California's Great America
| California's Great America | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Santa Clara, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°23′45.4″N 121°58′20.1″W / 37.395944°N 121.97225°WCoordinates: 37°23′45.4″N 121°58′20.1″W / 37.395944°N 121.97225°W |
| Website | Official website |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| General Manager | Raul Rehnberg |
| Opened | 1976 |
| Previous names | Marriott's Great America - 1976 to 1985 Great America - 1985 to 1993 and 2006 to 2008 Paramount's Great America - 1993 to 2006 California's Great America - 2008 to Present |
| Operating season | March through October |
| Area | 100 acres (0.4 km²) |
| Rides | 55 total
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| Slogan | "Fun & Only" |
California's Great America is an amusement park located in Santa Clara, California that is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. It is one of four major amusement parks that operate around the San Francisco Bay Area. The other three are Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz, and Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy. California's Great America is the only amusement park in northern California that has a water park within, although there are several other dedicated water parks in the area such as Raging Waters in San Jose and Waterworld in Concord.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1970s and 1980s
Marriott's Great America, built by Marriott Corp., a hotel and restaurant operator, opened in 1976, along with a sister park located north of Chicago bearing the same name. A third park was originally planned for Howard County, Maryland, but was not constructed due to local opposition. California's Great America's sister park, in Gurnee, Illinois, would become Six Flags Great America in 1985.
The park, although profitable, was still an earnings disappointment for Marriott, leading the company in 1983 to agree to sell the park to Caz Development Co., which valued the prized land appraised at US$800,000 to $1 million per acre. But Marriott also gave a first option to the park to the city of Santa Clara, which was already partially involved in the park, leasing 55 acres (220,000 m2) for parking space for $75,000 per year. Fearing development of the land would aggravate congested roads, on January 31, 1984 the city council approved a $101 million deal by a 4-3 count on the condition that the electorate authorize the agreement. City voters approved the sale by a margin of 3 to 1. Caz Development sued the city and Marriott in Santa Clara County Superior Court to block the transaction. The court nullified the sale, forcing the city to attempt to salvage their deal through negotiations with both other parties. Unable to broker a timely agreement, the city council voted 6-1 to scuttle the sale on February 5, 1985, although the city was still interested in owning the park. After Marriott refunded a $20 million down payment to the city, negotiations were started afresh. Finally all parties worked out a compromise, which was signed in marathon sessions taking place over June 4–5, 1985. The city for $93.5 million acquired the park and inventory from Marriott, which retained 20 acres (81,000 m2) for development. Caz Development settled its lawsuit and in exchange the city allowed the developer to build a hotel and an office on land near the park.
During the 1980s the park conducted a number of environmental analyses, many related to acoustical impacts of proposed new rides. Examples of these studies include the Grizzly ride and a proposed steel coaster.[1]
Kings Entertainment Co., an operator of other parks, was hired to manage the park for the city. As planned, the city ended its ownership and sold the park structures to Kings in 1989 for $22 million but not the land, which would be leased for $5.3 million a year. In addition, the city earned 5% of revenue over $56 million.
[edit] The 1990s: New Millennium and Paramount Parks era
Three years later Paramount Communications (formerly Gulf+Western), then owners of Paramount Pictures, sought to join other entertainment companies as a theme park owner. The company acquired Kings Entertainment, owner of three parks including Great America, and one other park for $400 million and created Paramount Parks. Viacom, the parent of MTV Networks (including Nickelodeon), then bought Paramount in 1994, allowing Nickelodeon theming and merchandise into the park as well. During the Paramount era, attractions from the Action FX Theatre, Nickelodeon Splat City (later Nickelodeon Central), Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Invertigo, and many more modern thrill ride attractions were added in. Unfortunately because the park was literally landlocked being in the center of Silicon Valley, several rides including the classic train ride and the Sky Whirl, a Marriott's Great America signature attraction, were removed to make way for newer attractions.
[edit] Cedar Fair, 2006-present
After Viacom and CBS Corporation split, Paramount Parks became part of CBS. The merger did not last long, as CBS announced plans to sell the theme park division.
In May 2006, it was announced that Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. would be acquiring the entire amusement park division from CBS.[2] The transaction includes licensing agreements with Nickelodeon and Paramount, providing the park the option to retain its Nickelodeon and Paramount theming for several years.[3]
On October 25, 2007, Cedar Fair renamed the park California's Great America. For the 2008 season, the park saw the addition of a Huss Rides top spin ride called FireFall, a new ice show in the "Great America Theatre" (formerly The Paramount Theatre), and the addition of the Halloween Haunt event to the park.[4]
On January 27, 2011, the park announced Invertigo would be removed and relocated to Dorney Park, another Cedar Fair property.[5]
On September 19, 2011, Cedar Fair confirmed reports that California's Great America would be sold to JMA Ventures, LLC for $70 million in cash. The sale required approval by the city of Santa Clara, and its city council was scheduled to vote on the matter on December 6, 2011. Cedar Fair, which purchased the park in 2006, expected to use the cash proceeds from the sale to reduce its senior secured debt.[6] However on December 6, 2011, JMA Ventures cancelled its plans to purchase the amusement park.[7] Also in the same announcement, Cedar Fair verified that a long-term agreement was reached with the San Francisco 49ers regarding parking and construction of a new stadium adjacent to Great America.[8][9]
[edit] Current attractions
| Ride Rating System | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rating | Thrill | Description |
| 1 | Low | Rides that are generally calm and gentle in nature |
| 2 | Mild | Rides that generally have low speeds with gentle motion and braking. Rides have smooth transitions with some changes in elevation and speed. |
| 3 | Moderate | Rides that generally have low to medium speeds and/or heights with moderate motion and braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in direction and/or speed during portions of the ride. |
| 4 | High | Rides that generally have medium to high speeds and/or heights with moderate to rapid braking. Riders may encounter unexpected changes in speed, direction and/or elevation. |
| 5 | Aggressive | Rides that generally have one or more of the following: high speeds and/or heights, aggressive and unexpected forces, and rapid directional or elevation change. Riders will encounter many unexpected rapid changes in speed, direction and/or elevation. |
[edit] Roller coasters
| Ride | Year Opened | Ride Manufacturer and Type | Height Requirement | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demon | 1976 | Arrow Dynamics | Over 48" | 5 |
| Flight Deck | 1993 | Bolliger & Mabillard inverted roller coaster | Over 54" | 5 |
| The Grizzly | 1986 | Wooden roller coaster | Over 48" | 4 |
| Psycho Mouse | 2001 | Arrow Dynamics Wild mouse roller coaster | Over 44" | 4 |
| Taxi Jam | 1999 | E&F Miller Industries Kiddie coaster | Over 36" | 2 |
| Vortex | 1991 | Bolliger & Mabillard Stand-up roller coaster | Over 54" | 5 |
| Woodstock Express | 1987 | Intamin Family roller coaster | Over 40" | 3 |
[edit] Thrill rides
| Ride | Year Opened | Ride Manufacturer and Type | Height Requirement | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delirium | 2002 | Over 48" | 5 | |
| Drop Tower: Scream Zone | 1996 | Intamin Drop tower | Over 54" | 4 |
| FireFall| | 2008 | HUSS Top spin | Over 55" | 5 |
| H.M.B. Endeavor | 1987 | Intamin Looping Starship | Over 48" | 4 |
| Tiki Twirl | 2006 | Zamperla Disk-O | Over 48" | 4 |
| Xtreme Skyflyer | 1997 | Skycoaster up-charge attraction | Over 48" | 5 |
[edit] Family rides
| Ride | Year Opened | Ride Manufacturer and Type | Height Requirement | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Theater | 1994 | 4-D Theater | Over 44" | 4 |
| Barney Oldfield Speedway | 1976 | Arrow Dynamics | Over 48" | 3 |
| Carousel Columbia | 1976 | Chance Morgan Carousel | Over 46" | 1 |
| Celebration Swings | Zierer wave swinger | Over 48" | 3 | |
| Loggers Run | 1998 | Arrow Dynamics log flume | Over 36" | 4 |
| Rip Roaring Rapids | 1988 | Intamin river rafting ride | Over 46" | 5 |
| Rue le Dodge | Bumper Cars | Over 48" | 4 | |
| Star Tower | 1979 | Gyro tower | 2 | |
| Whitewater Falls | 1990 | Shoot-the-chutes water ride | Over 46" | 4 |
[edit] Childrens's rides
California's Great America has two children's area designed specifically for children.
[edit] KidZville
| Ride | Height Requirement | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Cars | Under 54" | 1 |
| Fender Bender 500 | Under 54" | 2 |
| Ghost Chase | Under 54" | 1 |
| Junior Jump Club | Between 36" and 54" | 2 |
| Kidsville Pet Shop | 1 | |
| KidZair | 2 | |
| KidZConstruction | 1 | |
| Snail Races | 1 | |
| Swing Swing Swing | Over 42" | 2 |
[edit] Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy is California's Great America's newest kids area which opened in 2010.
| Ride | Height Requirement | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|
| PEANUTS Pirates | Over 44" | 2 |
| The Pumpkin Patch | 2 | |
| Sally's Love Buggies | 2 |
[edit] Defunct attractions
Past ride and attractions include:
- Invertigo. A Vekoma Invertigo shuttle coaster, Invertigo was North America's first inverted face-to-face roller coaster. Invertigo was one of the tallest roller coasters in Northern California, however it was not the fastest. Removed due to reliability issues, topped by three breakdowns that made the news.
- Stealth: A Vekoma Flying Dutchman, was removed for construction of the Boomerang Bay water park, and relocated to Carowinds as Nighthawk.
- Great America Scenic Railway: A custom-built railroad around the perimeter of the park. The roadbed can still be seen in many places. Closed for unknown reasons, but probably for imminent Boomerang Bay construction.
- Yankee Clipper. An Arrow Dynamics Hydro Flume that used to interlock with Logger's Run.
- Tidal Wave/Greased Lightning: A shuttle loop roller coaster manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. A model exists in the park office.
- The Edge: The first original free-fall ride in the world and hence a first-generation Intamin Freefall.
- Skyhawk: The pilot ride with the barrel rolls around the tower, known as an Intamin Flight Trainer.
- Sky Whirl/Triple Wheel: This three-armed Ferris wheel, made by Intamin, was removed to make room for Invertigo.
- Lobster: An octopus/spider ride.
- Bottoms Up: The classic carnival ride known in the industry as a Trabant.
- Triple Play: The Huss Troika ride that was next to Vortex.
- Nickelodeon Central: A theme area containing rides and mascots, and attractions that based on shows from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. Was closed in 2009, and later changed into Planet Snoopy.
- Whizzer: The original steel family roller coaster, made by Anton Schwarzkopf.
- Trolley Cars: In early years trolley cars traveled in Hometown Square and other parts of the park.
- Dolphin and Seal Show: During the Marriott years dolphins and seals were kept to do daily shows. Removed when Paramount took over to make way for what is now known as the Peanuts Playhouse Theater.
- Smurf Woods: A Smurf-themed small kids area with small Smurf mushroom houses. Was changed eventually into Nickelodeon Central.
- Cajun Carpet: A large rotating platform ride located near Orleans Orbit and Rip Roaring Rapids .[10]
[edit] California's Great America's timeline
- 2012: Several park improvements such as a repaint of Carousel Columbia, Demon and Flight Deck. New entrance for Loggers Run. Also, The Grizzly is retracked, Fast Lane
- 2011: Invertigo removed to be sent to Dorney Park; Three new live shows. Halloween Haunt Expansion.
- 2010: Planet Snoopy (Retheme of Nickelodeon Central); Hanna Barbera references removed in KidZville; Panda Express
- 2009: All Wheels Extreme Stunt show; Chipper Lowell Experience show; expanded Halloween Haunt
- 2008: FireFall; Dora's Sing-Along Adventure; Endless Summer On Ice show; Halloween Haunt
- 2007: Great Barrier Reef Wavepool added to Boomerang Bay; Ed Alonzo Misfit of Magic; Twistin' to the '60s Show
- 2006: Survivor: The Ride
- 2005: Boomerang Bay expansion to include lazy river, three other waterslides and a large swimming pool.
- 2004: Boomerang Bay is added including a complex of children's water slides/play area, a 4 person adult raft/tube ride, and 2½ person tube water slides. Triple Play is removed
- 2003: SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D in the Action Theater; Nickelodeon Central (expansion of Splat City); Stealth (flying steel coaster) is removed and sent to Carowinds as Nighthawk
- 2002: Delirium; Flying Eagles; Greased Lightning (steel coaster) removed
- 2001: Psycho Mouse; Celebration Swings
- 2000: Stealth (flying steel coaster); Scenic Railroad removed
- 1999: KidZVille
- 1998: Invertigo, James Bond: License to Thrill[10]
- 1997: Xtreme Skyflyer
- 1996: Drop Tower Scream Zone
- 1995: Nickelodeon Splat City
- 1994: Action Theater
- 1993: Flight Deck
- 1991: Vortex
- 1990: Whitewater Falls
- 1989: Skyhawk
- 1988: Rip Roaring Rapids. Whizzer is removed
- 1987: Blue Streak; Smurf Woods; Fort Fun; HMB Endeavor (Formerly known as The Revolution)
- 1986: Redwood Amphitheater with the Miami Sound Machine
- 1985: The Grizzly
- 1983: The Edge
- 1982: Atari Video Adventure
- 1980: The Demon (remodeled from Turn of the Century)
- 1979: Star Tower (formerly Sky Tower)
- 1978: IMAX Pictorium Theater, with film Man Belongs to the Earth
- 1977: Tidal Wave
- 1976: Marriott's Great America opens
[edit] On film and television
- Though appearing under the name "WonderWorld", Paramount's Great America was used as the theme park in the 1994 film Beverly Hills Cop III (itself released by Paramount Pictures).
Writer Steven E. de Souza originally wrote the story as more “Die Hard in a theme park”. He was told that each of the rides he had designed would cost about $10 million to build and the whole film would cost about $70 million. When box office results for The Distinguished Gentleman came in, Paramount ordered the budget to be cut to $55 million.
Some modifications were made to the Columbia Carousel and Vortex roller coaster. Most of the Sky Whirl stunts were filmed in a studio. In this scene, George Lucas has a small part as the man Axel cuts in front of to get on the ride, also known as 'disappointed man' (this can be seen in the credits). The tunnels that supposedly ran under the park are a myth as well. No tunnels run under the park, as many thought after this was released. Many rides that were seen in the movie including Triple Play and the Sky Whirl (now a roller coaster) have since been removed. Also, the carousel at the back of the park (a single story one, not the Columbia Carousel) was altered. The single story one was removed for Drop Zone. The ride featured in the rescue scene at the park was Triple Wheel (formerly known as Sky Whirl). Since the movie was made, the ride has been demolished and scrapped.
The Alien Attack ride featured in the Wonderworld theme park was in fact the Earthquake: The Big One attraction from the Universal Studios Florida theme park in Orlando, Florida. The "aliens" featured in the ride are suited actors (and not animatronic as suggested in the film) which closely resembled the Cylons from the original Battlestar Galactica.
- Paramount's Great America was also used as the theme park Macaulay Culkin visits in the 1994 film Getting Even with Dad (ironically not released by Paramount, but rather Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).
- California's Great America was featured in a 2007 Excedrin commercial with the park's inverted steel coaster, "Flight Deck", as the main star.
[edit] Injuries and accidents
There have been a number of notable injuries and accidents at California's Great America, some of which are listed below. Please see Incidents at Cedar Fair parks for additional information on these and other incidents.
- In 1980, a 14-year-old boy was killed and several others injured on the Willard's Whizzer roller coaster.
- In 1989, two boys intentionally jumped out of the Loggers' Run ride. One was killed and the other fell onto a platform and was injured.[11]
- In 1991, two couples were injured on the Yankee Clipper as their boat hydroplaned then capsized, leaving the riders temporarily trapped under the upside-down boat. The attraction was later modified to include a bump at the bottom of the drop in order to prevent hydroplaning.
- In 1998, after riding Flight Deck, a 24-year-old Spanish-speaking man, who could not read the English-language warning signs, entered a locked, gated area underneath the ride to retrieve his hat. He was hit by the foot of a passenger on the Flight Deck train and later died. The passenger suffered a broken leg.[12]
- In 1999, a 12-year-old boy fell to his death on Drop Tower after slipping from the ride's restraints which were still locked at the end of the ride.[13][14]
- On July 12, 2007, a 4-year-old boy drowned in the Boomerang Bay's Great Barrier Reef wave pool.[11][15]
[edit] Halloween Haunt
Halloween Haunt is a seasonal event at California's Great America. It began it 2008 and was patterned after other Cedar Fair haunts such as Knott's Scary Farm and Scarowinds. The Haunt includes over 500 monsters placed in various haunted mazes and scarezones throughout the park. As of 2011 the park has 7 mazes and re-themed rides 5 live shows and three scare zones.
Halloween Haunt Attraction History
| Year | Mazes | Scare Zones | Shows | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008 | Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Camp Gonna'getcha Slaughterhouse Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove Witch Doctor's Trail The Gauntlet |
Ed Alonzo's Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem Dave Hill's Haunted Hypnotics Comedysportz Improv |
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| 2 | 2009 | Toy Factory Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Camp Gonna'getcha Slaughterhouse Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove Witch Doctor's Trail The Gauntlet |
Ed Alonzo's Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem Dave Hill's Haunted Hypnotics Shocking Sideshow of Freaks SDC presents BANG! |
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| 3 | 2010 | Toy Factory Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Black Widows Cavern Slaughterhouse Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove Witch Doctor's Trail The Gauntlet |
Fangs Dave Hill's Haunted Hypnotics Shocking Sideshow of Freaks SDC presents BANG! |
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| 4 | 2011 | Toy Factory Carnevil Werewolf Canyon Club Blood Black Widows Cavern Slaughterhouse Annihilation Cornstalkers |
Underworld Alley Dead Man's Cove: Forsaken Souls The Gauntlet |
Zombies Gone Viral Haunted Hypnotics Shocking Sideshow of Freaks Blood Drums BANG! Primevil Percussion |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ballard W. George, Acoustical Study for New Steel Roller Coaster Great America Park, Santa Clara, Ca., Earth Metrics Inc., Report 10029 prepared for the city of Santa Clara
- ^ "Press Releases :: Cedar Fair Entertainment Company". http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mode=story&story_id=77.
- ^ "EDGAR Filing Documents for 0000811532-06-000054". http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/811532/000081153206000054/0000811532-06-000054-index.htm.
- ^ "Great America". http://www2.cedarfair.com/greatamerica/news/detail.cfm?item_id=652.
- ^ http://www.cagreatamerica.com/news/detail.cfm?item_id=1069
- ^ "Cedar Fair to sell California's Great America park for $70 million". Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. September 19, 2011. http://cf.wddnsweb2.wddonline.net/_upload/pressreleases/091911%20-%20definitive%20agmt%20-%20caga.pdf. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ "JMA cancels $70M California Great America purchase". Business Journal. 6 December 2011. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/12/06/jma-cancels-70m-california-great.html. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ Young, Eric (6 December 2011). "JMA drops plan to buy Great America, but 49ers stadium plans proceed". San Francisco Business Times. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2011/12/06/cedar-fair-niners-jma-great-america.html. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ "Great America to remain with current owners; 49er stadium spat averted Read more at the San Francisco Examiner: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/12/great-america-remain-current-owners-49er-stadium-spat-averted#ixzz1g6xSGYYO". The Examiner. 6 December 2011. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/12/great-america-remain-current-owners-49er-stadium-spat-averted. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ^ a b "www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/pubs/jul98/story11.htm". http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/pubs/jul98/story11.htm.
- ^ a b "abc7news.com: 7/12/07". http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=5476441.
- ^ "RideAccidents.com - 1998 Accident Reports and News". http://www.rideaccidents.com/1998.html#sep7.
- ^ "Thrill ride lawsuits". Courier-Journal. 23 June 2007. http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20071129&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=111290002&SectionCat=&Template=printart. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
- ^ "Drop Zone death: no charges, no explanation". RideAccidents.com. 5 November 1999. http://www.rideaccidents.com/1999.html#nov5. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ "4-Year-Old Drowns In California's Great America Wave Pool - News Story - KNTV". http://www.nbc11.com/news/13672880/detail.html.
[edit] References
- Michelson, Herb. (June 7, 1984). "City will purchase Marriott's". Sacramento Bee, p. A.
- "Santa Clara drops Great America pact". (February 7, 1985). San Francisco Chronicle, p. 4.
- Ewell, Miranda. (June 6, 1985). "Santa Clara assumes ownership of Great America". San Jose Mercury News (CA), p. 8B.
- Kava, Brad. (March 15, 1989). "Great America reopens". San Jose Mercury News, p. 1.
- Eng, Sherri. (August 1, 1992). "Paramount to buy Great America owner". San Jose Mercury News, p. 1E.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: California's Great America |
- Official website
- GREAT AMERICA parks - History of Marriott's Great America
- Satellite view of the site
- NorCalCoasters.Net Unofficial Site
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