First AstroWorld, now Splashtown?

First Six Flags shut down AstroWorld, and now it's talking about closing Splashtown, too. It makes us wonder: Why doesn't Six Flags want Houstonians to have fun?

The Oklahoma City-based Six Flags announced overnight that it's struggling financially and may be forced to sell or close six of its 30 properties, including the 20-year-old Splashtown. The company cites falling atendance and rising operation costs as reasons for the trouble; Six Flags President and CEO Mark Shapiro said the drop in attendance was expeced because Six Flags no longer offers cut-rate season passes (it's been trying to lure whole families, rather than teens, to its parks). Though officials said they don't know whether the sales or closures will actually occur, we imagine that singling out a short list of properties means something's likely to happen.

In addition to Splashtown, the Six Flags parks potentially on the chopping block are Darien Lake near Buffalo, N.Y., Waterworld Concord in Concord, Calif., Elitch Gardens in Denver, Enchanted Village/Wild Waves near Seattle and Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor near L.A.