It was a case of "better late than never" for fans of the sprawling Jackson theme park who showed up in force for its long-awaited opening day.

A link has been sent to your friend's email address.

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

JACKSON — It almost felt like a normal, blazing hot July day here when the gates opened at Six Flags Great Adventure Friday morning.

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Social distancing reminders and cleaning crews were conspicuous inside the theme park.

One of the Jersey Shore's biggest tourist attractions and largest seasonal employers, Six Flags Great Adventure has a large, loyal fan base and employs around 4,000 people every summer.

Both guests and team members must wear masks inside the theme park.

Opening weekend:  Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson to open July 3 with masks and half-filled rides.

"This ’new normal’ will be different in some ways, but we believe these additional measures are appropriate in the current environment," Mike Spanos, president and chief executive officer of Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the parent company of the Jackson theme park, said last week

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed