Amusement park lovers said goodbye to Six Flags America in Bowie over the weekend as the park officially closed on Sunday after nearly 50 years in operation.

The site originally opened in 1974 as a wildlife center. It was sold, bought, and rebranded several times before Six Flags took over in 1999.

The park gave visitors 26 years of fun and unforgettable memories.

“It’s an end of an era,” Ayanna Lynch told 7News. “It’s kind of sad just driving by. We’re like, ‘Oh, this is it. The sunset and it’s literally setting on Six Flags.”

It may just be an amusement park, but for so many, it was the one in their backyard.

“I’m gonna miss it cause it’s close by. It’s easy to get to. It’s convenient,” Haywood Woodall said.

The next closest Six Flags is in Jackson, New Jersey.

“Go to New Jersey,” Maxwell Lynch said.

“Oh gosh, I guess we’re going to New Jersey,” his mom replied.

Sunday’s closure created big crowds with long lines of cars leaving for hours. Some came by for a photo op. Others wanted to get the most out of their season passes.

“How many rides would you say you went on today?” reporter Lianna Golden asked rider James White.

“Oh, all of them except for the ones that were closed,” White replied.

“This is my first year. I have been here five times,” Patricia Blackshire said with excitement.

Some regulars wish the park would stay open, and not just because it’s a good time.

“I think they should keep it,” Brian Fox said. “It definitely gives a lot of kids jobs, things to do during the summer. Next year, what are they gonna do?”

“I know it’s messed up. Everybody is losing their job and stuff,” Woodall said. “Nowhere to go.”

Kings Dominion down in Doswell, Virginia, is the next closest amusement park of similar size.

Prince George’s County leaders said the park generates about $3 million in tax revenue a year and believe it can do better than that.

“Six Flags operates on about 20 percent of the entire site, which means we have not really seen the full potential, full economic potential of that site,” County Executive Aisha Braveboy said Friday. “So we’re working with the ownership of Six Flags now, and they vet those who have bid on that project. The county has a real interest in seeing quality development that really should be able to generate tens of millions.”

“I think it’s a business decision,” Blackshire commented.

“It would be great if it was a new investment in something like this for communities,” Lynch added. “Entertainment for our kids, jobs. Many people in this area, including kids that we know, worked here. It was a great opportunity.”

The site is now up for sale.