Packed town hall signals strong interest in Six Flags redevelopment

A packed council hearing room in the Wayne K. Curry Administrative Building in Largo showed how quickly the former Six Flags America property has become one of Prince George’s County’s biggest political and economic decisions. Some residents had to watch from an overflow space as county leaders and the developers behind the 515-acre Bowie site took questions on June 25 at a town hall that ran until the room reached capacity.

The county sold the property in April to a joint venture between Atlanta-based TPA Group and 35V, the investment company co-founded by Prince George’s County native Kevin Durant. County officials have framed the site as a rare redevelopment opportunity, especially because the old amusement park used only about a quarter of the land while generating roughly $3 million a year. County leaders have also pointed to the site’s scale, saying it is larger than National Harbor, and have pushed for a mix that would bring stronger tax revenue, more jobs, and more amenities than the old park provided.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy told the audience the county wants a project that can lift the local economy and create jobs for residents of different ages. She said the county is looking for higher-end retail, restaurants and other venues, while Adam Rashid of TPA Group described the company’s vision around five pillars: entertainment, education, health and wellness, housing and innovation. County and developer messaging also emphasized that the next phase remained early, with community input still expected to shape what comes next.

That input was substantial. WTOP reported that more than 1,000 residents had already submitted questions and comments, and that a 14-question survey remained open after the town hall. Residents asked for recreation, restaurants, shopping, sports and entertainment, while others pressed for environmental sensitivity and a plan that would respect the county’s history.

Council member Wala Blegay drew a line around what many neighbors do not want to see repeated, saying any attraction there should not be “amusement alone.” The site itself carries that history: FOX 5 reported it opened in 1974 as The Largo Wildlife Preserve before becoming Six Flags America in 1999. The park closed at the end of the 2025 season after 50 years in Prince George’s County, and previous reporting said it employed about 70 full-time workers when it shut down.

Durant’s mother, Wanda Durant, attended the meeting, underscoring the personal stake the family has in the project. For county residents, the immediate leverage now sits in the survey, the next public meetings and the first real decisions about whether the site becomes a retail corridor, a mixed-use district or something closer to a destination entertainment campus.