Marriott Parks 1970's

[G-forcejunky2005]

a long time ago, was the marriott company planning to make the two great america parks identical? i looked at pics of paramounts great america and our great america and they almost look identical...... i mean they have almost the same coasters..... im talking about the 1970's though.

[coasterdude12]

Yes, and they even wanted to build a third identical park in D.C but that never came through.

[planea380]

Cant forget about the third park in Washington DC that was supposed to be built.

[SFGAm Rules]

Yes, both parks were about identical and a DC park was supposed to be built. A great web site devoted to the history of the parks is at
http://www.greatamericaparks.com.

I also believe that Marriott's also originally built and owned SFGAdv, but I’m not sure on that one.

EDIT: Is it true that there is a third Sky Whirl that was built for DC but never was used?

[CoasterKing]

Does anyone have some really good pictures of marriotts great america in the 70's? I have a 1976 park map. I already know about great america parks.

[Timmy179]

EDIT: Is it true that there is a third Sky Whirl that was built for DC but never was used?

As far As I know that is true.

[Ilovthevu']

Why did Mariott sell there parks? This might sound like a dumb question, but is the hotel chain based after the same name of the once Mariott park?

[Virtua Tennis]

but is the hotel chain based after the same name of the once Mariott park?

The same company built the parks, ran them for 8 years, then sold them off. Why did they sell them? I'd assume because they didn't want to be in the theme park race.

[CoasterKing]

The park in washington dc never opened did it

[Chitown]

No, it didn't.

Marriott gave up on the proposal due to constant rejection of the project by the local government and neighbors.

[CoasterKing]

What was planned for the park in washington dc. Because it could not of been the exact same thing as the marriotts 2 parks in gurnee and santa clara because we had a coulple things they didnt

[Timmy179]

It was planned to be the exact same thing as Both of the Mariott parks, in Gurnee and Santa Clara.

[CoasterKing]

But one of the vintage cars in gurnee wasnt in santa clara

[InsaneNewman]

There were some differences, but overall, the parks were based on the same master plan. GreatAmericaParks.com is a great source for the history, as well as just checking out the GAm maps here and at ParamountParks.com. Despite the fact the PGAm has completely destroyed the theming of Marriot, you can still see the very close resemblence between the parks, even after all these years.

[Mr. SFGAm]

But one of the vintage cars in gurnee wasnt in santa clara

We had the vintage cars(Traffique Jam), and I also believe that they never had a Cajun Cliffhanger either. Otherwise most of the new rides we got in 1977, they also never got, like Hay Baler, Southern Cross, Big Top, and Davies Dhingies, and again in 1981, they never got an American Eagle(obviously ).

[sixflagsguy5]

We got the eagle after the park was sold.

[aejanis]

We got the eagle after the park was sold.

Park was sold in 1983. Planning/Construction on AE started in 79/80, and it opened in 81.

[Chitown]

Marriott brought American Eagle to the park.

Park was officially purchased by Six Flags in 1984.

[HiSpAnOwAy]

What was Six Flags from other than Warner Bros. So nobody knows why Marriott sold the theme parks?

[aejanis]

What was Six Flags from other than Warner Bros. So nobody knows why Marriott sold the theme parks?

here is my understanding of what happened:

The CA park was not doing very well. Some investors wanted the land and made a multi-million dollar bid to buy the park/land. The city told the investors that the land would not be re-zoned and that it must remain an entertainment venue. The investors backed down and the city bid and bought the park. I have been told that the city saying they would not re-zone was a move made by the city in an effort to make a buck by selling the park several years later (land value in CA was hitting the sky in the mid-80;s). Apparently Santa Clara still owns the land the park is sitting on, and leases it back to the owners of the park.

As for SFGAm, Six Flags made an out of the blue offer. Marriott knew they would be selling the CA park for a quick buck, so a decision was made to just get out of the entertainment park business altogether. Maybe there is no pride in owning only one park, iti s anyones guess really...probably $$ now not later with profits.

Summery...Marriott was not actively looking for buyers. CA was doing bad, and an offer for more then it was worth was presented to Marriott. They took the deal. In the mean time....Six Flags wanted the profitable Gurnee park and made an offer. Marriott probably would have rejected the offer from Six Flags had the offer on the CA park not been made. The CA buyout was delayed in court with the city and the investors that originally wanted to buy. The Six Flags deal closed before the CA deal. Basically it was a short term money making business decision. Money now talks louder then money made with profits over time. I have read that Marriott cleared 110million for CA, and 116million for Gurnee...anyone have any idea what Marriott invested in the two parks...be interesting to see what they netted after the sale of the parks.

[HiSpAnOwAy]

How do you know all this stuff?

[SFGAm Rules]

^Throughout our many years of visiting the park, we have researched it. It was only a few years ago when I started learning info like this. I learned almost all of it through the internet.

[aejanis]

How do you know all this stuff?

My father knows/knew some of the high ups @ Marriott. So what I posted was stuff that I head from him (which he heard from his buddies @ Marriott).

When ever we travel we stay in Marriott owned resorts...for free (well the room is free, room service is not).

[aejanis]

I also believe that Marriott's also originally built and owned SFGAdv, but I’m not sure on that one.

No...SFGAdv was owned by a private party (Roy, maybe Leroy, was the guys name). Six Flags branded it and he continued to own interest in the park. Don't know for sure, but he might still own part of it, or rights to the Great Adventure name (but I seem to recall he was 100% bought out in the 90's).