The House of Mouse rarely closes. Because both Disneyland (DIS) and Disney World are located in tropical climates, their gates stay open year-round. That’s the same for California- and Florida-located Universal Studios (CMCSA).
But for theme parks in more northern parts of the country, winter means silent roller coasters and waterparks with empty pools. But soon, turnstiles will be turning, rides will be roaring, and wave pools will be full of happy children.
Here are the opening dates of some of the more notable theme parks.
Opening date: March 15, 2025
Dollywood celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and guests to the Tennessee staple will notice refreshes to familiar favorites, along with a new restaurant and 750-space parking lot, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The newspaper adds that, in total, there were 114 small and large projects during Dollywood’s two-and-a-half-month offseason to prepare for the start of the park’s 40th season.
Opening date: April 12, 2025
Kennywood is a Pittsburgh-area staple, having been open since 1899. During the offseason, Dollywood’s parent company bought Kennywood, bringing both parks under the same ownership. One of Kennywood’s highlights is The Phantom, a steel roller coaster that takes guests over 3,000 feet of track at up to 85 miles per hour!
Opening date: March 29, 2025
Kings Dominion (FUN), located about 20 miles north of Richmond, Virginia, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The park features more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions — including 13 roller coasters and a 20-acre water park. New this year is Rapterra, which, at 145 feet tall and 3,086 feet long, is the world’s tallest and longest launched-wing roller coaster.
Opening date: March 29, 2025
The iconic New York City amusement park will kick off its 105th season this year. And The Cyclone, one of the oldest continually operating coasters in the U.S., will celebrate its 98th anniversary. One of the highlights of opening weekend is the traditional Egg Cream Christening of the roller coaster; at noon on the 29th, when the park opens, the first 98 riders of The Cyclone will get a free ride and a classic egg cream.
Opening date: April 5, 2025
Located in the heart of Amish country (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), Dutch Wonderland provides a family-friendly, toned-down amusement park experience. According to the park, the new “Honey Hop” attraction, located behind Storytime Corner, features brown-bear cars surrounding a honey pot as the ride spins and lifts riders up and down.
Opening date: April 18, 2025
This will be the first full season that Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks are operating under combined ownership. New this year to Six Flags Great America, which is located near the Wisconsin-Illinois border, is Wrath of Rakshasa, the steepest and most inverted dive-coaster in the world. The ride rises 180 feet and then dives into a 171-foot drop at a record-breaking beyond-vertical 96 degrees.
Opening date: April 19, 2025
Kings Island is consistently regarded as a great value. This theme park, located north of Cincinnati, Ohio, opened in 1972 and was immortalized in an episode of “The Brady Bunch” — the episode was called “The Cincinnati Kids,” even though the theme park is in Mason.
Kings Island has the world’s longest wooden coaster, The Beast (it goes along 7,361 feet of track), and newer steel roller coasters such as Diamondback and Orion.
Opening date: May 9, 2025
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, this iconic park is the flagship of the Cedar Fair chain. In 2025, the theme park will debut “Siren’s Curse,” a tilt roller coaster billed as the tallest, fastest, and longest of its kind in North America.
Opening date: May 10, 2025
Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari is another value-packed Midwestern theme park. Located in Indiana, the theme park’s “Good Gravy” family coaster was named the best new theme park attraction in USA Today’s “10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards” for 2024.
Opening date: May 12, 2025
Valleyfair is Minnesota’s only amusement park. Located in Shakopee, it features more than 75 rides (including eight roller coasters); a Planet Snoopy area that has 15 children’s rides; and Soak City, a seven-acre water park filled with slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and children’s water features. Bring a jacket — the weather can still be chilly in Minnesota in May.
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Kevin Williams