California's Great America Review, Northern California's Best Theme Park | R.I.P. (1976-???)
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- Опубликовано: 23 апр 2023
- California's Great America is a Cedar Fair amusement park in Santa Clara, California. This park opened back in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Then the park was owned by Paramount for several years until Cedar Fair purchased the park in 2006. But in 2022, Cedar Fair announced they sold the land under the park, which means it will unfortunately close sometime over the next decade. Find out why northern California's best park will be sorely missed.
Video Credits
Demon POV (California's Great America)- • Take a Virtual Ride on...
Grizzly POV (coastercrutchfield)- • The Grizzly Front Row ...
HMB Endeavor (Menachem Piekarski)- • revolution paramounts ...
Loggers Run (Menachem Piekarski)- • loggers run paramounts...
Pacific Surge (California's Great America)- • Pacific Surge Drop Sli...
Patriot POV (California's Great America)- • Take a Virtual Ride on...
Stealth (psyclonesteve)- • Stealth, Paramount's G...
Tiki Twirl (California's Great America)- • Take a Virtual Ride on...
Top Gun (psyclonesteve)- • Top Gun at Paramount's...
Vortex Off-Ride (psyclonesteve)- • Vortex, Paramount's Gr...
Background Music
Inspirational Post Rock by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Departure- • Inspirational Post Roc...
![Sean Rii, Karyon, Sharzkii - Taungule [My Love] (Official Music Video)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eJoMuypbSzQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Railblazer's speed is hilarious, it's like something out of one of the fantasy coaster animations we used to see.
Exactly!
I’m glad it was added. It added a different dynamic to their lineup.
Row 8. Ejector all day
@@briansanchez5758 Absolutely a back seat ride, it's non negotiable for Stunt Pilot/Railblazer/Wonder Woman at SFFT!
A park can not survive on one ride.
In the mid 90s Paramounts Great America was amazing from top gun to days of thunder to nickelodeon splash city i cant even explain how awesome it was to be a kid back then being there, something ill never forget and will always hold close to my heart
That theming definitely looked cool.
Yes!!! I’d definitely agree that the 90’s was probably the best time era to go to Great America. Sooooo many memories there. The ride selection, theming, etc. was also so much better!!!
Yes! The review I was waiting for!
Enjoy!
Thanks so much for this review! After Carowinds my 1st priority is to spend nights at Kings Island in late August, with a couple nights at this park too if possible sometime before my 2023 Cedar Fair platinum pass stops me from entering. It's also close to the airport which is convenient for me, and the transit tip can come in handy not only for transit, but possibly even for lodging for the two or three nights I plan to spend there too, so I really hope I make it to California's Great America this year. Thanks for posting!
This is one of the more accessible large parks with public transit (in the US) for sure.
I know at an off-season event at Valleyfair, the park's GM stated that the plan is to relocate CGA's rides across the Cedar Fair chain. It'll be interesting to see just what gets relocated and when that will start.
It definitely will be interesting to see what happens.
I think the corkscrew on patriot gives airtime because it straightens out towards the middle more than other b&m ones
Maybe!
Even though it is most likely a lost cause, I really, really hope CGA can be saved.
It is an entertainment juggernaut in the South Bay. I’ve never seen the park empty or remotely close, so I don’t know why Cedar Fair is giving up on the Bay Area market.
The park is in a good location and it is or was a staple for many childhoods.
What a shame
The fact the city wants it to remain a park may bode well.
That's what I don't get either. I can understand having to sell a park to relieve debt but why one if their California parks? Especially since Cedar Fair had hold over the north and south either Knott's Berry Farm in SoCal and California's Great America in NorCal. Both the Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are extremely large markets they already have their foots in. Especially with how more sparse NorCal is in terms of offerings compares to SoCal. To get rid of that opportunity is just so weird.
@@sky_glizzyPretty much this. A park that should have cost $120mil made well over $300mil in the sale because of the expensive land. It’s weird that people can’t understand this.
As a Current Employee at the Park, for those of you who haven’t been to Great America I highly recommend you end your visit with a stop at French Quarter Funnel cake. The Funnel Cakes are made fresh and it’s a great way to end a fun day. Funnel cake is one of the Most Popular foods we sell
Thanks for sharing!
This is a very useful review because I am going to get there this year!
Enjoy!
The collection here is fantastic, ranging from 2 B&Ms a RMC, 2 wooden coasters, an Arrow Looper and more. I wish every single one of these will get relocated when this park gies which I know won't happen so you need to ride everything and get here as soon as possible. The park may not be getting anything new but what they have is definitely enough to last them till it goes, such a great destination.
I agree their lineup is quite good.
SFGAm has been my home park my whole life and it was great to visit CGA for my first time last month. Unfortunately weather kept Railblazer closed all day, Demon valleyed the day prior, and Goldstriker went down for the day for the second half of the day. The park was great though. It was so weird and fun recognizing everything from SFGAm.
Thank you for your review. SFGAM is my home park, and I am going to CGA in June.
That's a major bummer about the ride closures.
@@CanobieCoaster SFDK was much worse. Only 3 credits. No Joker, Flash or Superman
@@danthecoasterman22 dang man, hopefully better luck next time
Along with the public transit options, I like how close CGA is to San Jose Airport. It makes it easy to plan a quick trip to the park, I know several people who have flown in, visited the park, and flown out the same day.
That's a good point too.
I hope it can be saved. My only visit came in late 2019. Halloween was on Thursday, and they were open 6-11, and it was a very light crowd. Even with Gold Striker & Railblazer being walk-ons all night, the wild mouse had a 30+ minute line. I did stop in on the Saturday night after Discovery Kingdom closed. I only had time for one ride, and I picked Gold Striker.
Because of Haunt, the kids coasters were closed. At that time, it was interesting that on the weekends, the park would close for an hour or 2, then reopen as Haunt, but my platinum pass did get me in just fine.
I've seen a few Cedar Fair parks do that. It's weird. I wish they did some sort of wristband instead so you could just stay in the park.
Thank you for this review. I will be making my first ever trip to the Bay Area with both Great America and Discovery Kingdom on the itinerary. Can't wait to see the city of San Francisco as well!
Enjoy! Love San Francisco!
dude that will be so fun!
@@CanobieCoaster After finally visiting the park, I had a bittersweet time. It's always great to visit new parks, especially this one because of how nice it looks but it's also sad knowing the park's days are numbered. Gold Striker was my personal favorite ride there. I'm becoming a fan of GCI and that one blew me away in the back row every time.
On a side note, San Francisco is a great city. I'm so glad the transit is efficient because my mom and I opted to use it during our visit. CGA is one of those few parks that has light rail service and connects to both Caltrain and BART to SanFran. I love cities like that where I don't have to bother with renting a car.
It is very unfortunate this park is closing, a few years ago it had a lot of potential. I hope they at least relocate gold striker, flight deck and railblazer.
It's a shame it likely is closing.
As someone who grew up with the other great america park owned by six flags I'm surprised how many similarities these parks share all these years later. Hearing that the California great america still has their orbit puts a smile on my face hopefully i get the opportunity to head out there sooner rather than later
It is cool to see the similarities.
Hello,
I am Currently an Employee at California’s Great America and I really enjoy working in Food and Beverage. Winterfest is my Favorite season because it’s gets me and My Colleagues in the Holiday Spirt. The park got brand new Lights last year.
That's great to hear! The lights looked great when I went to the event a few years ago.
I was a regular season pass holder from 2007-2014 with my very first coaster being the Demon in 2002. This park is dear to me. Also, on the area they’re building the new WindstarZ, if you go on the Barney Oldfield Speedway, you can actually see the plot of land that they’re working on and it looks more extensive than just a plot and relocate ride. Also there’s a potential rumor that they’re adding a NebulaZ as well. Not confirmed but its starting to make sense because they’re doing quite a bit of work in the Action Zone area. Which was desperately needed. The amount of work they’re doing is rather odd for a closing park which makes me head scratch on its future. I see it closing, but honestly would not be surprised if it stays put.
I really hope it stays, but Prologis has no history owning land under a theme park.
Just my thought but I don't think the park is leaving anytime soon - there's just been too much work being put into it in the past year both on stage and behind the scenes. Setting aside Liberty Twirler (2022 Scrambler and 50s overhaul) lot of internal infrastructure stuff has been happening, repainting, much needed building repairs and fence repairs, and even some redoing roofing on buildings that had been much needed. This does not include the activity that's been popping up in Action Zone.
I hope the park remains. The fact the city wants it to remain an amusement park bodes well, but Prologis has no experience owning anything other than offices and warehouses.
@@CanobieCoaster The last thing I was hearing was that Prologis doesn't have any real plans. So if it just ends up being a property that prints them money then they have something new to their portfolio that's not another Amazon warehouse. Neighboring offices around the park...all empty offices, many "for lease" signs through the area.
I went my first and only time so far in 2018 during Railblazers opening weekend. I got a daytime and night ride on it...such a great ride! We used my Knotts Platinum pass and saved so much money that day...
I have been wanting to get back up there and its a short easy Amtrak ride from the Fresno area where I live now. I was going to go and check out the new Halloween event this year, but after getting tickets for some local haunts, including the Winchester Mystery house...I got sick and had to cancel my Airbnb and lost money on all the haunt tickets...sigh...maybe this year...
Oh no! Hope you can make it back.
Psycho Mouse should have an amazing throughput with what should be a continuous moving platform and the restraints automatically lowering along with the numerous block zones.
I made the mistake of hitting it last the day I went and ended up paying the 2 hour price. The ops had good enthusiasm, but having only 2 attendants on the platform unloading guests, seating guests, checking seatbelts, checking lap bars, and having to stand in designated squares while the trains were in motion, all in that order, really slowed down operations. If only they could reprogram the ride to load 2 vehicles at once like the Mack ones or operate it with a continuous moving platform that it looks like it should run with.
I wish they had moving load platforms. That's why the one at Hershey has a manageable line despite being at a major park.
The drop tower is now themed to redwood trees and Barney Oldfield speed way is now renamed Redwood Rally I think the rides are going to be themed to Redwood since it’s Norcal
Cool!
This is my Home Park after moving to Clovis from So, Ca. I lived in Northridge and SFMM was my home park for decades. We often went to Knott's but, back then, they had Ghostrider and the Log Flume as their, IMO, best rides. My last visit was the year they opened silver bullet. I liked Knott's because it was cleaner and had a much better staff than SFMM. Great America was like blend between the two parks. It was much more thrilling than I expected. Flight Deck was amazing. Even though it's shorter in duration than BTR, it was snappier and more powerful than Batman. I have never ridden Twisted Colossus. However, I did ride the original and by the time I moved away, it was a shadow of it's original design. Goldstriker was fast, thrilling, and filled airtime and laterals. A perfect coaster. The other big difference was the staff. CGA had a wonderful staff, good food, and was so much cleaner than SFMM. It will be a huge loss for the No, Cal. market to see this park close it's doors.
I prefer Knott's to Great America, but I like both parks.
I visited Marriott's Great America, Santa Clara the first week it was open. It was a great theme park and themed well. I spent my teenage and young adult years going to that park in the 1970's and 80's. After Marriott sold it, I didn't go as much. Both Paramount and Cedar Fair have kind of treated this park as an afterthought and it got the short end amongst the chain. I didn't care for the park in later years as there were better parks in So Cal. For me it was a theme park that had great potential and didn't develop into something special. Still, I think this park has history and should be saved. Nowadays I go to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as I live 15 minutes away from that seaside park. I actually worked at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and have a stronger connection with that amusement park.
I really wish this park got more investment, especially considering the market.
Bill Marriott Sr's vision was a family friendly park, much as Walt Disney had an earlier vision. Later interests have changed both men's vision considerably, mostly toward maximizing $$$$
@@JP-rf7px You are correct about Bill Sr.'svision. And they were originally going to open three theme parks making them very similar. Of course only two were built. The Baltimore/Washington D.C. area theme park was not to be. And yes, it wasn't profitable enough for them so they sold them off.
@@cayooogaYes, I was supposed to move to Manassas for thet park, but would up staying in Ca for 12 years till Marriott left. Marriott never under stood the business. They knew hotels and food service but not the idea of hiring 1500 kids in spring and laying them off in the fall. Or spending 10 million on a new coaster every year to stay current!
So as for my question: which Cedar fair parks will get rides from CGA before/after this park closes?
It's hard to say. Depends if the land gets rezoned for something other than theme parks.
im not even kidding I stood up halfway through railblazer on the twists
Oh my!
Even if this park isn't going to close (I am still hopeful), another reason why I want to get there desperately is because I've been to it's "step sister" park in Gurnee quite a few times and would love to see how this one compares. I personally waited this long until visiting because I wanted to see them add a waterpark expansion in order for my time there to be more worth while.
Hopefully it can last.
The closing announcement did kinda come out of nowhere. I do remember reading about it. That's why it became a part of my 2024 trip.
Makes sense.
I visited this park in 2012 and 2017. I had a nice time going there. I was disappointed when they removed H.M.B. Endeavor (Intamin Looping Starship).
I liked that ride too.
This ride NEVER had a line which imo was a benefit cause it was a great walk on.
Agreed about Grizzly. Not bad because it’s not rough; it’s just far too tame.
Yes! It gets too much hate. It's bad, but not horrifically bad.
I said that if you don't fall asleep during the ride, you'll fall asleep on the brake run, waiting for the other train to finish their 10-15 minute dispatch. But there was nothing painful or uncomfortable about it. The ride was like laying out by the pool. If only they had people serving us some margaritas and playing calypso music during the ride.
It's a bit faster if it's raining. I love it but Gold Striker just blows it away.
From the dream makers at Jimmy... An exciting new amusement park is coming to Northern California, located at Santa Clara, celebrating all the fun and adventure of California. Introducing Jimmy's Great America, a brand new Jimmy park. Opening May 2001.
What?
@@CanobieCoaster I was about to repeat the teaser trailer of Jimmy's Great America for a brand new Jimmy park back in Santa Clara, California opening May 20, 2001.
Well this park is very underrated so I’m not surprised that it is going to be sold better parks out there plus I don’t go much anymore
It was surprising Cedar Fair would want to sell the park after that expansion plan was announced.
Yea well I don’t go there much not much of a park really to me not like six flags there only so much they could do with the park
@@schlesinger29 It's still much better than the shitshow Six Flags an hour north
Michigan's Adventure is my home park. We would love to see Delirium transferred to our park
I imagine quite a few rides will be relocated if and when this park closes.
a b&m hyper at CAG would have been an amazing compliment to their intensity heavy top 3 rides
I agree!
Do you prefer Gold Striker over Thunderhead and Mystic Timbers??
Over Thunderhead, but not Mystic Timbers.
Demon line was a run when I went 2 times on it but after I was in line it’s started to get crowded lol
Oh wow!
@@CanobieCoasterI love how gold striker rumbles and is loud when you enter the park
Such a shame that this park is closing in the future. Sadly I live in SoCal and I don't see myself visiting NorCal anytime soon. 🙁
That's a bummer.
I really hope that Great America doesn’t turn into more residential areas, I hope that Prologis actually expands Great America. The Mayor of Santa Clara might of indirectly hinted that the land will be used for “theme park” use only. I’m not really sure what it will turn into
The city seems like our best hope.
Canobie Coaster, is your name after Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire?
Yes it is! It was my home park for many years.
20:32 Typo. Best park in California! Not the best ride lineup, food, theming, or scenery, but the quality of the guests and employees makes up for it. Headed back to visit this gem once more in the summer before all that’s left in the bay area is the cesspool at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
While I really like California's Great America, I prefer a few of the SoCal parks to it.
I heard they want to bring it to Fresno California which I believe is a bad idea but maybe it will work.
That would be interesting, but I doubt it happens.
I’m hoping I can get out here in the next few years given the park is probably on borrowed time. Maybe I can make an extended weekend out of it as well as Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
I hope this park sticks around.
flight deck gang
Such a good ride.
RIP easily a top 5 Great A something park in America.
I hope they can stick around. The town wants them to.
About 19:46 or so I do believe someone was too shy to be on video, but their shoe WASN'T :D Like "HEY! Theres my shoe! YEA!!" (But they can't PROVE IT! Ha HA HA LOL XD )
Every spring at CGA the sandals begin to take flight. By the end of spring majestic flocks fill the skies.
We got this.
I missed the flip flop when I compiled this.
I just found out about this! Had no idea there were two Great Americas... And the other is cedar fair 😂 ... Aaand it's gone
It's still open for now!
I was a manager at Carowinds in 1972 and helped build it. Then want to Great America in 74 and helped build it too.When we opened, the show on the Grand Music Hall consisted of a cast of 16 singers and dancers and a full pit orchestra. Only Oprey land had comparable shows. It's been going down hill, show wise since then. Lost a lot of it's "family friendly" feel to kiddie rides and cartoon characters. Will be sorry to see it close, but probably the only ones who can save it are the San Jose zoning board. Will they choose family fun for the residents or tax income for the city?
I hope they keep the park intact.
@@CanobieCoasterWhen I worked for Marriott, I did work for both parks. Sometimes I traveled in the off season. The two parks were almost identical when they opened. But sometimes I would walk down the service road at 80 degrees in California, get on a plane, and 4 hours later be walking down an identical service road...except there was two feet of snow plowed up on each side and it was freezing! That will mess with your mind for a while!
Why are we assuming this Great America will close soon?
Since when has Prologis stated they were going to close this park?
I hope it stays open, but all the reports said the park will close in the next decade after the sale.
No kidding about the line wait times. It's ridiculous. When I worked here in the early 2000's we took pride in fast cycles, now it seems like they're going slow on purpose. Grizzly is abysmally slow. Often it's because the lap bars are really old and don't allow for anybody even slightly "large" to ride so they have to try to get the lap bar to lock, if it doesn't then they have to open the bar, let the rider(s) off then check the lap bars again. There's been times when a single boarding can exceed 5 minutes, that's not counting ride time. Boarding, ride then waiting in the substation can definitely exceed 10 minutes. I suggest riding near the end of the park day, you can ride multiple times in a row because there really won't be anybody in line. I hope this place doesn't close but if it does I have some great memories from the time it was there. I was really upset when Logger's Run was taken out. So much fun riding with a girlfriend and making out on the long trip up to the flume.
That's a bummer the ops have declined from when you worked there.
I love all the rides at Great America I wish the park can be saved and the deal can be off no way are we letting cedar fair kill Great America
I hope it is saved.
Metoo
It’s quite possible at this point.
@@josecastro2332 yeah
15:47 as Canobie talks about rowdy crowd a flip FLOP flies in camera view! Park has Cedar written all over it with colors + ride line UP. It WAS a themed park starting out with great rides, food, shows. Marriott just didn't have the wear with all to deal with the long term of running a park. The Marriott's were the crowning achievement from Randall Duell Inc. Themed park designer. He used what was called the Duell Loop design where guest made one big circle to get around the park. Marriott had an artery road up the middle of the park for supply delivery & maintenance services. WDW has that expensive basement. Santa Clara has less land than Gurnee. Santa easily got "hemmed in" It's a really lovely park that was also featured in Beverly Hills Cop 3 as well as Universal Studios California. Yep! Go for a visit. It's a fun park!
I really wish I could have seen what the park was like during the Marriott days.
Canobie Coaster would say:
However, I don't think that's fair to this coaster. Is it good? Heck no. The hills are super shallow and 100% forceless. Is it rough?
A) Yes
B) It has some rattling on the valleys
C) No, it's smooth
Grizzly? It's mostly smooth.
Man while my homepark is the beach boardwalk I used to go here almost every other weekend and spent the whole day marathoning coasters in the off season bummed to see it go. Although there has been a lot of local talk of a guy potentially moving the rides to a new park in Fresno that would be cool
I hope the park sticks around.
Six Flags better save the rides from the Marriott days, like Delta Flyer/Eagles Flight
I have a feeling that ride is near the end of its life.
I worked at MGA in 1979. It was great when Marriott owned it. Now it looks cheap and run down. Sad.
I wish I could have seen the park in its early years to compare.
Good news everyone
It was confirmed in a bts park operations interview with the general manager that anything about the park closing in 10 years was false.
The news that the park would close was from Cedar Fair and multiple large news outlets. The park sold the land to Prologis, but there were statements the town didn't want to rezone the property for other use. I hope the park sticks around, but the news that it could close was very real.
six flags discorvery kingdom needs to buy top gun and replace kong and maybe demon w a lil added tracking and put it in the back towards the lake / boomerang area .. also the single rail coaster maybe can fit inside the 3d building or location at six flags make it a coaster / dark ride.. idk who owns the lake but if they can add a pier w a big river looking boats a swing and a hyper coaster oing around it six flags instantly will transform that whole back end of the park... water shows fire work shows ..but this is sad ngl
I suspect the coasters would stay within the Cedar Fair chain.
Imagine, Canobie Coaster would say:
The park's other wooden coaster has a much more dubious reputarion. Grizzly was a perennial contender for the worst coaster on Mitch Hawker's poll. However, I don't think that's fair to this coaster. Is it good?
A) Oh yes
B) Heck no
B
I
Hope it manages to stay alive.
@@CanobieCoaster I’ve got faith in the city 🤞
Rip 1976-2043?
People r saying it’s closing in a decade soo
I hope it lives, but the company who bought it is trying to get the land rezoned.
@@CanobieCoaster yea
Good thing its not closing lol
I hope it stays open, but I'm worried it will close in light of the sale.
5 years at best
I hope it lasts longer.
So what's going on right now?
Is California's Great America in the process of being saved?
The city wants to save it. Cedar Fair wants out.
@@CanobieCoaster oh really San Francisco want to save California's Great America?
That's very sweet of them and very awesome of them!
Wish Houston did the same for Astroworld!
@@JohnFleming-sw7hn Santa Clara does. It's very unlikely it will be saved though
@@aarusharya5658Santa Clara has a ton of money 💰.
So sick of cedar fair. They make sure to kill parks. Would it have been so bad to find a new owner that would keep the park going. Same with geauga lake
Exactly how I feel, at least we’ve got Knott’s Berry Farm.
@@zacharyyamashita8554 I hope the city doesn't allow them to close it. Or the owner of the new company is outed as a sex offender or racist so the company can no longer buy the park 😆
I hope the park sticks around and the land isn't rezoned.
@@askjeevescosby2928 All I know is the City of Santa Clara was pissed at Cedar Fair when they found out about the news.
@@zacharyyamashita8554 yea but sleezy real-estate developers always get their way. Just drop a few hundred grand in somebody at the zoning boards pocket.
Screw Cedar Fair 😡
It's sad to see it likely close.
@@CanobieCoasterI’m still convinced the park could still be saved by the City of Santa Clara.
Stop serving alcohol and I’ll come back. It’s a nice clean park, good rides, standard theme park food, but it’s full of drunks in 49er’s jerseys.
I've never had an issue with wild crowds thankfully.
I rode the VTA Light Rail to get to this park and the nearby Simon Mall, Great Mall of the Bay Area. I’m still hoping that it’ll never permanently close.
Nice!