When Six Flags announced recently it would close two of its theme parks – one by the end of the year – fans of roller coasters suddenly faced a scary situation.

But although the company has been known to close rides with little warning, this time, instead of a sudden drop, riders and other theme park visitors get a little space to prepare.

Six Flags fans in Maryland and California are learning they’ll have to get their amusement somewhere else. Six Flags America and Six Flags California’s Great America are both shutting down.

Here is what you need to know about why Six Flags plans to close both parks.

When are Six Flags America and Six Flags California’s Great America closing?

Six Flags America, which is located in Bowie, Maryland, is expected to close at the end of the year the company said. And the water park Hurricane Harbor Maryland will also close at the end of the season. The company’s calendar online shows that both Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor will stop full weekday operations on Friday, Aug. 22, with the exception of Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, when they will be open.

Both parks will remain open on weekends through the end of August. Six Flags America will keep operating into the fall for Fright Fest. Hurricane Harbor Maryland’s last weekend will be Sept. 6, while Six Flags America will remain open on weekends until Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.

Santa Clara, California’s Six Flags California’s Great America, will stay open until at least the end of 2027.

Why are Six Flags America and Six Flags California’s Great America closing?

Turns out the land where Six Flags America is located is due for redevelopment, forcing the park’s closure.

“As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company’s long-term growth plan,” Six Flags President & CEO Richard A. Zimmerman said in a statement.

“After reviewing a number of options, we believe that marketing the property for redevelopment will generate the highest value and return on investment,” the statement continued.

Six Flags California Great America is closing for a different reason: its lease is expiring. The company does not plan to extend the lease – at least for the forseeable future.

“Unless we decide to extend, and exercise one of our options to extend that lease, that park’s last year without that extension would be after the ‘27 season,” Six Flags chief financial officer Brian Witherow said. He made the statement at the company’s most recent Investor Day, according to People Magazine.

Witherow added that both parks were “very low on the ranking of margins.”