Paramount's Great America
Encyclopedia
California's Great America is an amusement park
located in Santa Clara, California
that is owned and operated by JMA Ventures. It is one of four major amusement parks that operate around the San Francisco Bay Area
. The other three are Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
in Vallejo
, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
in Santa Cruz
, and Gilroy Gardens
in Gilroy
. California's Great America is the only amusement park in northern California that has a water park
within, although there are several other dedicated water parks in the area such as Raging Waters
in San Jose
and Waterworld in Concord
.
, a hotel and restaurant operator, was opened in 1976, along with a sister park
located north of Chicago bearing the same name. A third park was originally planned for Howard County, Maryland
, but was not constructed due to local opposition. California's Great America's sister park, in Gurnee, Illinois
, would become Six Flags Great America
in 1985.
The park, although profitable, was still an earnings disappointment for Marriott, leading the company in 1983 to agree to sell the park to Caz Development Co., which valued the prized land appraised at US$800,000 to $1 million per acre. But Marriott also gave a first option to the park to the city of Santa Clara, which was already partially involved in the park, leasing 55 acres (222,577.3 m²) for parking space for $75,000 per year. Fearing development of the land would aggravate congested roads, on January 31, 1984 the city council approved a $101 million deal by a 4-3 count on the condition that the electorate authorize the agreement. City voters approved the sale by a margin of 3 to 1. Caz Development sued the city and Marriott in Santa Clara County Superior Court to block the transaction. The court nullified the sale, forcing the city to attempt to salvage their deal through negotiations with both other parties. Unable to broker a timely agreement, the city council voted 6-1 to scuttle the sale on February 5, 1985, although the city was still interested in owning the park. After Marriott refunded a $20 million down payment to the city, negotiations were started afresh. Finally all parties worked out a compromise, which was signed in marathon sessions taking place over June 4–5, 1985. The city for $93.5 million acquired the park and inventory from Marriott, which retained 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) for development. Caz Development settled its lawsuit and in exchange the city allowed the developer to build a hotel and an office on land near the park.
During the 1980s the park conducted a number of environmental analyses, many related to acoustical impacts of proposed new rides. Examples of these studies include the Grizzly ride and a proposed steel coaster.
Kings Entertainment Co.
, an operator of other parks, was hired to manage the park for the city. As planned, the city ended its ownership and sold the park structures to Kings in 1989 for $22 million but not the land, which would be leased for $5.3 million a year. In addition, the city earned 5% of revenue over $56 million.
), then owners of Paramount Pictures
, sought to join other entertainment companies as a theme park owner. The company acquired Kings Entertainment, owner of three parks including Great America, and one other park for $400 million and created Paramount Parks
. Viacom
, the parent of MTV Networks
(including Nickelodeon
), then bought Paramount in 1994, allowing Nickelodeon theming and merchandise into the park as well. During the Paramount era, attractions from the Action FX Theatre, Nickelodeon Splat City (later Nickelodeon Central), Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Invertigo, and many more modern thrill ride attractions were added in. Unfortunately because the park was literally landlocked being in the center of Silicon Valley, several rides including the classic train ride and the Sky Whirl
, a Marriott's Great America signature attraction, were removed to make way for newer attractions.
After Viacom and CBS Corporation
split, Paramount Parks became part of CBS. The merger did not last long, as CBS announced plans to sell the theme park division.
In May 2006, it was announced that Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. would be acquiring the entire amusement park division from CBS. The transaction includes licensing agreements with Nickelodeon and Paramount, providing the park the option to retain its Nickelodeon and Paramount theming for several years.
On October 25, 2007, Cedar Fair renamed the park California's Great America. For the 2008 season, the park saw the addition of a Huss Rides top spin ride called FireFall, a new ice show in the "Great America Theatre" (formerly The Paramount Theatre), and the addition of the Halloween Haunt event to the park.
On January 27, 2011, the park announced Invertigo would be removed and relocated to Dorney Park, another Cedar Fair property.
Writer Steven E. de Souza originally wrote the story as more “Die Hard in a theme park”. He was told that each of the rides he had designed would cost about $10 million to build and the whole film would cost about $70 million. When box office results for The Distinguished Gentleman came in, Paramount ordered the budget to be cut to $55 million.
Some modifications were made to the Columbia Carousel and Vortex roller coaster. Most of the Sky Whirl stunts were filmed in a studio. In this scene, George Lucas has a small part as the man Axel cuts in front of to get on the ride, also known as 'disappointed man' (this can be seen in the credits). The tunnels that supposedly ran under the park are a myth as well. No tunnels run under the park, as many thought after this was released. Many rides that were seen in the movie including Triple Play and the Sky Whirl (now a roller coaster) have since been removed. Also, the carousel at the back of the park (a single story one, not the Columbia Carousel) was altered. The single story one was removed for Drop Zone. The ride featured in the rescue scene at the park was Triple Wheel (formerly known as Sky Whirl). Since the movie was made, the ride has been demolished and scrapped.
The Alien Attack ride featured in the Wonderworld theme park was in fact the Earthquake: The Big One attraction from the Universal Studios Florida theme park in Orlando, Florida. The "aliens" featured in the ride are suited actors (and not animatronic as suggested in the film) which closely resembled the Cylons from the original Battlestar Galactica.
for additional information on these and other incidents.
Halloween Haunt Attraction History
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
located in Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
that is owned and operated by JMA Ventures. It is one of four major amusement parks that operate around the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. The other three are Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, formerly Six Flags Marine World, Marine World, The New Marine World Theme Park, and Marine World Africa USA, is an animal theme park located in Vallejo, California. The park includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, along with a collection of...
in Vallejo
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.- Overview :...
in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, and Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy Gardens
Gilroy Gardens is a garden-themed family theme park in Gilroy, California and current location of the world-famous Circus Trees created by Axel Erlandson. It was founded by Michael and Claudia Bonfante after selling their Nob Hill Foods supermarket chain to build the park. The park was constructed...
in Gilroy
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
. California's Great America is the only amusement park in northern California that has a water park
Water park
A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...
within, although there are several other dedicated water parks in the area such as Raging Waters
Raging Waters
Raging Waters is the name of three water theme parks located in Sacramento, San Dimas, and San Jose, California. They are the largest water parks in the state of California. The three parks are owned by Palace Entertainment but each contains different attractions...
in San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and Waterworld in Concord
Concord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
.
1970s and 1980s
Marriott's Great America, built by Marriott Corp.Marriott Corp.
Marriott Corporation was a hospitality company that operated from 1927–1993, founded originally by J. Willard Marriott and Frank Kimball as Hot Shoppes, Inc. In 1957, Marriott Corporation opened its first hotel in Arlington County, Virginia, United States as the Twin Bridges Motor Hotel...
, a hotel and restaurant operator, was opened in 1976, along with a sister park
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
located north of Chicago bearing the same name. A third park was originally planned for Howard County, Maryland
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, but was not constructed due to local opposition. California's Great America's sister park, in Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,834 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 30,772 in 2005. The village borders the city of Waukegan and is considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Gurnee is perhaps best known for being the location of...
, would become Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
in 1985.
During the 1980s the park conducted a number of environmental analyses, many related to acoustical impacts of proposed new rides. Examples of these studies include the Grizzly ride and a proposed steel coaster.
Kings Entertainment Co.
KECO Entertainment
Kings Entertainment Company owned and/or operated six theme parks around the world. The company was originally owned by Taft Broadcasting and in the mid 1980s was purchased by a few top-level executives of Taft's....
, an operator of other parks, was hired to manage the park for the city. As planned, the city ended its ownership and sold the park structures to Kings in 1989 for $22 million but not the land, which would be leased for $5.3 million a year. In addition, the city earned 5% of revenue over $56 million.
The 1990s: New Millennium and Paramount Parks era
Three years later Paramount Communications (formerly Gulf+WesternGulf+Western
Gulf and Western Industries, Inc., for a number of years known as Gulf+Western, was an American conglomerate.- History :Gulf and Western's prosaic origins date to a manufacturer named Michigan Bumper Co. founded in 1934, though Charles Bluhdorn treated his 1958 takeover of what was then Michigan...
), then owners of Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, sought to join other entertainment companies as a theme park owner. The company acquired Kings Entertainment, owner of three parks including Great America, and one other park for $400 million and created Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
. Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
, the parent of MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
(including Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
), then bought Paramount in 1994, allowing Nickelodeon theming and merchandise into the park as well. During the Paramount era, attractions from the Action FX Theatre, Nickelodeon Splat City (later Nickelodeon Central), Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Invertigo, and many more modern thrill ride attractions were added in. Unfortunately because the park was literally landlocked being in the center of Silicon Valley, several rides including the classic train ride and the Sky Whirl
Sky Whirl
Sky Whirl was an Intamin Triple Giant Ferris wheel that operated at both Marriott's Great America Parks.-History:It was basically 3 arms with 2 wheels always spinning while one was on the ground loading. It gave park guests a chance to relax and get a cool breeze. It was a ride for the whole...
, a Marriott's Great America signature attraction, were removed to make way for newer attractions.
Cedar Fair, 2006-2011
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
split, Paramount Parks became part of CBS. The merger did not last long, as CBS announced plans to sell the theme park division.
In May 2006, it was announced that Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. would be acquiring the entire amusement park division from CBS. The transaction includes licensing agreements with Nickelodeon and Paramount, providing the park the option to retain its Nickelodeon and Paramount theming for several years.
On October 25, 2007, Cedar Fair renamed the park California's Great America. For the 2008 season, the park saw the addition of a Huss Rides top spin ride called FireFall, a new ice show in the "Great America Theatre" (formerly The Paramount Theatre), and the addition of the Halloween Haunt event to the park.
On January 27, 2011, the park announced Invertigo would be removed and relocated to Dorney Park, another Cedar Fair property.
JMA Ventures
On September 19, 2011, Cedar Fair confirmed that they would be selling California's Great America for $70 million in cash to JMA Ventures, LLC. Cedar Fair, which purchased the park in 2006, expects to use the cash proceeds from this sale to reduce its senior secured debt.Current rides
The park's current rides and attractions include:- Action Theater. A motion simulator attraction featuring SpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg. Much of the series centers on the exploits and adventures of the title character and his various friends in the underwater city of "Bikini Bottom"...
in 3D. - Barney Oldfield's Speedway. Classic style car ride for everyone of all ages.
- Berserker. An Schwarzkopf Bayern KurveBayern KurveThe Bayern Kurve is an amusement park and carnival ride made in both a portable and park model that debuted in 1965 and was invented by Anton Schwarzkopf, a legendary German engineer of amusement rides. During the ride, riders sit in one of the sixteen bobsled-themed cars that travel at a...
. Formerly known as Yukon Yahoo. - Celebration Swings. A ZiererZiererZierer is a German company located close to Deggendorf. Zierer manufactures Tivoli and Force line of roller coasters, as well as panoramic wheels, wave swingers, flying carpets, Hextentanz and Kontiki rides...
Wave Swinger. - Centrifuge. A Schwarzkopf Calypso. Formerly known as Fiddler's Fling.
- Carousel ColumbiaColumbia CarouselCarousel Columbia is a pair of double-decked carousels at Six Flags Great America and at California's Great America...
. A Double decker carousel, is one of the world's tallest carousels, along with the clone at Six Flags Great AmericaSix Flags Great AmericaSix Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
. - Delirium. A ChanceChance-MorganChance Morgan, a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer, was formed in 2001 with the merger of Chance Industries and D. H. Morgan Manufacturing . The main office is D. H. Morgan's former location in La Selva Beach, California and they utilize Chance Industries' former manufacturing...
Revolution. - Delta Flyer/Eagle's Flight. A Von Roll skyride transporting guests from one side of the park to the other.
- The DemonDemon (California's Great America)Demon is a multi-looping roller coaster at California's Great America with an identical twin at Six Flags Great America. Both coasters opened in 1976 as Turn of the Century and were remodeled to Demon in 1980.-Turn of the Century:...
. Built by Arrow DynamicsArrow DynamicsArrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
, the Demon is the park's oldest roller coaster, opening with the park in 1976. Formerly known as Turn of the Century. - Drop Tower: Scream Zone. A Giant Drop model drop tower (2nd generation IntaminIntamin AGIntamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
freefall rideFreefall (ride)The Freefall is an amusement ride developed by Giovanola and marketed throughout the world by Swiss company, Intamin AG. Two generations of this ride were developed. First generation Freefall rides can be identified by the angled supports at the base of the lift tower. Second generation Freefall...
). Eventually replaced the park's original 1st gen. Freefall ride, The Edge. Stands 224 feet (68.3 m). Drops at 62 mi/h. Formerly known as Drop Zone: Stunt Tower. - FireFallFireFall (ride)Firefall at California's Great America is a typical, two-row Top Spin 1 manufactured by HUSS Rides of Germany. The ride was originally located at Six Flags Ohio under the name Texas Twister...
. Relocated Huss Top Spin, Texas Twister, from Geauga Lake. The ride officially opened May 17, 2008. The ride also contains water, fire, and fog effects to enhance the ride experience. - Flying Eagles. A Larson Flying ScootersFlying ScootersFlying Scooters, also known simply as Flyers, is an amusement ride consisting of a center post with ride vehicles suspended from arms attached to the center post....
. - Grizzly. A wooden roller coasterWooden roller coasterA wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
designed by Curtis D. Summers and built by Kings Island Construction, Maintenance & Engineering Dept., Grizzly opened in 1986. Grizzly travels at 55 mi/h making it one of the fastest rides in the park. According to one poll, this rated as the worst wooden roller coaster in the world consecutively from 2005 to 2009. - H.M.B. Endeavor. An Intamin Looping StarshipLooping StarshipThe Looping Starship is an amusement ride manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland. The ride is a swinging ship that can spin a complete 360-degree revolution, which can be very scary at times...
. Formerly known as The Revolution. - Loggers Run. An Arrow Flume Ride.
- The Orbit. A SchwarzkopfAnton SchwarzkopfAnton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
Enterprise (ride)Enterprise (ride)The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Maschinenfabrik in 1972. The ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, with an increased passenger capacity. Despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was...
. The Orbit Re-opened in 2007. Formerly known as Orlean's Orbit. - Planet SnoopyPlanet SnoopyPlanet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
. Kids area themed to the Peanuts Gang. - Psycho Mouse. An Arrow Wild MouseWild Mouse roller coasterA Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...
. - Rip Roaring Rapids. An IntaminIntamin AGIntamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
River rafting rideRiver rafting rideA river rafting ride is an amusement ride that simulates whitewater rafting.-History:The river rapids ride concept was proposed by Bill Crandall and developed by Intamin AG...
. - Rue Le Dodge. Bumper cars.
- Star Tower. An observation tower. Formerly known as Sky Tower.
- Taxi Jam. A Miler Coasters steel junior oval.
- Thunder Raceway. Go-karts. Upcharge attraction. The karts use now-outdated NASCAR Sprint Cup Series paint schemes.
- Tiki Twirl. A ZamperlaZamperlaZamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls....
Disk-ODisk-OThe Disk'O is a type of flat ride manufactured by Zamperla of Italy. The ride is a larger version of a Rockin' Tug, also manufactured by Zamperla.-Versions:-Ride:...
. Formerly known as Survivor: The Ride. - Flight Deck. A B&MBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
built Inverted roller coasterInverted roller coasterAn inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the...
, Flight Deck is Northern California's longest Inverted coaster. Formerly known as Top Gun. - VortexVortex (Great America)Vortex is a stand-up roller coaster at California's Great America. It has a different layout but is generally the same size as Vortex at Carowinds. It was Bolliger & Mabillard's second coaster after Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America and officially opened on March 9, 1991. The ride has a...
. A B&MBolliger & MabillardBolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...
Stand-Up roller coaster, Vortex is Northern California's only stand-up coaster. - Whitewater Falls. A Shoot-the-ChutesShoot-the-ChutesShoot-the-Chutes is an amusement ride consisting of a flat-bottomed boat that slides down a ramp or inside a flume into a lagoon. Unlike a log flume, a Shoot-the-Chutes generally has larger boats and one single drop....
. - Xtreme SkyflyerSkycoasterSkycoaster, most commonly also named Ripcord or Xtreme SkyFlyer , is an amusement park ride, produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc....
. 153 ft (46.6 m) tall skycoaster flying 17 stories at 60 mi/h. Up-charge attraction.
Past rides
Past ride and attractions include:- Invertigo. A VekomaVekomaVekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
Invertigo shuttle coasterShuttle roller coasterA shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards...
, Invertigo was North America's first inverted face-to-face roller coaster. Invertigo was one of the tallest roller coasters in Northern California, however it was not the fastest. - Stealth: A VekomaVekomaVekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
Flying DutchmanFlying roller coasterA flying roller coaster is a variation of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight by harnessing riders in a prone position during the duration of the ride. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track...
, was removed for construction of the Boomerang BayBoomerang BayBoomerang Bay is a water park at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and is included with the price of admission to Carowinds.-History:...
water park, and relocated to Carowinds as Nighthawk (roller coaster). - Great America Scenic Railway: A custom-built railroad around the perimeter of the park. The roadbed can still be seen in many places. Closed for unknown reasons.
- Yankee Clipper. An Arrow DynamicsArrow DynamicsArrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
Hydro Flume that used to interlock with Logger's Run. - Tidal Wave/Greased Lightning: A shuttle loop roller coaster manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. A model exists in the park office.
- The Edge: The first original free-fall ride in the world and hence a first-generation Intamin AGIntamin AGIntamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
Freefall. - Skyhawk: The pilot ride with the barrel rolls around the tower, known as an Intamin AG Flight Trainer.
- Sky Whirl/Triple Wheel: This three-armed Ferris wheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
, made by Intamin AG, was removed to make room for Invertigo. - Lobster: An octopus/spider ride.
- Bottoms Up: The classic carnival ride known in the industry as a TrabantTrabantThe Trabant is a car that was produced by former East German auto maker VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau in Zwickau, Sachsen. It was the most common vehicle in East Germany, and was also exported to countries both inside and outside the communist bloc...
. - Triple Play: The Huss TroikaTroika (ride)The Troika is an amusement park ride, designed and manufactured by HUSS Maschinenfabrik in the mid-1970s. The ride is available in both transportable and permanent forms, although due to the total weight and size of the ride , transportable Troikas are unpopular and uncommon...
ride that was next to Vortex. - Nickelodeon CentralNickelodeon CentralSince the 1990s, Nickelodeon, a worldwide children's entertainment company, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides. This article details the ventures of Nickelodeon in amusement parks....
: A theme area containing rides and mascots, and attractions that based on shows from NickelodeonNickelodeon (TV channel)Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
and Nick Jr.Nick Jr.Nick Jr. was a programming block on the Nickelodeon television channel, seen on Nickelodeon weekday mornings. It was aimed at a preschool-age audience ages 6 and under. On September 28, 2009, Nick Jr. became its own official channel, replacing Noggin...
Was closed in 2009, and later changed into Planet SnoopyPlanet SnoopyPlanet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
. - Willard's WhizzerWhizzer (roller coaster)Whizzer is the name of two identical roller coasters built for the Marriott Corporation for each of their “Great America” parks at their debut in 1976. One was built in Gurnee, Illinois, at Six Flags Great America and the other in Santa Clara, California, at what is now California's Great America....
: The original steel family roller coaster, made by Anton SchwarzkopfAnton SchwarzkopfAnton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
. - Trolley Cars: In early years trolley cars traveled in Hometown Square and other parts of the park.
- Dolphin and Seal Show: During the Marriott years dolphins and seals were kept to do daily shows. Removed when Paramount took over to make way for what is now known as the Peanuts Playhouse Theater.
- Smurf Woods: A Smurf-themed small kids area with small Smurf mushroom houses. Was changed eventually into Nickelodeon Central.
- Cajun Carpet: A large rotating platform ride located near Orleans Orbit and Rip Roaring Rapids .
California's Great America's timeline
- 2011: Invertigo to be removed for possible new attraction; Three new live shows.Halloween Haunt Expansion. Cedar Fair Entertainment Company sells the park for $70 million.
- 2010: Planet Snoopy (Retheme of Nickelodeon Central); Hanna Barbera references removed in KidZville; Panda Express
- 2009: All Wheels Extreme Stunt show; Chipper Lowell Experience show; expanded Halloween Haunt
- 2008: FireFall; Dora's Sing-Along Adventure; Endless Summer On Ice show; Halloween Haunt
- 2007: Great Barrier Reef Wavepool added to Boomerang Bay; Ed AlonzoEd AlonzoEd Alonzo is a Mexican American comedian, actor and professional magician.-Acting career:He had various roles on Saved by the Bell , Head of the Class and Totally Hidden Video. He also had guest starring roles on Full House, Murphy Brown and Xuxa...
Misfit of Magic; Twistin' to the '60s Show - 2006: Survivor: The Ride
- 2005: Boomerang Bay expansion to include lazy river, three other waterslides and a large swimming pool.
- 2004: Boomerang Bay is added including a complex of children's water slides/play area, a 4 person adult raft/tube ride, and 2½ person tube water slides. Triple Play is removed
- 2003: SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D in the Action Theater; Nickelodeon CentralNickelodeon CentralSince the 1990s, Nickelodeon, a worldwide children's entertainment company, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides. This article details the ventures of Nickelodeon in amusement parks....
(expansion of Splat City); Stealth (flying steel coaster) is removed and sent to Carowinds as Nighthawk - 2002: Delirium; Flying Eagles; Greased Lightning (steel coaster) removed
- 2001: Psycho Mouse; Celebration Swings
- 2000: Stealth (flying steel coaster); Scenic Railroad removed
- 1999: KidZVille
- 1998: Invertigo, James Bond: License to Thrill
- 1997: Xtreme Skyflyer
- 1996: Drop Tower Scream Zone
- 1995: Nickelodeon Splat CityNickelodeon Splat CityNickelodeon Splat City was a land inside of Great America , Kings Island , and Kings Dominion . It was based on many Nickelodeon Game shows, such as Double Dare, which had attractions that involved getting wet.-Attractions:...
- 1994: Action Theater
- 1993: Flight Deck
- 1991: Vortex
- 1990: Whitewater Falls
- 1989: Skyhawk
- 1988: Rip Roaring Rapids. Whizzer is removed
- 1987: Blue Streak; Smurf Woods; Fort Fun; HMB Endeavor (Formerly known as The Revolution)
- 1986: Redwood Amphitheater with the Miami Sound Machine
- 1985: The Grizzly
- 1983: The Edge
- 1982: Atari Video Adventure
- 1980: The Demon (remodeled from Turn of the Century)
- 1979: Star Tower (formerly Sky Tower)
- 1978: IMAX Pictorium Theater, with film Man Belongs to the Earth
- 1977: Tidal Wave
- 1976: Marriott's Great America opens
On film and television
- Though appearing under the name "WonderWorld", Paramount's Great America was used as the theme park in the 1994 film Beverly Hills Cop IIIBeverly Hills Cop IIIBeverly Hills Cop III is a 1994 action-comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by John Landis, who had previously worked with Murphy on Trading Places and Coming to America...
(itself released by Paramount Pictures).
Writer Steven E. de Souza originally wrote the story as more “Die Hard in a theme park”. He was told that each of the rides he had designed would cost about $10 million to build and the whole film would cost about $70 million. When box office results for The Distinguished Gentleman came in, Paramount ordered the budget to be cut to $55 million.
Some modifications were made to the Columbia Carousel and Vortex roller coaster. Most of the Sky Whirl stunts were filmed in a studio. In this scene, George Lucas has a small part as the man Axel cuts in front of to get on the ride, also known as 'disappointed man' (this can be seen in the credits). The tunnels that supposedly ran under the park are a myth as well. No tunnels run under the park, as many thought after this was released. Many rides that were seen in the movie including Triple Play and the Sky Whirl (now a roller coaster) have since been removed. Also, the carousel at the back of the park (a single story one, not the Columbia Carousel) was altered. The single story one was removed for Drop Zone. The ride featured in the rescue scene at the park was Triple Wheel (formerly known as Sky Whirl). Since the movie was made, the ride has been demolished and scrapped.
The Alien Attack ride featured in the Wonderworld theme park was in fact the Earthquake: The Big One attraction from the Universal Studios Florida theme park in Orlando, Florida. The "aliens" featured in the ride are suited actors (and not animatronic as suggested in the film) which closely resembled the Cylons from the original Battlestar Galactica.
- Paramount's Great America was also used as the theme park Macaulay CulkinMacaulay CulkinMacaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor. He became widely known for his portrayal of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He is also known for his roles in Richie Rich, Uncle Buck, My Girl, The Pagemaster, and Party Monster...
visits in the 1994 film Getting Even with DadGetting Even with DadGetting Even With Dad is a 1994 American comedy film starring Macaulay Culkin and Ted Danson.- Plot :The movie is about a dysfunctional father-son relationship. Timmy Gleason is Ray Gleason's estranged son, who tries to blackmail his ex-con father into spending time with him...
(ironically not released by Paramount, but rather Metro-Goldwyn-MayerMetro-Goldwyn-MayerMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
).
- California's Great America was featured in a 2007 ExcedrinExcedrinExcedrin is an over-the-counter headache pain reliever, typically in the form of tablets or caplets. It contains acetaminophen , aspirin, and caffeine. Until late 2005 it was manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, but in July 2005 it was purchased by Novartis, along with other products from BMS's...
commercial with the park's inverted steel coaster, "Flight Deck", as the main star.
Injuries and accidents
There have been a number of notable injuries and accidents at California's Great America, some of which are listed below. Please see Incidents at Cedar Fair parksIncidents at Cedar Fair parks
This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at amusement parks, water parks, or theme parks that are currently owned or operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of every such event, but only those that have a significant...
for additional information on these and other incidents.
- In 1980, a 14-year-old boy was killed and several others injured on the Willard's WhizzerWhizzer (roller coaster)Whizzer is the name of two identical roller coasters built for the Marriott Corporation for each of their “Great America” parks at their debut in 1976. One was built in Gurnee, Illinois, at Six Flags Great America and the other in Santa Clara, California, at what is now California's Great America....
roller coaster. - In 1989, two boys intentionally jumped out of the Loggers' Run ride. One was killed and the other fell onto a platform and was injured.
- Year Unknown, 2 Rip Roaring Rapids boats wedged together and capsized killing at least one child by drowning.
- In 1991, two couples were injured on the Yankee Clipper as their boat hydroplaned then capsized, leaving the riders temporarily trapped under the upside-down boat. The attraction was later modified to include a bump at the bottom of the drop in order to prevent hydroplaning.
- In 1998, after riding Flight Deck, a 24-year-old Spanish-speaking man, who could not read the English-language warning signs, entered a locked, gated area underneath the ride to retrieve his hat. He was hit by the foot of a passenger on the Flight Deck train and later died. The passenger suffered a broken leg.
- In 1999, a 12-year-old boy fell out of his seat on Drop Tower because he escaped from the rides restraints.
- On July 12, 2007, a 4-year-old boy drowned in the Boomerang Bay's Great Barrier Reef wave poolWave poolA wave pool is a swimming pool in which there are artificially generated, reasonably large waves, similar to the ocean's. Wave pools are often a major feature of water parks...
.
Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt is a seasonal event at California's Great America. It began it 2008 and was patterned after other Cedar Fair haunts such as Knott's Scary Farm and Scarowinds. The Haunt includes over 500 monsters placed in various haunted mazes and scarezones throughout the park. As of 2011 the park has 7 mazes and re-themed rides 5 live shows and three scare zones.Halloween Haunt Attraction History
| Year | Mazes | Scare Zones | Shows | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008 | Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Camp Gonna'getcha Slaughterhouse Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove Witch Doctor's Trail The Gauntlet |
Ed Alonzo's Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem Dave Hill's Haunted Hypnotics Comedysportz Improv |
||
| 2 | 2009 | Toy Factory Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Camp Gonna'getcha Slaughterhouse Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove Witch Doctor's Trail The Gauntlet |
Ed Alonzo's Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem Dave Hill's Haunted Hypnotics Shocking Sideshow of Freaks SDC presents BANG! |
||
| 3 | 2010 | Toy Factory Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Black Widows Cavern Slaughterhouse Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove Witch Doctor's Trail The Gauntlet |
Fangs Dave Hill's Haunted Hypnotics Shocking Sideshow of Freaks SDC presents BANG! |
||
| 4 | 2011 | Toy Factory Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Black Widows Cavern Slaughterhouse Annhilation Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove: Forsaken Souls The Gauntlet |
Zombies Gone Viral Haunted Hypnotics Shocking Sideshow of Freaks Blood Drums BANG! Primevil Percussion |
External links
- GREAT AMERICA parks - History of Marriott's Great America
- Satellite view of the site
- NorCalCoasters.Net Unofficial Site