Daved Thomson

Route 537 (between I-195 and the park's entrance) had been a two lane road when Great Adventure opened in 1974. During the park's first two decades of operation, various temporary roadway use implementations (such as allowing park traffic to use the shoulder lane to the park while traffic leaving the park at night could use the shoulder lane to I-195) improved traffic flow along that mile or so of road. As businesses developed along that same roadway, however, the temporary fixes to traffic compromised safety. In 2000, 537 was widened in both directions between the park and I-195. Traffic signals, dividing barriers and even two of NJ's famous "jug handles" (for making left turns) were installed to safely accommodate the growth in vehicle traffic.

Thirty couples were either married (for the first-time) or renewed their wedding vows at Great Adventure during the park's 2000 Fright Fest. Jackson Township's Mayor officiated during the ceremony. All of the now "happily married" couples agreed that being married at the park during Fright Fest was not only unique, but far less costly ($26 per couple) and a lot more fun.

On August 12, 2000, a safari park visitor recounts the miracle of birth he witnessed at Great Adventure when a baby giraffe was born in the park's African Plains section for everyone to see.

Route 537, a two-lane rather rural road, between I-195 and Great Adventure's entrance when the park opened in 1974, would be widened to improve traffic flow and safety between the park's entrance and the Interstate. Monmouth and Ocean Counties approved the roadwork.

Great Adventure's 1997 season began on March 27th with a Spring Break Out Extreme Boardwalk Beach Party promotion. A park spokesperson noted that weather and turnout for the opening was among the park's best best. The park's new, linear induction coaster, Batman and Robin: The Chiller, was expected to open sometime in May.

For a brief moment in 1997, Premier Parks (which had yet to purchase Six Flags from Time-Warner and Boston Ventures), had won the management contract for Six Flags over Texas for the next 30 years with an option to purchase the park for $315 million. Had this occurred, the original Six Flags over Texas (which, together with Six Flags over Georgia, is not owned by Six Flags) would have faced all sorts of licensing issues related to the Warner Brother's characters and even the park's name. Six Flags Corp. owns the registered trademark "Six Flags" and the licensing rights to the Warner Brothers characters. A last minute bid by Six Flags Corp. for the management contract and an option to buy for $350 million, sealed the deal for Six Flags. Ironically, Premier Parks would eventually purchase Six Flags Corp., including all of the company's real estate (the fully owned parks) and management contracts for those parks not fully owned.