Generations of local and visiting families have enjoyed the thrills of world-class roller coasters like Scream.

Revolution. Colossus. X. Viper. Scream. And now, Tatsu.

Sometimes it only takes one word to describe a thrill of a lifetime and for Santa Clarita residents that thrill has come from Six Flags Magic Mountain. For the past 35 years, the theme park is much more than a place to take weekend visitors. Six Flags Magic Mountain employs our youth and has given the Santa Clarita Valley its mark on the map.

Opened over the Memorial Day weekend in 1971, Magic Mountain was a collaboration of Sea World, Inc. and The Newhall Land and Farming Company. Built on 200-acres of undeveloped land, Newhall Land was hoping to draw attention to its new community of Valencia.

It did.

Ground was broken for Magic Mountain in January 1970. Seventy acres of rides, theaters, games, food and landscaping came together in just over a year. On May 27, 1971, the gates were open to the community of Santa Clarita. Sponsored by Newhall-Saugus Jaycees and Chamber of Commerce, a $5 ticket got community members into a private party with access to all rides. Parking was free. The most exciting white knuckle experience at the time was the Gold Rusher, a roller coaster that could get up to speeds of 35 miles per hour. Soon two structures were added to the park that gave Magic Mountain its identity; Revolution, a high speed coaster that introduced loops and a "G"-force of 4.4; and Colossus, a double-track wooden coaster with drops up to 115 feet. Colossus covers 10 acres of land and is 1,608 feet from end to end. The coaster has 14 hills and a climactic triple jump at the end of the ride.

A Bit of History A two-story Victorian home that once stood in what is now the parking lot of Six Flags Magic Mountain was donated to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society and moved to Heritage Junction in 1990. The house once belonged to the Newhall Family who used it over the years when visiting their farming interests in Southern California. The home was also used by ranch hands and eventually by employees of Magic Mountain. The entire home is approximately 4,000 square feet and legend has it that it is haunted by several spirits from the past. The public is invited to visit this home and others at Heritage Junction, located near Hart Park, on the weekends. Source: Ruth Newhall and the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society

Hurricane Harbor made its debut in 1995. This huge water park has wading pools, water slides, a wave pool and rapids. A 3.2 acre lagoon has a beach, recreation pools with basketball hoops and volleyball court, and several slides.

As one of the largest employers of youth in this valley with approximately 3,500 seasonal employees, Magic Mountain has trained numerous teens in fields of management, sales, and life guarding.

Tim Leko was a senior at Hart High School when he signed on as a lifeguard at Hurricane Harbor. "It was close and it looked kind of fun," Leko said. "I'm not a sit- behind-the-desk kind of person and it was fun to be outside with people who were relaxed and having a good time."

Leko said he was well-trained and bonded with fellow lifeguards. "We were a fairly tight group," he said. "Most of the time it felt that we got paid to get a good tan."

In 1979, Newhall Land sold the park for $51 million to Six Flags which, at that time, owned five other amusement parks across the nation. This year, Six Flags is also celebrating a milestone anniversary with 45 years of thrills and entertainment.

Six Flags began in 1966 as a dream of Texas oilman Angus Wynne. The park's name came from the six countries whose flags had flown over Texas throughout the state's history and featured six sections of those countries' culture. Wynne wanted Six Flags to be bigger than Disneyland and to be located in different regions across the country to make it convenient and affordable to families everywhere. Six Flags owns and operates 29 parks in North America.

Today, Six Flags Magic Mountain boasts 16 world-class roller coasters, over 100 rides, games and attractions, and holds 11 world records.

Viper exhibited the next generation of coasters, with multiple loops, increased force and speed.

Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste said that when the theme park founders envisioned Magic Mountain, they picked a great location. The city is working on several destination and family-oriented activities, she said, and Six Flags Magic Mountain is a perfect fit for that plan.

"We want to have unique and top-notch family entertainment, sporting events and other activities we value in our community," Weste said. "We all see this tall sphere [at Six Flags Magic Mountain] and we all take the kids there. Magic Mountain is an icon in our valley and everyone has memories from the park."

Six Flags Magic Mountain is open daily. Hurricane Harbor opens daily during the summer beginning Memorial Day weekend. Park officials say it is best to call the theme park for operational hours at 255-4100.