These flags include Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America. The six flags comes from the six nations that have governed Texas during its history. Story has it that Wynne initially planned to call the park “Texas under Six Flags,” until his wife reminded him that ‘Texas wasn’t under anything.’
Everyone, including Wynne, was surprised when attendance shattered expectations during the first 45-day season, making it obvious that the park would have to remain a permanent fixture of Arlington, Texas. The park’s original purpose was to be a temporary money-maker for the Great Southwest Industrial District to fund other projects. Interestingly enough, Six Flags over Texas was never intended to last beyond a few years. Even Disneyland, which Wynne had taken much inspiration from, still featured the pay-as-you-go pricing model until it quietly changed over to SFoT’s popular “POP” model. Six Flags over Texas was also unique in that it pioneered the “Pay One Price” model, requiring a simpler single admission price that included all rides and attractions. Park tickets for the inaugural season cost just $2.75 for adults and $2.25 for children, with parking priced at 50¢. The park had a “soft” test opening from August 1-4 and an official public grand opening on Saturday, August 5, 1961. The final price tag of the 205-acre park was $10 million About $80 million in 2015 dollars.
Construction began in August, 1960 with plans of opening the park a year later in 1961. Plans for such a park were developed in 1959 by Wynne, the Great Southwest Corporation, and investors from New York. After visiting the newly-opened Disneyland in California, Wynne decided his home state needed a similar attraction with a healthy dose of Texas history mixed in. Six Flags over Texas was the brainchild of Texas real estate developer Angus G.
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