Who is Brody Langlin? Inside the Mind of the Billionaire Bringing Six Flags to Tacony
By Amarynth Ruch
If you haven’t heard of Brody Langlin, you probably haven’t been paying attention. Mr. Langlin, recently named one of Forbes richest businessmen, has been making waves in Philadelphia since moving here from Botswana in 2014.
“There’s just something about this city,” he says, “I was drawn to it. I think I was called by God. I am a big believer in Manifest Destiny.”
The son of a premier Diamond Miner, Langlin set out to make his mark in the Americas in a big way. First, by using a close family connection to broker Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States in September 2015. Then, he continued to use his influence to invite the DNC to our city in 2016. And who can forget when Langlin paved the way for the Philadelphia Phillies to enter the World Series in 2022?
In recent years, Langlin has been a little less public, likely due to kidnapping threats aimed at his granddaughter last Winter. But, Mr. Langlin says, he’s always had a soft spot for Tacony,
“It’s where my cat was born. Not to mention the best place in the world to buy a hoagie!” Langlin tells us, “I want to see this neighborhood BE something. I want it to be a destination. I want it to be the place to go with your family. It should be bigger and better than every other amusement park in the country.”
That’s why it was announced earlier this year that Brody Langlin plans to sponsor the development of Six Flags Entertainment Companies 27th Theme Park, right here in the Tacony neighborhood. It won’t be easy, he acknowledges, and a lot of property is going to have to be demolished, but:
“I have a plan for that. We’re going to use the leftover building materials to create a barricade around the park. A testament to the history of the area, using the materials from the area.”
An interesting proposition, and one that has garnered some controversy from Tacony’s residents and business owners.
“I’m just not sure a barricade is what’s going to attract people to this neighborhood,” said one business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, “But rollercoasters, yeah I’m all for that. We love thrills in this neighborhood, I can’t wait to hear the delighted screams!”
Mr. Langlin, an unusually tall man with a long beard he dyes green (to attract more wealth, he says), has been a fixture in the Tacony neighborhood since the plans were announced. He and his team can be spotted marking out the placements for new rides, such as the Tacony Tower, which will drop theme park guests an astounding 600ft when it’s completed.
“I’m just really excited to get this project really underway. Tacony is a hidden gem, we can do great things here.”
Construction on the Six Flags Tacony location will begin next year, on APRIL FOOLS!
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