Growing up just outside Atlanta, one of my favorite fall traditions was going to Fright Fest at Six Flags. Every October, the park transformed into a land of screams and laughter. Fog rolling through the streets, creepy clowns lurking around corners, and roller coasters roaring through the night sky.
I’ve been there at every stage of life. First with friends, then later with my young daughters. We’d clutch each other’s hands and run screaming (and laughing) from the costumed monsters. It was pure fun, the kind of fear you can shake off with a funnel cake and a ride on Goliath.
But these days, there’s something even scarier at Six Flags, and it’s not the haunted houses. It’s the company’s stock performance.
Six Flags’ stock is down roughly 50% this year, and reports say guest experiences haven’t been great either. We’ve seen long ride delays, broken attractions, and a general sense that the magic has faded a little. As someone who has always loved the park, that’s disappointing to hear. But what’s even more chilling than a few broken rides?
The thought of an activist investor swooping in and shaking things up.
What is an Investor Activist?
Now, if you’re not familiar with the term, an activist investor is someone (or a group) who buys a large chunk of a company’s stock, enough to have influence, and then pushes for big changes. Sometimes those changes can be good, especially when a company needs a nudge in the right direction. But other times, activist investors use some scary tactics to get what they want.
We’re talking about public smear campaigns, negative propaganda, and discrediting current leadership. They’ll stir up chaos, hoping to pressure management into doing things their way. It’s not always about what’s best for employees, customers, or the company’s long-term health. It’s about boosting short-term profits and their own returns.
In other words, they’re not always behaving like gentlemen.
That’s what makes the latest twist in Six Flags’ story so interesting.
Jana Partners & Six Flags
Enter Jana Partners, an activist investor group led by Barry Rosenstein. Jana has a reputation for doing things differently by working with company leadership, not against them. Instead of kicking down the door, they prefer to build relationships with executives, board members, and stakeholders. They want to create value through collaboration, not conflict.
That’s a refreshing change of pace. It takes the “fright” out of the investment process.
And here’s where things get even more fascinating: Jana Partners has teamed up with none other than Travis Kelce. Yes, that Travis Kelce. NFL superstar, entrepreneur, and now investor.
Kelce isn’t just putting his name on a press release; he’s got experience in the business world. He’s invested in more than 30 companies, and there’s a theme to his portfolio: he puts his money into businesses he’s personally connected to. If he’s been a customer, used the product, and believes in the experience, that’s where he invests.
And Six Flags? He grew up loving it just like so many of us did.
Kelce has said he wants to help bring the parks back to their glory days, back to the joy and excitement families remember. And honestly, I love that. It’s not about tearing something down—it’s about rebuilding something worth saving.
If that’s not good Common Cents, I don’t know what is.
Is business just one big haunted house?
In the world of business and finance, just like in the world of haunted houses, there’s always going to be fear. Fear of loss. Fear of change. Fear of the unknown. But when someone approaches a challenge with experience, empathy, and a genuine belief in what they’re investing in, that’s when things start to shift from scary to smart.
Jana Partners and Travis Kelce are betting that Six Flags still has what it takes to thrill families—not just with its rides, but with its potential. And if they can restore both the fun and the financial health of the parks, that’s a win worth celebrating.
Now, I’ll admit, activist investors don’t usually make my list of “feel-good stories.” Too often, they bring drama instead of direction. But in this case, it looks like the combination of thoughtful investment and a little bit of nostalgia might breathe some new life into a company that’s lost its spark.
After all, the best investments, whether they’re financial or personal, come from a place of connection and understanding.
So as Halloween approaches and Fright Fest lights up once again, maybe this year the biggest scare won’t be the zombies or chainsaws. It’ll be the possibility of a positive takeover. One that replaces fear with faith in the future.
Because sometimes the best way to conquer a frightening situation is to face it head-on, armed with knowledge, confidence, and, of course, a little Common Cents.
So here’s to smart investments, better leadership, and companies that find their way back to what made them great in the first place.
Want to learn more about how financial and business leadership directly affects consumers? Check out these related posts:
