Sabrina's Brochure Spotlight: Six Flags Darien Lake 2002

This week we journey back to 2002, when Darien Lake was smack dab in the middle of its Premier/Six Flags era.


Shipwreck Falls was the first major ride to be installed at Darien Lake since 1999, when [Superman] Ride of Steel made its appearance. The effects of the conspicuous "growth spurt" which had occurred at so many Premier/Six Flags parks of this era were beginning to be felt.


Judging from the minimalist approach which obviously was taken when designing this particular brochure, I'd have to say that the effects of the now notorious mismanagement had also extended to the print media department! For all that Darien Lake has to offer, this brochure simply does not do it justice. The average tourist picks up a brochure in the hopes of acquiring detailed information about the local amusement park. Unfortunately, tourists visiting western New York in 2002 learned as much about Six Flags' "Worldwide Thrills" as they did about Darien Lake.


Um... Where's the rest of the brochure? No really, where is it? Did I miss a page? Nope. Believe it or not, this really is the whole thing! One semi-detailed (not to mention half-hearted) description of Shipwreck Falls, and that's all he/she wrote. Sad, sad, sad.

But in the spirit of the holiday season, let us not dwell on the shortcomings of Six Flags Past. Let us instead focus on the progress which is evident in Six Flags Present and look ahead to the promise of Six Flags Future! Or in Darien Lake's case, let us rejoice in the enthusiasm and creativity of its new operators, the good folks at PARC Management, and have faith that they will restore the quality of both the park and its brochures! Now that's what I call a worthy New Year's resolution.