Consolidated Statements of Equity (Deficit) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	Common stock	Capital in excess of par value	Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	Non-controlling interests
Balances at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 888,666	$ 884,732	$ 1,345	$ 904,713	$ 27,775	$ (49,101)	$ 3,934
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2012			107,637,524
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock	29,769	29,769	$ 63	29,706	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			2,700,793
Forfeiture of restricted stock units			(9,720)
Stock-based compensation	26,829	26,829	$ 0	26,829	0	0	0
Dividends declared to common shareholders	(175,989)	(175,989)	0	0	(175,989)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock	(523,589)	(523,589)	$ (235)	(113,997)	(409,357)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)			(15,507,348)
Two-for-one common stock split	0	0	$ 1,197	(1,197)	0	0	0
Employee stock purchase plan	1,296	1,296	$ 1	1,295	0	0	0
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			36,098
Fresh start valuation adjustment for SFOG, SFOT and HWP units purchased	84	84	$ 0	0	84	0	0
Purchase of HWP ownership interests	(9,554)	(4,751)	0	(4,861)	110	0	(4,803)
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	118,552	118,552	0	0	118,552	0	0
Net other comprehensive loss, net of tax	16,404	16,404	0	0	0	16,404	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	869	0	0	0	0	0	869
Balances at Dec. 31, 2013	373,337	373,337	$ 2,371	842,488	(438,825)	(32,697)	0
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2013			94,857,347
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock	37,663	37,663	$ 80	37,583	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			3,206,272
Stock-based compensation	140,038	140,038	$ 0	140,038	0	0	0
Dividends declared to common shareholders	(182,062)	(182,062)	0	0	(182,062)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock	(195,353)	(195,353)	$ (129)	(37,968)	(157,256)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)			(5,159,329)
Employee stock purchase plan	1,177	1,177	$ 1	1,176	0	0	0
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			33,329
Fresh start valuation adjustment for SFOG, SFOT and HWP units purchased	5	5	$ 0	0	5	0	0
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	76,022	76,022	0	0	76,022	0	0
Net other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(26,932)	(26,932)	0	0	0	(26,932)	0
Balances at Dec. 31, 2014	223,895	223,895	$ 2,323	983,317	(702,116)	(59,629)	0
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2014			92,937,619
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock	39,019	39,019	$ 94	38,925	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			3,737,155
Stock-based compensation	56,233	56,233	$ 0	56,233	0	0	0
Dividends declared to common shareholders	(199,362)	(199,362)	0	0	(199,362)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock	(245,114)	(245,114)	$ (129)	(38,276)	(206,709)	0	0
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)			(5,161,803)
Employee stock purchase plan	1,512	1,512	$ 1	1,511	0	0	0
Employee stock purchase plan (in shares)			37,880
Fresh start valuation adjustment for SFOG, SFOT and HWP units purchased	272	272	$ 0	0	272	0	0
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	154,690	154,690	0	0	154,690	0	0
Net other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(6,929)	(6,929)	0	0	0	(6,929)	0
Balances at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 24,216	$ 24,216	$ 2,289	$ 1,041,710	$ (953,225)	$ (66,558)	$ 0
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2015			91,550,851