If there is one food that uniquely identifies Six Flags over Texas, it has to be the Pink Thing.

Introduced in the mid 1960s, Pink Things have been around almost as long as the park itself. The Pink Thing’s longevity is a testament to its popularity, with many guests making its consumption a tradition with each visit.

Numerous vendors have supplied the bright, frozen concoction over its 50+ year existence. In this article we’ll take a brief look at the Pink Thing’s legacy, including some big controversial changes.

Old brochure displaying a Pink Thing
Photo: Shane’s Amusement Attic

Pink Buried Treasure

Originally the frozen treats were known as Pink Buried Treasure. Eating the concoction revealed a hidden figurine attached to the stick, a collectible for many.

When the bar’s original supplier left in the late 1960s, they took the “Pink Buried Treasure” name with them. Six Flags renamed the treats Pink Things since people would commonly ask to “have one of those pink things” when ordering.

Concoctions similar to Pink Things were sold as “Cherry Berry” bars at neighboring Six Flags parks over the years, created by a number of suppliers. One reported former manufacturer was Borden Dairy.

The Big Change

Perhaps the most drastic change for the Pink Thing came in 2011 — Six Flags over Texas’ 50th anniversary. For such a banner year, Pink Things were oddly absent for the first 3 months of the park’s season, and once they finally did show up they barely resembled the Pink Things of years past.

Blue Bell-produced Pink Things offered prior to 2011.
Photo: Dallas Observer

Suddenly the inverted cone-shaped, neon pink, ambiguously-flavored treat was a pale, cotton candy-flavored push-up pop. Six Flags had changed Pink Thing suppliers from Blue Bell to Schwan’s for unspecified reasons. The hidden figurine on the stick was also a thing of the past. The only resemblance to the prior Pink Thing was in name only.

Guide to SFoT contacted Blue Bell to clarify why they stopped supplying Pink Things to Six Flags. Blue Bell explained they discontinued the Buried Treasure Bar (as they called it) because it was their lowest volume and least efficient product to manufacture. They also referenced the flavor of their Pink Thing as “tutti-frutti,” not cherry as commonly assumed.

The change did not bode well with many guests, many yearning for the prior version and peeved the park was trying to pass off the push-up pop as a Pink Thing. Beyond the manufacturing difficulties, a return to Blue Bell supplying Pink Things is unlikely.

Sign advertising the push-up style “Pink Things” in 2016

2018: The Dippin’ Dots Pink Thing

Six Flags over Texas’ signature treat underwent yet another major change in 2018 when the park replaced the push-up style of Pink Thing with a special Dippin’ Dots flavor.

Sign for Pink Thing-flavored Dippin’ Dots

Perhaps the biggest leap in the continuation of Pink Things yet, the Dippin’ Dots version of the perennial novelty still provides that deliciously ambiguous artificial flavor that leaves you questioning, “Is it cherry? Strawberry? Tutti-frutti?” Or just the flavor embodiment of the color pink?

Pink Thing flavor of Dippin’ Dots

Future of the Pink Thing

Six Flags over Texas is sure to keep selling some version of Pink Things as long as guests keep buying them. Given its past, it’s safe to say the Pink Thing’s future flavor and look are always open for change. And despite the treat’s changes over the years, sales remain strong. Its endearing name conquers the the treat’s frequent flavor and shape-shifting changes, and eating one is still a mandatory part of visiting the park for many.

And for those that miss that classic, Pink Thing flavor before the park changed them in 2011, many report Dairy Queen’s cherry-flavored Starkiss bars taste very similar.