SFGAm is now unrecognizable from its original classic theme park appeal in 1976. Online photos from the 70's and this RUclips video reveal that the park once had a colonial feel to it, with lush landscaping and cleverly themed areas. Wide midways lyrically danced around hidden ride entrances. Unique rides like the Yukon Yahoo and the birdcage Skywhirll gave the park a distinctive look and homespun patriotic revolutionary feel. Now SFGAm looks like an Arkansas carnival, but without the class. There are no fewer than six places where you can buy funnel cakes, an embarrassingly primitive menu item, but so brazenly available here that the entire park appears to have been eaten and shat out by Walmart. The carnival-like game prizes are duplicated in every single game trailer lining nearly every path-- a laughable set of dyed cheese cloth covered polystyrene stuffed characters, free of recognizable copyright image or whimsical appeal of any kind. Aesthetically, the park is a hodgepodge of graphic design conflicts. The only place where you can find a wider design color palette is in children's vomit after a visit to a Skittles factory. There are so many legal warning signs cluttering every narrow pathway that it looks like the park was bought out by Anton Scalia with a signage print shop. The entire park's cramped design aesthetic is one of desperation-- "use any paint bucket that's available", along with a last minute cut to any remaining foliage budget. The original designers of the park must just gasp when they walk into the cramped, sideshow-laden, Tru-link fence smothered trailer park now. The only ray of hope left in the design is a swath of fresh cut grass next to the lift hill of the American Eagle, likely maintained by an employee who is able to tend to it off the clock, and who is able to hide it from the park designers because it's in an out of the way corner. The entire venue just chokes, gasps, and begs for an upgrade and focused unifying re-design. A gut wrenchingly shameful plasticine rape of it original concept, and an embarrassment for international visitors.
Oh. My. Goodness! At the 1:08 mark you can see the cars going over one of the bunny hills on The Turn of the Century! That was such a great roller coaster. I prefer it with the bunny hills, rather than the two added loops (and name change to The Demon).
This is great because I'm the little guy in the Fonzie shirt on the kiddie coaster and walking around after riding it! My brother gave a family video to a PR person around 10 years ago, and now it's part of this clip. I think it's great.
I'm not sure what became of the edge, but Shockwave is in a metal scrap pile and Iron Wolf is currently operating at another park, so don't get your hopes up
It's not possible, Paul, as the kiddie coaster was the Gulf Coaster, and was only in the park that single season. It was removed before the 1977 season because of the number of times the coaster caught on fire. The one in the Santa Clara park only lasted two more seasons than the one in Gurnee.
I still have three souvenirs from the Marriott's days...a figurine of Bugs Bunny in his Uncle Sam hat,a beer stein with bas-relief scenes on it,much of it rides no longer at the park and a candle made to resemble a bottle of Pepsi....got that at the Glass Schooner shop that used to be in Yankee Harbor.
wow, that kid on the coaster at 1:28 looks a heck of a lot like me, I know I had that hat, could that be possible. Also, what kind of outfit was that ride operator wearing, wow.
Sixflags, in honor of the monuments event this year, you should bring back some of those classic rides... or do something magical and buy the IP of kiddie land and put it within sixflags fully... not just the little dipper.
I agree with steven.Expand and bring back rides like shockwave and the edge.And put iron wolf back where it was.I know you tore it down 2 years ago but I liked theese rides. I bet other people got sad when you guys tore them down. Plz put them back. :"(
It's sad that six flags ran this park into the ground. It use to be a nice place for family fun. Now its all dirty, broken buildings with old broken down rides laying around the back lot. It now seems like all six flags cares about is soaking the customer for every nickle they have. I live close to the park and I refuse to go there it is so bad. They seem to put more money into marketing than fixing this place...Sad.
I have a Marriots Great America Mug from the 70's!
SFGAm is now unrecognizable from its original classic theme park appeal in 1976. Online photos from the 70's and this RUclips video reveal that the park once had a colonial feel to it, with lush landscaping and cleverly themed areas. Wide midways lyrically danced around hidden ride entrances. Unique rides like the Yukon Yahoo and the birdcage Skywhirll gave the park a distinctive look and homespun patriotic revolutionary feel.
Now SFGAm looks like an Arkansas carnival, but without the class. There are no fewer than six places where you can buy funnel cakes, an embarrassingly primitive menu item, but so brazenly available here that the entire park appears to have been eaten and shat out by Walmart. The carnival-like game prizes are duplicated in every single game trailer lining nearly every path-- a laughable set of dyed cheese cloth covered polystyrene stuffed characters, free of recognizable copyright image or whimsical appeal of any kind.
Aesthetically, the park is a hodgepodge of graphic design conflicts. The only place where you can find a wider design color palette is in children's vomit after a visit to a Skittles factory.
There are so many legal warning signs cluttering every narrow pathway that it looks like the park was bought out by Anton Scalia with a signage print shop.
The entire park's cramped design aesthetic is one of desperation-- "use any paint bucket that's available", along with a last minute cut to any remaining foliage budget.
The original designers of the park must just gasp when they walk into the cramped, sideshow-laden, Tru-link fence smothered trailer park now. The only ray of hope left in the design is a swath of fresh cut grass next to the lift hill of the American Eagle, likely maintained by an employee who is able to tend to it off the clock, and who is able to hide it from the park designers because it's in an out of the way corner. The entire venue just chokes, gasps, and begs for an upgrade and focused unifying re-design. A gut wrenchingly shameful plasticine rape of it original concept, and an embarrassment for international visitors.
jesus
....uhhh could you be over-reacting just a bit there pal.....
Ah, funnel cakes, or as I now refer to them, “a ticket for a thrill-packed ride on the toilet.”
Wish the park had a Ferris wheel, Sky Whirl got me nauseous every single time I rode it as a kid. :P
Loved yukon yahhoo
Oh. My. Goodness! At the 1:08 mark you can see the cars going over one of the bunny hills on The Turn of the Century! That was such a great roller coaster. I prefer it with the bunny hills, rather than the two added loops (and name change to The Demon).
This is great because I'm the little guy in the Fonzie shirt on the kiddie coaster and walking around after riding it! My brother gave a family video to a PR person around 10 years ago, and now it's part of this clip. I think it's great.
Man, Six Flags was a lot different back then, honestly never got to experience the old Six Flags. But looks a lot different then what it is today.
I'm not sure what became of the edge, but Shockwave is in a metal scrap pile and Iron Wolf is currently operating at another park, so don't get your hopes up
Very cool. Great America was a big deal growing up.
The edge was sent to geauga lake park and scrapped when the park closed 2008
When I saw the part with the dolphins I thought: They're probably dead by now :(
Thank you for sharing this. Very cool to take a look back in time.
it will never happen but I hope they bring back sky whirl and southern cross
I also wish the park had a ferris wheel ride again.
It's not possible, Paul, as the kiddie coaster was the Gulf Coaster, and was only in the park that single season. It was removed before the 1977 season because of the number of times the coaster caught on fire. The one in the Santa Clara park only lasted two more seasons than the one in Gurnee.
I was born in 1977 and its sooo funny that I have a picture of me on the kiddie coaster with my cousins!!! Great Video!!
Thank you for sharing this. Great video!
I still have three souvenirs from the Marriott's days...a figurine of Bugs Bunny in his Uncle Sam hat,a beer stein with bas-relief scenes on it,much of it rides no longer at the park and a candle made to resemble a bottle of Pepsi....got that at the Glass Schooner shop that used to be in Yankee Harbor.
wow, that kid on the coaster at 1:28 looks a heck of a lot like me, I know I had that hat, could that be possible. Also, what kind of outfit was that ride operator wearing, wow.
I remember Barney Oldfield's raceway
Sixflags, in honor of the monuments event this year, you should bring back some of those classic rides... or do something magical and buy the IP of kiddie land and put it within sixflags fully... not just the little dipper.
This is wonderful!
I agree with steven.Expand and bring back rides like shockwave and the edge.And put iron wolf back where it was.I know you tore it down 2 years ago but I liked theese rides. I bet other people got sad when you guys tore them down. Plz put them back. :"(
I know it might never happen but they got the idea from a lot of people.
I miss Sky Whirl.
Wow this looks really old. now i feel old
Was that coaster in a circle the Yukon Yahoo? Man I rode that thing a lot as a kid!
please make more but please use this same music i love it
Originally Marriott's.
This before it was even owned by six flags
Marriott's !
Bring back Shock Wave!
It's sad that six flags ran this park into the ground. It use to be a nice place for family fun. Now its all dirty, broken buildings with old broken down rides laying around the back lot. It now seems like all six flags cares about is soaking the customer for every nickle they have. I live close to the park and I refuse to go there it is so bad. They seem to put more money into marketing than fixing this place...Sad.
Bye now all the rides the *used to have* cant be rebuilt to rusty to dangerous easy to brake
Never going to happen