This amusement park is no laughing matter.
Six Flags — the amusement park company operating parks around the country like Knott’s Berry Farm — is facing a bumpy ride. The North Carolina-based company has recently agreed to settle a $11.24 million lawsuit.
The company has been accused of charging parkgoers a processing fee that was not properly disclosed — and was ultimately a junk fee. The added charge violates California law, which requires businesses to disclose charges before payment.
The park has denied any wrongdoing but has agreed to settle.
Don’t expect a huge payout, though — eligible consumers will only see an $8 payment from the company. The fees impacted those who purchased non-season tickets through http://www.knotts.com or http://www.cagreatamerica.com.
To be eligible, you must be a California citizen who purchased the non-season tickets through those websites during June 28, 2020, to July 1, 2024. Parks included are Knott’s Berry Farm, Knott’s Soak City or California’s Great America, and were charged the processing fee.
Class members must have entered a California ZIP code for their billing address and completed the purchase between those June and July dates to qualify.
If you choose to file a claim, you will get your green either as cash, through electronic payment or a mailed check. If you choose not to file a claim, you will receive your $8 as a credit for future purchases on SixFlags.com.
To get the payment, all claims must be filed by Dec. 22, 2026. Plus, those who wish to opt out must submit an exclusion on or before this date.
The final approval hearing — or the fairness hearing — date for the settlement is on March 30, 2027 where the settlement amount will either be approved or the amount may be reconfigured.
The amusement park company has made headlines recently after a father plunged to his death during a horrifying ride on the Goliath roller coaster. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, fell from the 200-foot-tall thrill ride at Six Flags Over Georgia.
The Atlanta teacher was hurled from the ride and pronounced dead at the scene. Instead of seatbelts, riders are secured by padded, U-shaped “clamshell” lap bars that lock across their thighs.
The ride hits speeds of roughly 70 mph and towers 200 feet above the park — which has prompted the CEO to make some changes.
Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly announced additional safety precautions — which include adding seat belts to the Goliath ride and other coasters equipped with similar restraints.
“What happened has deeply affected all of us at Six Flags,” Reilly wrote in a press release after the horrific accident, stressing that the company’s commitment to safety demands “constant vigilance and determination to continually improve.”
