Shock Wave - I miss you so much! Always going to be one of my favorites. When they tore it down, they moved the pieces to an adjacent parking lot. While riding certain rides such as Superman, a deconstructed Shockwave was clearly visible by riders. Eventually they moved them to another park, but the reminder was there for at least the 1st year of Superman. Rolling Thunder - I always remember feeling as though I was riding this out of necessity. It really was a strange concept, but there was nothing thrilling about it. The worst part was when the cars reattached to the track after the chutes. There was a metal divider separating riders in each row. Each time the cars attached to the track, your knees would slam up against the metal on side and hard plastic on the other. For anyone wondering, the name Rolling Thunder was given because of the sounds the cars made while in the chutes. A low roaring noise that sounded like thunder. Clever. Iron Wolf - Great ride with cool concept, especially when it opened. However, you were standing with what can best be described as an uncomfortable bicycle seat between your legs. As we grew older, my friends and I would always try to get the seat to lock as high or as low as we could. Nothing more than a little challenge to see how it would change the ride experience. Trust me, the best way to ride it was as intended. Standing straight up with barely any weight on the seat. Deja Vu - Strange that the video makes no mention of the issues and constant ride closures this coaster experienced. To be honest, I cannot recall a time where I ever got to ride it as it was always closed when I was at the park. I believe the most extreme issue was that when originally opened, riders with longer arms could reach up and touch the track. They later installed bars to the harnesses to prevent this, but a combination of other issues left many people never getting a chance to experience the ride. Z-Force - It was a big deal when this opened because of the design. Unfortunately, the design led to many complaints and negative response as it truly was brutal on the riders. Tight turns, quick climbs, fast drops, and constant flipping had most riders following a constant path of changing momentum. Not really ideal for any body shape, so the video description of uncomfortable is the most accurate when thinking about Z-Force.
The Boss in St Louis is my favorite coaster (I've only been to those 2 6 flags), but Great America is just the best. Plus, with Ren Faire right over the border in Wisconsin, you have a nice weekend trip.
I love Six Flags Great America. Now I live in LA. If you love roller-coasters you have to visit Six Flags Magic Mountain! It has way more coasters and thrill rides. Plus you can go to Universal while you are here.
UhHolly 1016 its funny that its still up i have gone in a while but the last couple times if i remember right it started being less busy idk alot of ppl like it for some reason
Glad I'm not the only one who loved that ride. My cousin and I used to go on it over and over again before closing time every weekend when we had a season pass. Some things you just never forget.
Although Iron Wolf may still be in good enough shape to re-purpose, anyone that rode the ride late in it's life, know why it won't be missed. It jarred you so much it was nicknamed migraine by all of my friends because you head would bounce around the restraints and give you a headache if you were lucky. It should be retired.
I've only been to this park once. It was the summer of 1999, and Raging Bull was the new attraction. Only rode it once because it was a 2 hour wait. No one was in line at any other ride, so my cousins and I rode Shockwave and Iron Wolf at least a dozen times each. They were both so badass. Sad to see them go...
What a great video. I worked for the park for 17 years...was on the crew for Tidal Wave, was in charge of opening Iron Wolf, (measured Macauly (sp?) to make sure he was tall enough to ride when they made the movie), and was in charge of opening Batman two years later. This vid brought back a lot of memories! Thanks!
You MEASURED Macaulay Culkin's height so he could ride the ride in the movie?! Dude, that should be the first thing you say, not the part you put in parentheses.
@@ArrowThrills Because it was painful, ridership was way down and the Whizzer is a local icon. Seriously once rode Shockwave 4 times in a row front seat during that last year. Then headed home with a terrible headache.
I've ridden all these, and would also note Turn of the Century which was changed into the Demon. Heck, I might also mention Yukon Yahoo, I love that little coaster although it might not get called a coaster, it was a train, on a track that went around in a circle super fast, actually quite a fun ride.
Shockwave was my favorite. Man I loved that ride. It was bumpy but so good. I mean nothing compared to these modern rides... Goliath and Raging Bull which are so smooth in comparison but so good for its time. Iron Wolf was also great.
Thanks for the video. I remember a roller coaster called Turn of the Century... it was the predecessor to the Demon. Actually, I think they added a loop, repainted the track and renamed it the Demon.
This video was a major nostalgia trip - my family used to go here once every couple of years when I was a kid, and I have fond memories of most of these coasters! I think the last time I visited was around 1999... bummer that Shockwave and Iron Wolf are gone now. Batman wasn't in the video, so it must still be there - I remember the HUGE hype when that ride opened. It is a fun coaster, but it seemed to get rough/uncomfortable over time.
It was a great coaster but there were too many issues with it. It would get stuck alot including practicly upside down. It also jerked your neck around alot. However i still loved it
The Whizzer is one of a kind (the only other one is in Columbia) and historic, it shouldn't be taken down. Also it's a great family coaster as well something alot of parks need.
Blackhawks 1201 V2 is Great. But Theme Park Crazy mentioned in another video That The Coaster replacing it is an S&S looping launch coaster. It will be a winged seated Coaster, And it's a mix of A Launch and Looping Coasters. He even said there'd be no loss.
The Edge should have been included in this video list. It has an interesting history, as well as somewhat tragic. If Rolling Thunder and Deja Vu are included this one should have been too.
Interesting video, but missing a-lot of the back stories oh why the rides were removed. I spent a whole season launching empty Tidal Wave trains while they tried to figure out why the weight clutch didn't disengage properly causing it to smash the forward tower. Shockwave wheel issue was mentioned however not the fact in the beginning alot of people would blackout by the third vertical loop due to the constant g's pulled. Z Force suffered issues of causing whip lash to riders with many modification to smooth out the final areas of the track.
It isn't closing considering the fact that they closed King Chaos to replace it with a Larson Looper. Also consider they already put the Joker, which is a compact coaster, what would they put in V2's place if they decide to remove it? There isn't a lot of land space to put something big there. Unless they put another compact coaster. Which is doubtful because they have Joker already. If they do close V2, it might be a while before they finally put a ride in its place. Kind of like what happened with Ragin Cajun. Closed in 2013, and was empty until 2017.
Shockwave was one of the roughest rides I've ever been, that coaster would bounce you side to side against the shoulder restraint. My brother got a serve case of whiplash from that ride as well.
Clicked this hoping for the Great America in CA...it was the second park I went to after I moved to CA, back when Marriott still owned it. Disney being the first, of course
Iron Wolf was one of the coolest rides!! It was really harsh sometimes, but totally worth it. You could kind of sit on the middle part but it was really uncomfortable. I got to be one of the last people to ride it on the last day it was open. I think it was the first big coaster I rode as a kid. RIP
The Shockwave was the most intense coaster I have ever ridden in my life, but the Raging Bull was the most fun. I recall being able to go on the Shockwave over and over, because so many people were afraid to go on it, or repeat the experience. It pulled a lot of G's was really rough in spots, but it will always be my favorite roller coaster.
I worked at SFGA during the 88 and 89 seasons. When Shockwave was introduced, we got preview rides on employee night. The word around the park was that they started with the speed brakes 'wide open' and applied them little by little until the complaints stopped, to increase rider comfort. Those first rides were a blast, but also pretty brutal, with reports of earring posts stabbing riders in the head. The Rolling Thunder carried the nickname "Rolling Dumpster" among park employees (it was not a favorite). Rumor was that the Z-Force originally had a poorly placed beam, that stripped the heads off of the engineering test dummies. I now take my boys to California's Great America. I was excited to ride the Demon again, after so many years. The jarring at the bottom of the second loop is almost unbearable (especially, when riding the front car). If you 'float' your head, it threatens to give you whiplash. If you hold your head back against the seat, it feels like you're going to suffer a mild concussion (the feeling can last long into the next day). I also miss the lights in the tunnel and the (admittedly cheesy) theme music and 'news reports' in the queue recording.
Demon rocks. They just brought back the theme music. And I'm always ready for the jarring so bea never hurts me. I do remember the lameness of rolling thunder and the pain if shockwave. I also dispides iron wolf. Goliath has replaced it and it's awesome but the space it lives in gives me bad iron wolf PTSD.
The one cool thing I remember about my first time ever going to Six Flags Great America was that the bus we were on took the entrance which is now the employee's entrance. You can't see the park from this angle because it was all trees and bushes, but as soon as we were clear the first thing that I saw was the MASSIVE Shockwave roller-coaster. I'd never seen a roller-coaster that big before. That was an iconic-sight. Now Superman is there and that ride just doesn't have the same-flavor. I don't think it would be missed if they got rid of Superman.
Shockwave was so awesome... That first vertical loop was mindbending, while the overall layout was spectacular. But you had to know the ride and how to brace yourself accordingly to fully enjoy it. Can't say I never got off there hurting a little. Would love to see it rebuilt with modern technology!
2007disneyhouse Yo same here I'm one of those coaster enthusiast who for some reason, like B&M Standups. Iron wolf was part of my home park, sfga and now it's gone ;-;. Goliath is still a much more superior ride then iron wolf.
These are what the other roller coaster gravestone during Fright Fest: Dèja Vu 2001-2007 We’re sorry! This ride is PERMANENTLY closed. (This is a joke for all the downtime and operational issues Deja Vu had in the park) Z-Force. 1985-1987 May ze force be with you! Tidal Wave 1978-1991 Was rebuilt in Kentucky Wasn’t so lucky... (Rides last location) Rolling Thunder 1989-1995 Storms Over! Iron Wolf. 1990-2011 Couldn’t stand it... Ragin’ Cajun. 2004-2013 Spin and spin till she was done!
Like Whizzer, one of my favorite aspects of Iron Wolf was the scenery. It was all grown over with trees and shrubbery. The track layout was fun, but I didn’t really care for the standing gimmick much. I really wish I had ridden it more, but I didn’t appreciate it until I was older and then they removed it. Ragin Cajun was fucking awesome! P.S. Shockwave is dead, long live Shockwave!
Around 1995 a teacher at my school won a quiz show on WGN radio and my school and another one got to spend a day in Great America with no other customers. I must have ridden Shockwave 10 times, I absolutely loved that coaster and hope I can make it out to California to ride the remaining sister coaster one day. It was a physical experience like none other, and that day - with my dad as one of our chaperones - will forever be one of my best memories.
Mr. Theme Park Crazy . . . . Six Flags America is my homepark (I live in Columbia, which is about 40 minutes away). I wonder why SFA has gotten two hand me downs from SFGA? And yeah, I've read rumors about Vertical Velocity coming to SFA . . . I for one wouldn't mind an Intamin Impulse :)
I first went to six flags when i was 6 years old and got to ride rolling thunder the same year they tore it down. Shockwave was also great the inversions were well worth the headbang. Iron wolf was the same way, it smashed your head but had plenty of G forces.
The raigun caging was so fun I rode it the last year they took it down it got replaced with I think a hot air balloon ride across from the king chaos I was so sad when I looked at the spot and saw another ride. Then I realized they tore it down😭😷 brings back very many memories
Hola Selana na they needed to make room for Goliath. They took it down the year I was going to ride it 😭😭 they also got rid of orbit, but they are bringing the lobster ride back
Hola Selana Every park should have some kind of mouse coaster. Indoor outdoor doesn't matter. Except Dark Knight isn't that good. Hope GA brings one back. I didn't know this happened.
Lots of comments here about Shockwave, and I'll add my own. I loved that rollercoaster and remember riding it over and over as a kid. The G-forces from the loops/inversions actually had me graying out a bit.
Great America removed the Z-Force before I was tall enough to ride, but I was lucky enough to catch it at Magic Mountain in Cali several years later. Such an insane idea for a ride at the time.
Sadly I haven't been to Six Flags in a LONG time. Spent 10+ years caring for terminally ill parents, then a period of self induced misery after they passed away. Now I have the same illness as my Mother did. I HOPE I can go at least once more. I LOVE coasters and Fright Fest and Six Flags have given me so many GREAT MEMORIES. I see these new rides coming soon. Some with insane drops, 87° degrees down and sick speeds. 120+ mph. I never thought that was possible. Still think it's crazy but beck I'll ride it!! Again so many rides, the American Eagle, the Demon, the Whizzer even, Shock Wave(gone), Z-Force(gone), Iron Wolf, Rolling Thunder(gone but a bobsled run anyway), Tidal Wave(gone), Power Dive(gone but a nut cruncher), Batman the Ride(1st ride ever Front car!! EPIC!!), Splash Water Falls,
When I was in elementary school, both my parents worked during the summer and didn't want me left at home alone, so they sent me to this day care-ish place and we went to great America like, basically every week (starting after third grade I think) and one of my friends there told me that the deja Vu was getting torn down because someone died on it or something. I'm guessing it's probably bullshit, but given the safety issues like being able to reach up and touch the track, it wouldn't surprise me if it was possible for it to be capable of taking a life.
I personally was okay with the loss of Iron Wolf, every time I rode it I got some pretty nasty headaches. Now I get that issue from American Eagle or the Demon. Although I'll still ride American Eagle for nostalgia's sake.
I remember Tidle Wave, Z Force (not a fan), Shockwave (my absolute favorite & Wizzer sucked!) Rolling thunder, Iron Wolf, cool but can give you whiplash & a concussion, Dejavu was CONSTANTLY closed for maintenance or shut down bc it broke down with people on it.. Couldn't do Rajun Cajun because I can't do spinny anything 🤢
Great video! Great American is the closest Six Flags part where I live. I remember most of these coasters on the list. Shock wave was awesome. the Wizzer was the first coaster I ever rode. Deja vu was always broken down. Iron wolf was a nut buster haha I got locked in the highest position once while jumping up and down when boarding the ride. Rolling thunder was awesome but always felt way too dangerous to actually be a ride, my old man nearly fell outta the ride after a really high bank turn..and my dad wasn't the kind of dude to fuck around and find out either. That was the last time we ever rode that coaster. Haven't been there in about 10 years or so now but the memories of that park are still really dear to me. Showing up at gate opening and staying until just before closing, just loved the park after sundown!
I was an employee of the park from 1990-1992. Tidal wave a great for the time, my mom rode it in 1978 when it opened. Shock Wave was ok I rode it twice once in the front. Iron wolf was a good coaster, except my cousins seat didn't lock until halfway up the lift hill. I never road Z-Force, I remember it not being well liked. Roaring Thunder was ok for the type of ride that it was.
The deja vu in Idaho is my HOME THEME PARK.That is the best ride in the park. You’re deemed pretty cool if you ride it whenever you go with your school.I went on for my first time this summer, and it was pretty AWeSOme.
I've only been to Great America once and it was the day Shockwave broke down. It was the only coaster I hadn't ridden and due to the roughness of GASM at Great Adventure I was only waiting to ride it for the credit. But after waiting almost 2 hours I saw one of the wheels fly off the train and sparks flying off the track as it went through on if the loops. Fortunately one of the workers was able to hit the emergency stop in time and it didn't look like anyone was hurt. They shut the ride down for the day and a few months later announced they were tearing it down. I'm still mad about the credit, but I suppose I'm grateful I didn't die. Lol. Sketchy. Thanks for your awesome videos.
Just for anyone who may be wondering the relocated Rolling Thunder is...not doing well. Great Escape is my home park and Alpine Bobsled (its name there) uses to be a great ride but has really fallen off recently. It's closed quite often (I'm not sure if it's low attendance or maintenance) and although I've only been able to ride it once in the past few years I can say that it's way bumpier than it was before. I'm not sure how much effort they're putting in to keeping it up anymore lol. The paint is so faded and the bobsled cars have lost a lot of padding or something like that that has made them a lot more uncomfortable.
I remember the one and only time I rode shockwave. Felt like both sides of my head were getting punched over and over. When I got off my ears were bright red and my head was pounding. My friend thought that was intentional lol.. like that was part of the experience hence the name shockwave “it’s supposed to feel like you’re getting shocked”. I told him that’s a really stupid concept for a roller coaster if thats true
Hey I lived like 30 minutes away from this six flags I went there all the time, I would get stuck on rides enough to know how they would do exits, I got stuck on the indoor Batman ride and let me tell you if you’ve never seen it with the lights on it is truly a sight to see
I would love to see more stand up coasters. Iron Wolf you were a favorite. And I never got to go on the shockwave. I was to short before it closed down.
Same model as gulf coaster operating at Conneaut Lake Park, no surprise there. ( Ok the little dipper wasn't the thing that burned down the Ballroom, Ultiment Trip, and Beach Club, it was arson)
Shockwave was THE ride at Great America. It was rough and intense. Plenty of great coasters there that have stood the test of time. It'll be a sad day when the Eagle, Demon, or Whizzer get dismantled. Never much cared for Iron Wolf. A bit too rough in certain places. I'm sure other guys on here might agree. But yeah, I miss Shockwave immensely. Need to find my way out to the west coast to get one last go at that beast.
If Vekoma had came up with those restraints found on Blue Hawk at Six Flags Over Georgia and added them to Shockwave, I am sure there's a chance that coaster could still be around today. However, if that was the case, maybe Supermam: Ultimate Flight would've replaced Whizzer instead. Let's be glad that didn't happen. I got in line for Ragin Cajun in 2013 but it took to line so I got out. I guess I'll have to experience it next time I go to Six Flags America. Speaking of which, I was at that park as well in 2013 but Apocalypse (formerly Iron Wolf) was closed that day. I guess I'll have to experience that another year as well (but obviously as Firebird).
I never got the pleasure to go on Iron Wolf because I was too short at the time, but my dad would tell me fun stories about the ride. Rajun Cajun I went on multiple times and I remember being so sad when I went in 2014 and I didn't see it there. At that time, I was 13 so it was like a childhood memory was taken away from me. How I hope they don't take V2 away! I just started going on that ride 4 years ago and I love it
All the defunct rides at Six Flags Great America have a gravestone for Fright Fest in the Six Saints Cemetery.
TigerRocks503 Aka: Chase Wassel Like I didn’t know that (I go there everyday ^_^)
Nice!
Earth you’re not the only one that watches this
@@EarthySmerky lmao chill out
@@WhiteWolf-lm7gj I don't go there everyday I don't know why I wrote that
R.I.P Iron Wolf, thanks for all the headaches!
iron wolf was relocated to six flags america and now it was converted to a floorless coaster and renamed firebird
That’s why we have demon
The last year it was running right before close i was next in line and it shut down b.c rain then it was removed
hahaha same literally all i remember of that ride was bashing my head back and forth
Oh yes. By the time they closed it I remembered the lines were insanely short so we’d ride it like 3 times in an hour.
Six Flags should make another theme park and put in the rides that they removed from their parks so people could relive their past favorite rides ^.^
Brisk Cat That applies to the federal government, not private companies' security departments.
To buy more land and to rebuild all those costers would take a whole lot of money!
Adan Vivero they would only be reopening problems that got them closed in the first place.
how about "Six Flags:The Flashback"... That actually sounds like a movie title
Adan Vivero Relive their rides... You think if they put it in Florida I'd go all the way to Florida to ride something called iron wolf, ahh no..
THIS IS MY HOME PArk🙌🙌
avery kay same
Same
Same
Same, just went yesterday
Yessss
Aw, I remember Ragin Cajun, it was so fun so I was sad when it closed down
Irritating Television I rode it in six flags America
@@CalOrange_Zoey Me too
I heard some people say Ragin Cajun is the best wild mouse, and it is six flags America now in Maryland
Shock Wave - I miss you so much! Always going to be one of my favorites. When they tore it down, they moved the pieces to an adjacent parking lot. While riding certain rides such as Superman, a deconstructed Shockwave was clearly visible by riders. Eventually they moved them to another park, but the reminder was there for at least the 1st year of Superman.
Rolling Thunder - I always remember feeling as though I was riding this out of necessity. It really was a strange concept, but there was nothing thrilling about it. The worst part was when the cars reattached to the track after the chutes. There was a metal divider separating riders in each row. Each time the cars attached to the track, your knees would slam up against the metal on side and hard plastic on the other. For anyone wondering, the name Rolling Thunder was given because of the sounds the cars made while in the chutes. A low roaring noise that sounded like thunder. Clever.
Iron Wolf - Great ride with cool concept, especially when it opened. However, you were standing with what can best be described as an uncomfortable bicycle seat between your legs. As we grew older, my friends and I would always try to get the seat to lock as high or as low as we could. Nothing more than a little challenge to see how it would change the ride experience. Trust me, the best way to ride it was as intended. Standing straight up with barely any weight on the seat.
Deja Vu - Strange that the video makes no mention of the issues and constant ride closures this coaster experienced. To be honest, I cannot recall a time where I ever got to ride it as it was always closed when I was at the park. I believe the most extreme issue was that when originally opened, riders with longer arms could reach up and touch the track. They later installed bars to the harnesses to prevent this, but a combination of other issues left many people never getting a chance to experience the ride.
Z-Force - It was a big deal when this opened because of the design. Unfortunately, the design led to many complaints and negative response as it truly was brutal on the riders. Tight turns, quick climbs, fast drops, and constant flipping had most riders following a constant path of changing momentum. Not really ideal for any body shape, so the video description of uncomfortable is the most accurate when thinking about Z-Force.
Michael Williams wow, your old but very intelligent 👌🏾
I think to this day . . . there are some remnants of Shockwave in GA's employee parking lot and/or boneyard.
Shockwave was the only ride my dad ever lost a hat on lol.
I also was never able to ride Deja Vu either it was alllllways down
I loved Iron Wolf. Next, to the Demon, it was my favorite ride. :)
@@bryanterry1111 I'm old too. I have experienced all of these things as my home park. Long Live The American Eagle!!!!
I love great america, i live 30 mins away and its one of the best six flags in the world
I agree. I have been to other ones, but none come close!
The Boss in St Louis is my favorite coaster (I've only been to those 2 6 flags), but Great America is just the best. Plus, with Ren Faire right over the border in Wisconsin, you have a nice weekend trip.
samsie
I love Six Flags Great America. Now I live in LA. If you love roller-coasters you have to visit Six Flags Magic Mountain! It has way more coasters and thrill rides. Plus you can go to Universal while you are here.
3:07
They Said
Save The Whizzer
And
ShockWave became
Chop Liver
4:07
I lost my hat on the whizzer
I lost my virginity on the whizzer
i lost my mom on whizzer
UhHolly 1016 its funny that its still up i have gone in a while but the last couple times if i remember right it started being less busy idk alot of ppl like it for some reason
I miss the Shockwave so much. A piece of my childhood died when they tore it down. Still my favorite of all time.
i died
Same so sad
Omg me too! I was so bummed when they tore it down. 😭 I liked that one so much better than the Superman they put in and the Whizzer 😒
Glad I'm not the only one who loved that ride. My cousin and I used to go on it over and over again before closing time every weekend when we had a season pass.
Some things you just never forget.
That ride almost gave me a concussion
I love the Demon at night.
Heck yeah!
It hurts ur head and neck
It’s way too damn jerkey imo my ear got banged the fuck up making my industrial piercing swell soooo bad
Oh yeah. At Fright Fest as well. Plus the Eagle used to have one track running backwards.
MICHAEL GLASS no offense but how can you ever like the demon it hurts my head waaaaayyyyy too much
What, no mention of The Edge??!! Also, The Whizzer must be protected at all costs! I've ridden all the coasters, and this one will always be my fave!
Although Iron Wolf may still be in good enough shape to re-purpose, anyone that rode the ride late in it's life, know why it won't be missed. It jarred you so much it was nicknamed migraine by all of my friends because you head would bounce around the restraints and give you a headache if you were lucky. It should be retired.
In case you haven't heard, it's being converted into a floorless coaster now. It's reopening this year as Firebird.
I rode it when it was new. I am sorry to hear it didn't age well. :(
Just saying literally everyone misses that ride
I've only been to this park once. It was the summer of 1999, and Raging Bull was the new attraction. Only rode it once because it was a 2 hour wait. No one was in line at any other ride, so my cousins and I rode Shockwave and Iron Wolf at least a dozen times each. They were both so badass. Sad to see them go...
I loved Shockwave, one of my favorite rides. That and the Demon.
Still miss Iron Wolf. Great stand up coaster. Love Goliath but nothing like Iron Wolf now at GA....
WHY DO PEOPLE THINK IRON WOLF ISS GS, IT'S AT SF AMERICA.
(You must be a girl)
Astrosjer GO TO MARYLAND STOP COMPLAING
Cheaper than a vasectomy.
What cracks me up is that super man breaks down all the time so I guess its fitting that it replaced shockwave
What a great video. I worked for the park for 17 years...was on the crew for Tidal Wave, was in charge of opening Iron Wolf, (measured Macauly (sp?) to make sure he was tall enough to ride when they made the movie), and was in charge of opening Batman two years later. This vid brought back a lot of memories! Thanks!
You MEASURED Macaulay Culkin's height so he could ride the ride in the movie?! Dude, that should be the first thing you say, not the part you put in parentheses.
Since you were there for a while, trying to prove a point. Demon is BY FAR the worst ride there, yae or nae
Poor Shockwave. I don't know why, but I love how Arrow Mega Loopers look. I also like the track layouts. It's a shame that they're so rough though :/
Yeah. it actually damaged my spine. :( My own fault though, I was too much of a coaster junkie to pay attention to my body telling me to stop riding.
Shockwave was murderous on your ears! I'm having flashbacks of the ass whooppings I recieved from that ride.
Why was it removed
@@ArrowThrills Because it was painful, ridership was way down and the Whizzer is a local icon. Seriously once rode Shockwave 4 times in a row front seat during that last year. Then headed home with a terrible headache.
@@ArrowThrills maintenance issues
Shock wave was my absolute favorite when I was young! I think it was my first coaster eva! Or maybe it was the Demon... Iron Wolf was soooo fun!!
I've ridden all these, and would also note Turn of the Century which was changed into the Demon. Heck, I might also mention Yukon Yahoo, I love that little coaster although it might not get called a coaster, it was a train, on a track that went around in a circle super fast, actually quite a fun ride.
R.I.P King Chaos (that ride was one of my favorites) they removed it for a stupid Super loop
Shockwave was my favorite. Man I loved that ride. It was bumpy but so good. I mean nothing compared to these modern rides... Goliath and Raging Bull which are so smooth in comparison but so good for its time. Iron Wolf was also great.
Thanks for the video. I remember a roller coaster called Turn of the Century... it was the predecessor to the Demon. Actually, I think they added a loop, repainted the track and renamed it the Demon.
Don't forget they also created the best theme song for a rollercoaster of all time (and maybe the only one lol)
I checked that on Wikipedia and it is correct. Was not aware of that.
This video was a major nostalgia trip - my family used to go here once every couple of years when I was a kid, and I have fond memories of most of these coasters!
I think the last time I visited was around 1999... bummer that Shockwave and Iron Wolf are gone now. Batman wasn't in the video, so it must still be there - I remember the HUGE hype when that ride opened. It is a fun coaster, but it seemed to get rough/uncomfortable over time.
can confirm, batman, along with viper and american eagle are all still there.
Never got to ride Iron Wolf, but it’s a name I remember hearing in my childhood. And Deja Vu. I remember the bright green color of it standing out.
Wow, I'm lucky I went on Ragin Cajun. Well then again, the ride kind of sucked.
Well, Disney reskined that ride. It's called the Primeval whirl. It's in Animal kingdom's dino land.
That ride looks terrible
@@premiumgarbage it was located to six flags America not disney
Shockwave was iconic and my absolute favorite ride in the park. That and the American Eagle. GA made a huge mistake removing it.
It was a great coaster but there were too many issues with it. It would get stuck alot including practicly upside down. It also jerked your neck around alot. However i still loved it
Save the Whizzer they said, it would be worth it they said.
Natalia Kowalewska Coasters like Whizzer don't ever get old.
Also, it's an ACE landmark, which secures its existence to an extent.
The Whizzer, Eagle, and Demon will probably never be taken down.
The Whizzer is one of a kind (the only other one is in Columbia) and historic, it shouldn't be taken down. Also it's a great family coaster as well something alot of parks need.
@@D2Kprime i think they will take down the demon because of lawsuit... that ride literally bangs your head on the sides of the cart
I love the Whizzer lol
NOT V2 PLEASE KEEP IT!!
Blackhawks 1201 I just went today, it's still there. :)
V2 sucks. Won't really miss it to be honest.
Blackhawks 1201 Ikr it is sooo fun 😭😭😷😷
v2awesome
Blackhawks 1201 V2 is Great. But Theme Park Crazy mentioned in another video That The Coaster replacing it is an S&S looping launch coaster. It will be a winged seated Coaster, And it's a mix of A Launch and Looping Coasters. He even said there'd be no loss.
The Edge should have been included in this video list.
It has an interesting history, as well as somewhat tragic.
If Rolling Thunder and Deja Vu are included this one should have been too.
I just knew they were going to mention The Edge. That was a big miss.
effinchad no one died on the edge
Lol yes that was my comment too!! Glad somebody else was paying attention!!
Interesting video, but missing a-lot of the back stories oh why the rides were removed. I spent a whole season launching empty Tidal Wave trains while they tried to figure out why the weight clutch didn't disengage properly causing it to smash the forward tower. Shockwave wheel issue was mentioned however not the fact in the beginning alot of people would blackout by the third vertical loop due to the constant g's pulled. Z Force suffered issues of causing whip lash to riders with many modification to smooth out the final areas of the track.
The Edge and the Power Dive
I swear if they remove the V2 I'm gonna cry😷😷😭
Hola Selana same 😭😭
Hola Selana they r I live very close and they said 😦
Tessa 1017 who told you that?
Tessa 1017 they're not. It would've been announced by now
It isn't closing considering the fact that they closed King Chaos to replace it with a Larson Looper. Also consider they already put the Joker, which is a compact coaster, what would they put in V2's place if they decide to remove it? There isn't a lot of land space to put something big there. Unless they put another compact coaster. Which is doubtful because they have Joker already. If they do close V2, it might be a while before they finally put a ride in its place. Kind of like what happened with Ragin Cajun. Closed in 2013, and was empty until 2017.
Shockwave was one of the roughest rides I've ever been, that coaster would bounce you side to side against the shoulder restraint. My brother got a serve case of whiplash from that ride as well.
Actually shockwave is still at the park. It's in the way back of the park but idk why. I don't believe it will be rebuilt anytime soon tho 😔
Shockwave is very gone. Superman lives there now. Maybe some old remnants....
Clicked this hoping for the Great America in CA...it was the second park I went to after I moved to CA, back when Marriott still owned it. Disney being the first, of course
You're looking for California's Great America, which is a part of the Cedar Fair chain.
Very cool video. Thanks for posting and have a nice day too.
ur welcome
Iron Wolf was one of the coolest rides!! It was really harsh sometimes, but totally worth it. You could kind of sit on the middle part but it was really uncomfortable. I got to be one of the last people to ride it on the last day it was open. I think it was the first big coaster I rode as a kid. RIP
Im just happy I got to ride Shockwave before it closed down.
The Shockwave was the most intense coaster I have ever ridden in my life, but the Raging Bull was the most fun. I recall being able to go on the Shockwave over and over, because so many people were afraid to go on it, or repeat the experience. It pulled a lot of G's was really rough in spots, but it will always be my favorite roller coaster.
I was literally 53 inches when they closed iron wolf. I wanted to ride it sooo bad.
(Update) geez I'm famous in theme park crazy's chat
same thing with me and de javu at magic mountain
leitakcoc gaming I was too but they said i could ride
leitakcoc gaming SAME BUT 52
leitakcoc gaming 51
Iron wolf wasn't a smooth ride. I got massive headaches after riding it and the smell of iron was so intense haha
I worked at SFGA during the 88 and 89 seasons. When Shockwave was introduced, we got preview rides on employee night. The word around the park was that they started with the speed brakes 'wide open' and applied them little by little until the complaints stopped, to increase rider comfort. Those first rides were a blast, but also pretty brutal, with reports of earring posts stabbing riders in the head.
The Rolling Thunder carried the nickname "Rolling Dumpster" among park employees (it was not a favorite).
Rumor was that the Z-Force originally had a poorly placed beam, that stripped the heads off of the engineering test dummies.
I now take my boys to California's Great America. I was excited to ride the Demon again, after so many years. The jarring at the bottom of the second loop is almost unbearable (especially, when riding the front car). If you 'float' your head, it threatens to give you whiplash. If you hold your head back against the seat, it feels like you're going to suffer a mild concussion (the feeling can last long into the next day). I also miss the lights in the tunnel and the (admittedly cheesy) theme music and 'news reports' in the queue recording.
But what I want to know is did you get a free pair of L.A. Gear tennis shoes. Shockwave was sponsored by it the first few years.
Demon rocks. They just brought back the theme music. And I'm always ready for the jarring so bea never hurts me. I do remember the lameness of rolling thunder and the pain if shockwave. I also dispides iron wolf. Goliath has replaced it and it's awesome but the space it lives in gives me bad iron wolf PTSD.
i live very close to six flags i love the raging bull
Jeb 15 mine craft awesomeness sameee my favorite ride
Jeb 15 mine craft awesomeness raging bowl is crap
I live ten minuets away, I live in grays lake.
I love it too I just went on it for the first time last week I didn’t go on it before because I was terrified
@@XGaming1 lol me too
The whizzer is my favorite ride of all time just pure nostalgia
The one cool thing I remember about my first time ever going to Six Flags Great America was that the bus we were on took the entrance which is now the employee's entrance. You can't see the park from this angle because it was all trees and bushes, but as soon as we were clear the first thing that I saw was the MASSIVE Shockwave roller-coaster.
I'd never seen a roller-coaster that big before. That was an iconic-sight. Now Superman is there and that ride just doesn't have the same-flavor. I don't think it would be missed if they got rid of Superman.
Shockwave was so awesome... That first vertical loop was mindbending, while the overall layout was spectacular. But you had to know the ride and how to brace yourself accordingly to fully enjoy it. Can't say I never got off there hurting a little. Would love to see it rebuilt with modern technology!
i miss iron wolf so much and it looks awful as apocalypse because of the lack of trees
Iron Wolf is Apocalypse.
I know
I actually really enjoy stand ups George scorcher is also a good one
Iron wolf really hurt.
2007disneyhouse Yo same here I'm one of those coaster enthusiast who for some reason, like B&M Standups. Iron wolf was part of my home park, sfga and now it's gone ;-;. Goliath is still a much more superior ride then iron wolf.
Turn of the Century was a great ride, original to the park, and retrofitted to Demon in 1980. Interesting story.
The ragin cajun was one of my favs as a kid😭I still remember how quirky it was haha
I worked at Great America this past summer and you wouldn't believe how many people asked if many of these rides were still here
I remember the iron wolf when I was 3 years old.I thought it was called the flash cause it went fast lol
Hey, Theme Park Crazy! They should keep American Eagle. I really like this coaster. The first drop was bumpy, but it's still a great coaster.
Viper definitely hurts. But cool to know I've ridden such a gem!
Leslie Nicole it's not closedown tho
I love Viper. I complaints here. Woodies are my favorite!
Viper doesnt hurt at all! My opinion i guess! Try slightly lifted your head off the head rest so it doesnt bang against it as much
@@a-dub1160 wrong viper
six flags great America is getting a new coaster maxx forces u should look it up
These are what the other roller coaster gravestone during Fright Fest:
Dèja Vu 2001-2007
We’re sorry! This ride is PERMANENTLY closed.
(This is a joke for all the downtime and operational issues Deja Vu had in the park)
Z-Force. 1985-1987
May ze force be with you!
Tidal Wave 1978-1991
Was rebuilt in Kentucky
Wasn’t so lucky...
(Rides last location)
Rolling Thunder 1989-1995
Storms Over!
Iron Wolf. 1990-2011
Couldn’t stand it...
Ragin’ Cajun. 2004-2013
Spin and spin till she was done!
Like Whizzer, one of my favorite aspects of Iron Wolf was the scenery. It was all grown over with trees and shrubbery. The track layout was fun, but I didn’t really care for the standing gimmick much. I really wish I had ridden it more, but I didn’t appreciate it until I was older and then they removed it. Ragin Cajun was fucking awesome!
P.S. Shockwave is dead, long live Shockwave!
Six flags America is my home park and I hope we do get vertical velocity
Around 1995 a teacher at my school won a quiz show on WGN radio and my school and another one got to spend a day in Great America with no other customers. I must have ridden Shockwave 10 times, I absolutely loved that coaster and hope I can make it out to California to ride the remaining sister coaster one day. It was a physical experience like none other, and that day - with my dad as one of our chaperones - will forever be one of my best memories.
Mr. Theme Park Crazy . . . .
Six Flags America is my homepark (I live in Columbia, which is about 40 minutes away). I wonder why SFA has gotten two hand me downs from SFGA?
And yeah, I've read rumors about Vertical Velocity coming to SFA . . . I for one wouldn't mind an Intamin Impulse :)
DukeofColumbia vertical velocity is here to stay 😑😤
B&M really knows how to build their rides. Smooth as butter.
Thank you for doing this video even though I'm going there tomorrow
same
It's my home park ...
it's awesome.
I first went to six flags when i was 6 years old and got to ride rolling thunder the same year they tore it down. Shockwave was also great the inversions were well worth the headbang. Iron wolf was the same way, it smashed your head but had plenty of G forces.
did you know Quassy had a golf coaster clone
Yep, the classic Little Dipper model.
De ja vu was amazing. The first drop had serious air time compared to v2. But it would break down soooooo many times.
The raigun caging was so fun I rode it the last year they took it down it got replaced with I think a hot air balloon ride across from the king chaos I was so sad when I looked at the spot and saw another ride. Then I realized they tore it down😭😷 brings back very many memories
Hola Selana na they needed to make room for Goliath. They took it down the year I was going to ride it 😭😭 they also got rid of orbit, but they are bringing the lobster ride back
Hola Selana Every park should have some kind of mouse coaster. Indoor outdoor doesn't matter. Except Dark Knight isn't that good.
Hope GA brings one back. I didn't know this happened.
HeyItsCeciButYouCanCallMeLia no i thought they took it down for joker
HeyItsCeciButYouCanCallMeLia no iron wolf was removed for Goliath, Ragin cagin is where the joker is
Exterminator is the best zamperla spinning coaster
I remember riding the Batman coaster 3 times in a row before throwing up at the exit
They should get rid of Dark Knight next
Lots of comments here about Shockwave, and I'll add my own. I loved that rollercoaster and remember riding it over and over as a kid. The G-forces from the loops/inversions actually had me graying out a bit.
The layout of Z-Force looks like the layout of Space Mountain from Walt Disney World
Great America removed the Z-Force before I was tall enough to ride, but I was lucky enough to catch it at Magic Mountain in Cali several years later. Such an insane idea for a ride at the time.
I remembered the shock wave I still got the shirt, my dad took us every year when we were kids
can you do a review at Water Country?
Sadly I haven't been to Six Flags in a LONG time. Spent 10+ years caring for terminally ill parents, then a period of self induced misery after they passed away. Now I have the same illness as my Mother did. I HOPE I can go at least once more. I LOVE coasters and Fright Fest and Six Flags have given me so many GREAT MEMORIES. I see these new rides coming soon. Some with insane drops, 87° degrees down and sick speeds. 120+ mph. I never thought that was possible. Still think it's crazy but beck I'll ride it!! Again so many rides, the American Eagle, the Demon, the Whizzer even, Shock Wave(gone), Z-Force(gone), Iron Wolf, Rolling Thunder(gone but a bobsled run anyway), Tidal Wave(gone), Power Dive(gone but a nut cruncher), Batman the Ride(1st ride ever Front car!! EPIC!!), Splash Water Falls,
Cedar point
When I was in elementary school, both my parents worked during the summer and didn't want me left at home alone, so they sent me to this day care-ish place and we went to great America like, basically every week (starting after third grade I think) and one of my friends there told me that the deja Vu was getting torn down because someone died on it or something. I'm guessing it's probably bullshit, but given the safety issues like being able to reach up and touch the track, it wouldn't surprise me if it was possible for it to be capable of taking a life.
Omg I forgot about Ragin Cajun!! Loved that one!!
It's still here in Disney, just by a different name. They call it the Primeval whirl
I personally was okay with the loss of Iron Wolf, every time I rode it I got some pretty nasty headaches. Now I get that issue from American Eagle or the Demon. Although I'll still ride American Eagle for nostalgia's sake.
Rode all of them except for Gulf Coaster. I first visited the park in 1977 and by then it was already gone.
I remember Tidle Wave, Z Force (not a fan), Shockwave (my absolute favorite & Wizzer sucked!) Rolling thunder, Iron Wolf, cool but can give you whiplash & a concussion, Dejavu was CONSTANTLY closed for maintenance or shut down bc it broke down with people on it.. Couldn't do Rajun Cajun because I can't do spinny anything 🤢
Great video! Great American is the closest Six Flags part where I live. I remember most of these coasters on the list. Shock wave was awesome. the Wizzer was the first coaster I ever rode. Deja vu was always broken down. Iron wolf was a nut buster haha I got locked in the highest position once while jumping up and down when boarding the ride. Rolling thunder was awesome but always felt way too dangerous to actually be a ride, my old man nearly fell outta the ride after a really high bank turn..and my dad wasn't the kind of dude to fuck around and find out either. That was the last time we ever rode that coaster. Haven't been there in about 10 years or so now but the memories of that park are still really dear to me. Showing up at gate opening and staying until just before closing, just loved the park after sundown!
That was so sweet of the public, they didn’t want the Wizzer torn down, so six flags listened!!
I was an employee of the park from 1990-1992. Tidal wave a great for the time, my mom rode it in 1978 when it opened. Shock Wave was ok I rode it twice once in the front. Iron wolf was a good coaster, except my cousins seat didn't lock until halfway up the lift hill. I never road Z-Force, I remember it not being well liked. Roaring Thunder was ok for the type of ride that it was.
The deja vu in Idaho is my HOME THEME PARK.That is the best ride in the park. You’re deemed pretty cool if you ride it whenever you go with your school.I went on for my first time this summer, and it was pretty AWeSOme.
I LOVED the Tidal Wave, there was one at California's (during both mariotts/paramounts) Great America.
I've only been to Great America once and it was the day Shockwave broke down. It was the only coaster I hadn't ridden and due to the roughness of GASM at Great Adventure I was only waiting to ride it for the credit. But after waiting almost 2 hours I saw one of the wheels fly off the train and sparks flying off the track as it went through on if the loops. Fortunately one of the workers was able to hit the emergency stop in time and it didn't look like anyone was hurt. They shut the ride down for the day and a few months later announced they were tearing it down. I'm still mad about the credit, but I suppose I'm grateful I didn't die. Lol. Sketchy. Thanks for your awesome videos.
I remember riding Rolling Thunder and Rajun Cajun! Thanks for the memories of my late teens/early 20's! :)
Just for anyone who may be wondering the relocated Rolling Thunder is...not doing well. Great Escape is my home park and Alpine Bobsled (its name there) uses to be a great ride but has really fallen off recently. It's closed quite often (I'm not sure if it's low attendance or maintenance) and although I've only been able to ride it once in the past few years I can say that it's way bumpier than it was before. I'm not sure how much effort they're putting in to keeping it up anymore lol. The paint is so faded and the bobsled cars have lost a lot of padding or something like that that has made them a lot more uncomfortable.
I just went to Six Flags Great America for the first time in 19 years. I forgot all about the Iron Wolf and Shockwave. Damn, I'm really getting old!
Yoooo
I was scared as shit on that first drop in iron wolf
Btw in loved it :)
I miss Shockwave. One time there I was able to stay on for 7 rides in a row.
You forgot the original Turn of the Century. The corkscrews were later used in The Demon.
The Turn of the Century was morphed into the Demon as far as I can recall.
I remember the one and only time I rode shockwave. Felt like both sides of my head were getting punched over and over. When I got off my ears were bright red and my head was pounding. My friend thought that was intentional lol.. like that was part of the experience hence the name shockwave “it’s supposed to feel like you’re getting shocked”. I told him that’s a really stupid concept for a roller coaster if thats true
Hey I lived like 30 minutes away from this six flags I went there all the time, I would get stuck on rides enough to know how they would do exits, I got stuck on the indoor Batman ride and let me tell you if you’ve never seen it with the lights on it is truly a sight to see
I would love to see more stand up coasters. Iron Wolf you were a favorite. And I never got to go on the shockwave. I was to short before it closed down.
My first trip to Busch Gardens Williamsburg was in 2009, and the Big Bad Wolf roller coaster had already been torn down.
Raging bull is my favorite one of all I loved ragin cajun tho
Same model as gulf coaster operating at Conneaut Lake Park, no surprise there. ( Ok the little dipper wasn't the thing that burned down the Ballroom, Ultiment Trip, and Beach Club, it was arson)
Shockwave was THE ride at Great America. It was rough and intense. Plenty of great coasters there that have stood the test of time. It'll be a sad day when the Eagle, Demon, or Whizzer get dismantled. Never much cared for Iron Wolf. A bit too rough in certain places. I'm sure other guys on here might agree. But yeah, I miss Shockwave immensely. Need to find my way out to the west coast to get one last go at that beast.
If Vekoma had came up with those restraints found on Blue Hawk at Six Flags Over Georgia and added them to Shockwave, I am sure there's a chance that coaster could still be around today. However, if that was the case, maybe Supermam: Ultimate Flight would've replaced Whizzer instead. Let's be glad that didn't happen.
I got in line for Ragin Cajun in 2013 but it took to line so I got out. I guess I'll have to experience it next time I go to Six Flags America. Speaking of which, I was at that park as well in 2013 but Apocalypse (formerly Iron Wolf) was closed that day. I guess I'll have to experience that another year as well (but obviously as Firebird).
I never got the pleasure to go on Iron Wolf because I was too short at the time, but my dad would tell me fun stories about the ride. Rajun Cajun I went on multiple times and I remember being so sad when I went in 2014 and I didn't see it there. At that time, I was 13 so it was like a childhood memory was taken away from me. How I hope they don't take V2 away! I just started going on that ride 4 years ago and I love it
I rode Shockwave. It was head aching fun
Please do more videos of Six Flags Great America 😀 maybe one on Fright Fest 🧐
I LOOOOVED the Tidal Wave at Marriot’s Great America in Santa Clara, California.