42 amusement and water parks across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, the company plans to invest over $1 billion over two years in upgrades across its theme parks, including new restaurants and menus.

At Carowinds, three rides—the Nighthawk roller coaster, Scream Weaver, and Drop Tower—were removed to make way for new attractions. A new adults-only swim-up bar called the Carolina Harbor Shore Club debuted in the Carolina Harbor Waterpark, marking the first time Carowinds has offered such an experience.

In the children’s area, Camp Snoopy received new additions, including the Snoopy's Racing Railway family roller coaster and Charlie Brown's River Raft Blast, an interactive raft ride. The area also features a new splash play area and a remodeled store for meet-and-greets with Peanuts characters.

Next year, Carowinds plans to introduce a "record-breaking water ride," although details about the attraction have not yet been disclosed.