Jeremy Bushek

Guest services manager at Six Flags loves his job

DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com

When members DFW’s LGBT community heads to Six Flags Over Texas on Sunday for Out at the Park, they can do so knowing that many members of their rainbow family are Six Flags employees working to keep the amusement park fun and friendly for all, including Jeremy Bushek, manager of guest services and the national support center at Six Flags.

And, Bushek said, he will be at the front gate greeting guests on Sunday.

Bushek began his career at Six Flags in 2001 in food services and worked as a park trainer for a few seasons. Since then, he said, “I’ve done every job there is to do.” And that includes operating just about every ride in the park — other than the trains, at least not as the engineer.

Bushek said the Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast roller coaster is his favorite of the rides, because the operator has to control two different tracks, so it’s more complicated to operate. Another of his favorites was the bumper cars. Because his supervisors knew how much he loved the bumper cars, he got to operate it the full last day it was open, he said.

His other favorite is Batman The Ride, another roller coaster, because, he said, he grew up on DC Comics. “It was one of the reasons I wanted to work here,” he added.

As guest services manager, Bushek oversees a staff of more than 200. He takes care of complaints — everything from “I didn’t get my discount” to “someone was rude” to “the lines are too long” — as well as passing along the compliments.

“And we definitely appreciate the compliments,” Bushek declared.

His office will reward team members who’ve been mentioned by guests for providing particularly good service. Providing directions may seem like a simple thing, but when someone takes the time to remember the name of the employee that gave them directions and then calls in a compliment, the service must have been exceptional.

Since Six Flags announced two weeks ago it will be now open weekends year-round, Bushek said the park is always looking for new employees. The online application asks what they want to do. But there are all sorts of positions available.

“The park is kind of like a city,” Bushek said. “There are all kinds of jobs for all kinds of people.”

Bushek said during the interview process, he looks for applicants’ reactions and for those who aren’t sure what position they’d like but know they want to work at the park. He’ll talk to them, he said, and find the right fit.

“This is a great place for a first job,” he said.

In fact, Bushek said, he’ll hire 15-year-olds who’ve never worked before to become part of customer service. He said the front gate is a great customer service position with a greater variety of things to do than you’d expect. That includes selling and taking tickets, redeeming coupons, taking compliments and complaints, riding the trams and getting people back and forth to their cars in the massive parking lots.

Planning and executing the park’s special events takes months of work. Bushek said the staff is already putting up lights for Holiday in the Park. At last count, there were more than 2 million lights to string.

Bushek doesn’t just work at Six Flags’ park in Arlington. He oversees guest services in all 26 Six Flags parks in the U.S. and Mexico. While many of the problems are the same, each park also has its own specific issues.

Two of the Six Flags parks have hotels associated with the properties. Two parks are independent water parks and other water parks are associated with theme parks. Many of the parks have rides unique to that property. For example, the new Six Flags Darien Lake, between Buffalo and Rochester, has a steeple chase ride that none of the other parks has.

“It’s always fun to explore and see the different parks,” he said.

Since he’s worked throughout the company, what position would he like next?

“I do a lot for the whole company,” he said, and after thinking about it, said, “I love the job I’m in.”

Out in the Park is Sunday, Sept. 15. Tickets are available at SixFlags.com/overtexas or at the gate.