Arlington residents are slowly beginning to see a return to our pre-COVID-19 lifestyles with restaurants, rec centers, and other businesses and facilities reopening. Businesses that had to temporarily close their doors to the public have had time to implement new health guidelines so that they can reopen while also following the recommendations of public health officials. One particular example that many DFW residents will be happy to hear about is the reopening of Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor in Arlington.

Reservations and Face Coverings Now Required

Both amusement parks now require guests to make reservations for a specific time and day prior to their visit, as limiting park attendance will make it easier to maintain proper social distancing among guests. A video on both parks’ websites states a few more of their new health guidelines that guests should make themselves aware of prior to their visit, such as the fact that guests will now be required to wear face masks except for in designated locations where they are allowed to remove their masks if they feel they need a break (and a few more exceptions at Hurricane Harbor seeing as how it is a water park). 

New Technology to Help Monitor Health

 Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor have also invested in new technological updates in their attempt to safely ensure guest and employee health. Per their websites, these include “new, cutting-edge thermal imaging” so that they can monitor guests’ and employees’ temperatures while they enter the park as well as “high-tech security screenings to allow touchless bag checks”.

Their websites ensure guests that their new health guidelines and reopening plan were designed to be as safe and efficient as possible, as they were “developed in consultation with epidemiologists, [meet or exceed] federal, state, and local guidelines for sanitization, hygiene, and social distancing protocols”.

A few more elements listed from their reopening plan include:

• Health screenings for guests and team members
• Strictly enforced social distancing
• Extensive sanitization and disinfecting protocols
• Sanitized food preparation and service
• Commercial-grade cleaning equipment and supplies
• Multi-layered guest and team member communication

With the parks being a short drive away, Six Flags since the 1960’s and Hurricane Harbor since the 1980’s have helped Arlington residents unwind and enjoy a nice day out by offering thrilling roller coasters and water rides for the whole family. Personally, I usually plan my trips to both these amusement parks in advance anyway, so the new requirement of making a reservation likely won’t get in the way of my upcoming visits to them. On the bright side, the new guidelines will allow for more walking space at the parks and not having to be shoulder-to-shoulder while waiting in line to board the rides. So hopefully the news of their reopenings will give locals a chance to take a well-deserved day off!