the kid section in IL used to be called Fort Fun. I'd sneak in with my younger bro and bend down to avoid being declared too tall to enter. I liked when Marriott owned the park better. They kept themed unique areas and the park had its own restaurants that were not chains like you see today. Now everything is over commercialized- sponsored by a company or linked to a movie - ( Batman, the dark night, etc. ).
Haha, I love that ride in 0:20-0:22. That's the Buzzy Bees ride. They have it in both parks still but in IL it's called "Porky's Buzzy Beez" and in CA, it's called Ghost Chase Rider or something, and the one in CA isn't painted in yellow anymore. I used to ride on that thing all the time when I was 10 years old in 1986, now they require that you be under 54 inches tall. So I can't ride on it anymore :-(. I have Autism and I love kiddie rides!! - Preston from CA
Old school Great America was the place to be. Everytime I went I made it my business to get on the cliffhanger, or what I used to call it, the floor drop. Nowadays there are some ignorant people and gangs going it's just not worth it. There were no metal detectors back then, now u must go thru then and get ur bag checked. I remember the tidal wave, the Yankee clipper
Yes, Marriott owned both Great America parks, in California and Illinois. After 1984, Marriott sold the parks. The Illinois park became Six Flags Great America, and the Santa Clara, CA park is California's (formerly Paramount's) Great America, now owned by Cedar Fair.
This used to be a great amusement park. The last time I went there (1996), they had metal detectors at the entrance because of gang activity. Very sad.
I know!!! I was 4 years old back then in 1980!! I am now 33 years old...er...well that is chronologiclaly. I actually have high functioning Autism (NOT Aspergers) and I am still like a 4 1/2-5 year old emotionally/socially. Basically, I'm a larger species of toddler and the funny thing is that even little kids can see that, they know I'm not like an adult. I mentioned about the bumblebee ride - in county fairs and state fairs they sometimes don't have height limits on kiddie rides.
Back in early 80's it seemed like a great park, our folks never worried for our safety. Things changed a lot though, gangs were getting bad too as well as rollercoaster accident lawsuits.
i just remember when they got rid of the gondolas after the cable snapped and killed a couple of people... and remember "the edge"??? ah the good ol' days...
I don't know why the Buzzy Bees ride is now only for under 54 inches. They didn't care for quite a bit. Then Six Flags took over Great America in the last few years and things are terrible. I don't understand, if I was above 54 inches when I rode on it last, what can't I go on it now??! I really do want to buy this bumblebee ride if Great America IL ever gets closed...lol. My friend in Chicago with Asperger's said don't say that. LOL. I would love to put this ride in my yard though. Hehe.
I still have an Embroidered patch with Bugs Bunny before the Paramount Switch. Marriott's ran it so much better. My dad used to be one of the Food distributors for this park when it was run by the city and county of that area. Cedar Fair is horrible. They are in the process of ruining Knott's Berry Farm.
Oh, this makes me totally long for "old school" Great America. I took my son the the one in Illinois and just felt like there was no wonderment, no awe. In other words? BORING!
@acquaz10 I dunno sir............I was there this summer. It seemed scary to me. Gangs of rowdy kids and very little security. Line jumping and kids yelling profanities. I will stick to Disneyland. That is theme park royalty. Most of the rides there are too scary for kids anyway.
I agree, it WAS so magical.
i truly miss the old great america
@crossbones64 I remember this era. Those were the best days of Great America!!
the kid section in IL used to be called Fort Fun. I'd sneak in with my younger bro and bend down to avoid being declared too tall to enter. I liked when Marriott owned the park better. They kept themed unique areas and the park had its own restaurants that were not chains like you see today. Now everything is over commercialized- sponsored by a company or linked to a movie - ( Batman, the dark night, etc. ).
wow i forgot it used to be Marriott's Great America! man you took me back without a time machine...thanks!
Haha, I love that ride in 0:20-0:22. That's the Buzzy Bees ride. They have it in both parks still but in IL it's called "Porky's Buzzy Beez" and in
CA, it's called Ghost Chase Rider or something, and the one in CA isn't painted in yellow anymore. I used to ride on that thing all the time when I was 10 years old in 1986, now they require that you be under 54 inches tall. So I can't ride on it anymore :-(. I have Autism and I love kiddie rides!! - Preston from CA
Old school Great America was the place to be. Everytime I went I made it my business to get on the cliffhanger, or what I used to call it, the floor drop. Nowadays there are some ignorant people and gangs going it's just not worth it. There were no metal detectors back then, now u must go thru then and get ur bag checked. I remember the tidal wave, the Yankee clipper
The Turn of the Century became the Demon in 1980, when they added the tunnels to it.
Yes, Marriott owned both Great America parks, in California and Illinois. After 1984, Marriott sold the parks. The Illinois park became Six Flags Great America, and the Santa Clara, CA park is California's (formerly Paramount's) Great America, now owned by Cedar Fair.
If you really want to "space-out" you wonder what all those kids in that commercial are doing now. Whoa!
This used to be a great amusement park. The last time I went there (1996), they had metal detectors at the entrance because of gang activity. Very sad.
I know!!! I was 4 years old back then in 1980!! I am now 33 years old...er...well that is chronologiclaly. I actually have high functioning
Autism (NOT Aspergers) and I am still like
a 4 1/2-5 year old emotionally/socially. Basically, I'm a larger species of toddler and the funny thing is that even little kids can see that, they know I'm not like an adult. I mentioned about the bumblebee ride - in
county fairs and state fairs they sometimes don't have height limits on kiddie rides.
Back in early 80's it seemed like a great park, our folks never worried for our safety. Things changed a lot though, gangs were getting bad too as well as rollercoaster accident lawsuits.
i just remember when they got rid of the gondolas after the cable snapped and killed a couple of people... and remember "the edge"??? ah the good ol' days...
SPOOKY the Edge was the scariest ride I’ve been on to this day, lol!
@olagguj The ride crassology is thinking of cannot be Skyhawk. That is located at Cedar Point and wasn't built until 2006.
I used to love going there. Remember The Demon?
damn thats when tidal wave was brand new! i wish i lived in that era
hahaha, Walter, I knew I'd find a comment from you here.
I don't know why the Buzzy Bees ride is now only for under 54 inches. They didn't care for quite a bit. Then Six Flags took over Great America in the last few years and things are terrible. I don't understand, if I was above 54 inches when I rode on it last, what can't I go on it now??! I really do want to buy this bumblebee ride if Great America IL ever gets closed...lol. My friend in Chicago with Asperger's said don't say that. LOL. I would love to put this ride in my yard though. Hehe.
As a 14 year old, I used to take the bus from Palo Alto and spend the day at MARRIOTTS. No way I would do that with my kids today.
willards whizzer was killer
Willards Whizzer was a fun ride. The place is just a haven for gang members and thugs now. I would not take my kids there.
I still have an Embroidered patch with Bugs Bunny before the Paramount Switch. Marriott's ran it so much better. My dad used to be one of the Food distributors for this park when it was run by the city and county of that area.
Cedar Fair is horrible. They are in the process of ruining Knott's Berry Farm.
Does anybody remember the circus there, specifically when they showcased a man whose body was covered with working electrical outlets?
AHHH BACK THEN WHEN AMERICA WAS TRULY GREAT..THANKS TO OBAMA AMERICA IS DOOMED
Commercial for six flags etlitch gardens
dont look that anymore
Oh, this makes me totally long for "old school" Great America. I took my son the the one in Illinois and just felt like there was no wonderment, no awe. In other words? BORING!
@acquaz10 I dunno sir............I was there this summer. It seemed scary to me. Gangs of rowdy kids and very little security. Line jumping and kids yelling profanities. I will stick to Disneyland. That is theme park royalty. Most of the rides there are too scary for kids anyway.
Brap.