Camp Timber Trail is the new family adventure area coming to Six Flags Great America in 2027, featuring nine attractions including Sky Hawk, the Midwest’s longest, tallest and fastest suspended family coaster, alongside four reimagined rides, two classic favorites, and new dining and play experiences built around a woodland theme.

That’s the short version. Now let me tell you why this one actually matters to me.

Okay, I Need To Be Honest About Something First

I’ve made it a personal mission to hit every single Six Flags park in the country. Not “someday,” not “if I get around to it.” An actual goal. A list. A dumb little checkbox in my Notes app that I refuse to delete.

And Great America has always been one of my favorites on that list. There’s something about that park that hits different. Maybe it’s the Chicagoland energy. Maybe it’s the coasters. Whatever it is, when the announcement for Camp Timber Trail landed, I sat up straight.

So let’s get into it, because your fellow theme park nerd (that’s me) read the whole press release so you don’t have to.

What Is Camp Timber Trail?

Camp Timber Trail is Six Flags Great America’s reimagining of the old Yukon Territory area, which has been part of the park since it opened in 1976. Instead of a quick refresh, Six Flags is treating this like a full renovation of the neighborhood. New rides, new names for old favorites. New theming that actually tells a story instead of just slapping a sign on something.

It opens in 2027, and it’s officially the first phase of a multi-year transformation of the entire park. Translation: this is a “we’re just getting started” announcement, not a one-and-done.

The Headliner: Sky Hawk

Every new land needs a signature ride, and Camp Timber Trail’s is Sky Hawk, a suspended family coaster that Six Flags is calling the longest, tallest and fastest of its kind in the entire Midwest.

If you’ve never ridden a suspended coaster, imagine your legs dangling free while the train swings through the turns like a pendulum. Now add treetop views over a woodland setting. That’s the vibe they’re going for, and honestly, it’s a smart anchor for a family area. It’s thrilling enough for the coaster crowd but built with families in mind, which is exactly the lane Six Flags needs to own here.

The Other New Attractions

Sky Hawk isn’t riding solo. Two more brand-new experiences round out the additions:

• Trail Trotters – An animal-trek style ride that leans into exploration and discovery rather than pure thrill. Good option for the younger campers in your crew.
• Forest Grove Play Park – A nature-themed outdoor play area for climbing, exploring and general kid chaos in the best way possible.

Together, these three new additions are meant to make Camp Timber Trail a full destination, not just a coaster with some landscaping around it.

The Glow-Up: Reimagined Fan Favorites

Here’s the part that’s going to hit the nostalgia nerve for longtime Great America fans. Four existing rides are getting new names, new theming and new storytelling, all wrapped into the woodland narrative. Sprocket Rockets becomes Chirp Chaser, a bird-themed family coaster. Crazy Bus becomes Wilderness Wagon, a rustic outdoor ride through the trees. Yahoo River becomes Creek Cruiser, a relaxed boat ride leaning into the nature setting. And Buzzy Beez becomes Bee Boppin’, still the classic family favorite you remember, just with a fresh coat of theming.

Two more park classics, Little Dipper and Logger’s Run, stick around as-is, connecting the old Yukon Territory era to whatever Camp Timber Trail becomes next.

Food, Shopping and the Little Details

Six Flags is also adding themed dining, specialty treats and merch built around the woodland concept, plus what they’re calling “immersive environmental storytelling” throughout the land. In plain English: expect the theming to show up in more than just the rides. Signage, structures, little details you’d only notice on your third lap through the area. That’s usually where you can tell a park actually cared.

Is This Part of a Bigger Plan?

Yes, and this is the part I find most interesting as someone tracking these parks closely. Six Flags Great America is calling Camp Timber Trail the start of a broader, multi-year investment across the entire 300-acre park. That includes upgrades to landscaping, walkways, guest amenities and general park polish over the next three to five years.

So if you’re the type who likes to track these things (again, hi, it’s me), this is worth bookmarking. Camp Timber Trail is the opening chapter, not the whole book.

When Does Camp Timber Trail Open?

Camp Timber Trail is scheduled to open in 2027 at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.

How Do You Get the Best Access to Camp Timber Trail?

According to Six Flags, the best way to experience it is with a 2027 Gold Pass, which is priced as low as $85, the lowest price point offered this year and next. A Gold Pass also gets you unlimited visits to Great America, access to regional parks like Cedar Point and Kings Island, and the remainder of the 2026 season, including Fright Fest and Tricks and Treats.

Quick FAQ

What is Camp Timber Trail? A new family-focused land opening in 2027 at Six Flags Great America, featuring nine attractions built around a woodland adventure theme.

What is the main new ride at Camp Timber Trail? Sky Hawk, a suspended family coaster billed as the Midwest’s longest, tallest and fastest of its kind.

Is Camp Timber Trail replacing Yukon Territory? Yes. Camp Timber Trail reimagines the former Yukon Territory area, which has been part of the park since 1976.

How many attractions will Camp Timber Trail have? Nine total: three brand-new attractions, four newly reimagined rides, and two classic park favorites.

When does Camp Timber Trail open? 2027, at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.

Final Thoughts

Every so often a park announcement actually makes me want to book a trip instead of just scrolling past it. Camp Timber Trail did that. A suspended coaster, a full theming overhaul, and a multi-year commitment to the rest of the park? That’s the kind of investment that makes a Six Flags stop worth planning around.

One park closer to checking every Six Flags off my list. Camp Timber Trail just moved Great America higher up the return-visit list, and I’ll be there in 2027 to see if it lives up to the hype.