Six Flags

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DALLAS — April 22, 2026 -- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN) today announced the reintroduction of park presidents at 10 of the company’s key properties. The change is part of a new operating structure designed to better support the unique needs of each park and strengthen performance across the company’s portfolio. It reinforces Six Flags’ commitment to being more strategic, flexible and responsive as its business continues to evolve.
 
Each park president will serve as a single, accountable leader with clear responsibility for overseeing park performance, operations and the overall guest experience. This role is designed to help these parks maximize opportunities and respond quickly within their local markets. This updated structure positions Six Flags for continued growth while staying true to what makes each park special.
 
“These changes are about putting leadership, expertise and accountability as close to our guests and team members as possible,” said John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags. “By strengthening park-level leadership, and aligning our support model with our strategic priorities, we’re empowering our teams to move faster, innovate locally and deliver exceptional experiences every day.”
 
The new park presidents include:
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Bridgette Bywater – Park President, Carowinds & Carolina Harbor
Bridgette Bywater brings 36 years of hands-on amusement industry experience, with a career built on operational excellence, safety leadership and people-first culture. Before becoming Park President, she served as General Manager of Kings Dominion & Soak City and as Corporate Director of Operations for Cedar Fair, leading enterprise-wide COVID response efforts. Her leadership path also includes senior roles at Worlds of Fun and Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom. Bywater is known for her precision, empathy and belief that attention to detail drives unforgettable guest and associate experiences.
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Colleen Brady – Park President, Cedar Point & Cedar Point Shores
With 31 years in the amusement industry, Colleen Brady is a proven leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence and guest satisfaction. Her experience includes serving as General Manager of Wildwater Kingdom, Vice President of Operations, Assistant General Manager and Park Manager at Cedar Point. Brady leads with a focus on developing strong teams, driving consistency, and delivering the world-class thrills and experiences that define Cedar Point as America’s Roller Coast.
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Pete Carmichael – Park President, Six Flags Over Texas & Hurricane Harbor Arlington
Pete Carmichael brings more than 30 years of industry experience, beginning his career as a ride operations intern and rising through progressive leadership roles across the company. His background includes serving as Park President of Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags New England, as well as Regional Vice President and General Manager of Six Flags’ Northeast parks. Now leading the company’s founding flagship park, Carmichael is focused on honoring Six Flags’ legacy while continuing to raise the bar on thrills, entertainment, and guest experience.
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Tony Carovillano – Park President, Kings Island & Soak City
Tony Carovillano has spent 42 years in the amusement industry, beginning his journey as a ride operator at Kings Island. His career includes leadership roles at Carowinds, Worlds of Fun, and Kings Island, where he has served as Director of Park Operations, Vice President and General Manager, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Operations. Carovillano’s leadership is rooted in operational excellence, associate engagement, and preserving Kings Island’s reputation as a premier family destination.
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Mike Fehnel – Park President, Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari & Hurricane Harbor New Jersey
Mike Fehnel brings more than three decades of industry experience, having started his career as a seasonal associate in 1992. His background includes park leadership and revenue strategy roles, previously serving as General Manager of Dorney Park and Carowinds, and leading corporate initiatives across Fast Lane, retail and games operations. A former president of the Pennsylvania Parks & Attractions Association, Fehnel now leads Six Flags Great Adventure with a focus on growth, innovation, and an elevated guest journey.
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Raffi Kaprelyan – Park President, Knott’s Berry Farm & Knott’s Soak City
With 47 years of amusement industry experience, Raffi Kaprelyan brings deep expertise and steady leadership to Knott’s Berry Farm. His distinguished career includes serving as General Manager of Knott’s Berry Farm, General Manager of Canada’s Wonderland, and most recently as Regional Vice President and General Manager for Six Flags West Coast parks. Raffi is known for balancing historic preservation with innovation, ensuring Knott’s continues to delight guests while honoring its one-of-a-kind heritage.
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John Krajnak – Park President, Six Flags Great America & Hurricane Harbor
John Krajnak brings more than 32 years of experience in the theme park and attractions industry. He began his career in Group Sales, progressed through Marketing, and served as Director of Marketing before advancing to Park President and later Regional Vice President and General Manager of Six Flags parks in the Midwest. Now returning to lead Six Flags Great America during its 50th Anniversary season, Krajnak is focused on celebrating the park’s legacy while delivering next-level thrills and guest experiences.
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Christopher Mortensen – Park President, Canada’s Wonderland & Soak City
Christopher Mortensen brings 24 years of experience across general management, operations, and guest experience. His career includes leadership roles at Noah’s Ark Waterpark, American Dream, World Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall and Canada’s Wonderland, where he began on the front line before advancing into senior leadership. Returning as Park President, Chris blends operational expertise with a deep personal connection to the park.
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Brian Oerding – Park President, Six Flags Magic Mountain & Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles
Brian Oerding brings 26 years of amusement industry experience, with a career rooted in park operations, rides, entertainment and public safety. He has held multiple senior leadership roles at Carowinds including Vice President and Park Manager, Assistant General Manager, and Vice President of Operations. Oerding’s leadership focuses on empowering teams and ensuring Magic Mountain continues to lead the industry in thrills and innovation.
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Richard Pretlow – Park President, Six Flags Over Georgia & Hurricane Harbor
Richard Pretlow brings 17 years of amusement industry experience, with a strong background in revenue strategy and operational discipline. His leadership roles include President of Six Flags America & Hurricane Harbor, President of Morgan’s Wonderland and Vice President of Revenue at SeaWorld San Antonio. Pretlow now leads Six Flags Over Georgia with a focus on disciplined growth, operational excellence and exceptional guest experiences.
“The ultimate goal is simple: to consistently deliver the best possible guest and team member experience across all parks,” Reilly added. “With the introduction of these park presidents, we are confident we have the right leaders in place to unlock the full potential of our parks and elevate performance.”
 
For more information about Six Flags, visit www.sixflags.com
 
ABOUT SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN) is North America’s largest regional amusement-resort operator, with 21 amusement parks, 14 water parks and nine resort properties across 13 states in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The Company also manages an amusement park in Saudi Arabia. Focused on its purpose of making people happy, Six Flags provides fun, immersive and memorable experiences to millions of guests every year with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks, resorts and a portfolio of beloved intellectual property such as Looney Tunes®, DC Comics® and PEANUTS®.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained in this news release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements as to our expectations, beliefs, goals and strategies regarding the future. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “create,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “seek,” “synergies,” “target,” “objective,” “will,” “would,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. These forward-looking statements may involve current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, or that our growth and operational strategies will achieve the target results. Important risks and uncertainties that may cause such a difference and could adversely affect attendance at our parks, our future financial performance, and/or our growth strategies, and could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations or otherwise to fluctuate or decrease, include, but are not limited to: failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger, including difficulty in integrating the businesses of legacy Six Flags and legacy Cedar Fair; failure to realize the expected amount and timing of cost savings and operating synergies related to the merger; adverse weather conditions; general economic, political and market conditions, including global trade; the impacts of pandemics or other public health crises, including the effects of government responses on people and economies; competition for consumer leisure time and spending or other changes in consumer behavior or sentiment for discretionary spending; unanticipated construction delays or increases in construction or supply costs; changes in capital investment plans and projects; anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of our operations; the impact of any potential shareholder activism; failure to attract, motivate and retain qualified domestic and international employees and key personnel; legislative, regulatory and economic developments and changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting us; acts of terrorism or outbreak of war, hostilities, civil unrest, and other political or security disturbances; and other risks and uncertainties we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” within our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the other filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document and are based on information currently and reasonably known to us. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after publication of this news release.

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