Thank you for the kind words. The story has a happy ending: after security escorted the perpetrators out of Southwest Territory, I was given an exit pass for helping the park out. I wasn’t expecting anything in return, but it was really nice of them to do that. I was taken backstage to fill out a Witness Form and I got an incredible perspective of Batman: The Ride! That was amazing!
Dang, that's cool. Last year I was riding American Eagle in row 4. We go down the first drop and the people in the front car were drop tiny slips of paper. I think they were receipts but I couldn't make them out. Next, we go up the airtime hill into the brakes and the guy who was sitting in the row in front of us loses his hat. It blew off his head and hit me in the lip. It then fell in front of my feet and I just stepped on it. I didn't want him to lose his hat. By the way this guy wasn't throwing the pieces of paper. We are in the turnaround and the guy is looking for his hat. I told him I had it and would give it to him when we got off. He kept thanking me the whole time. When we got into the station somebody went and reported the people who were throwing paper to the ride ops before anybody else could do it. I don't know what happened to them after that.
1.) Steel Vengeance 2.) Iron Gwazi 3.) The Voyage 4.) El Toro 5.) Velocicoaster Ragin Cajun and Iron Wolf went from Six Flags Great America to Six Flags America. I guess they weren't GREAT anymore.
^ Yeah I see guests spitting off the SUF lift hill all the time. While we're taking about this issue of guests throwing stuff off rides I've seen some throw rocks off the coasters.
Last edited by Tardis1972 on July 25th, 2018, 10:39 am, edited 2 times in total.
Gurnee eyes major youth sports complex as its next big tourist attraction
The first step toward the potential development of a multimillion-dollar indoor-outdoor regional youth sports complex, with surrounding commercial uses, in Gurnee will be considered by the Village Board next month.
Mayor Krysti Kovarik said this week she will ask the board to approve the hiring of a national consulting firm, Sports Facilities Advisory, to complete a feasibility study, and financial and marketing forecast, for the proposal.
The roughly $48,000 study would likely be completed in four to six months, according to Village Administrator Patrick Muetz. The property proposed for the project is a 35-acre, triangular parcel bordered by Washington Street, Milwaukee Avenue and the Tri-State Tollway in western Gurnee, across Washington Street from Great America.
“If we like what they tell us, then we move forward to the next phase — financing,” Kovarik said, adding that she did not anticipate any tax impact on residents due to the project. “If it’s a great idea, people will invest in it.”
There has not yet been an estimated price range or time frame for development of the complex, but Kovarik said it would be a multimillion-dollar endeavor.
Kovarik said that the village needs to continue moving forward to stay “fresh” as a tourist destination spot, as opposed to resting on the laurels of existing major village attractions such as Great America, Gurnee Mills and Great Wolf Lodge.
She added that the goal is to see Gurnee remain as Lake County’s top municipal tourist destination, as well as one of the state’s highest tourist draws. To do that requires “bold” thinking, she said.
“We have to keep Gurnee fresh. We have to keep people coming to the village,” the mayor said.
Muetz said the proposed facility would be geared toward traveling youth leagues in a variety of indoor and outdoor sports, with a number of sports fields developed outside, and basketball courts and other indoor-sports facilities built inside.
He added that the proposal includes no plans for a stadium, and will primarily be youth-oriented, although Kovarik said she would like to see a semi-pro sports team in the village someday.
Muetz said the facility could complement existing attractions such as Great America and Gurnee Mills, adding that travel-sport families often are looking for activities after and between games, and that the mall and amusement park would be close by.
While a sports complex would be the anchor of the development, Muetz said it could also include surrounding restaurants, hotels and shops.
Kovarik said she hopes the project would be developed with a “downtown” type of feel, including boutique shops and restaurants, because she frequently is asked by residents why the village has no traditional downtown.
Muetz said the development could not support a “main street” style of downtown, such as those in Libertyville and Grayslake, but it could serve as a new “gathering place” for village residents.
The parcel currently consists primarily of undeveloped fields, but some existing businesses and residences along its perimeter would not be threatened by the development, officials said.
According to Muetz and Kovarik, Sports Facilities Advisory was selected by the village due to its nationwide work on similar projects, including Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, Tenn., which bills itself as “a state-of-the-art, indoor and outdoor sports campus.”
The consulting firm was also a player in the development of the Upward Star Center sports complex in Spartanburg, S.C., and the Myrtle Beach Sports Center, a 100,000 square-foot indoor sports facility in South Carolina.
Kavorik said the Village Board will consider hiring the consulting firm at its Aug. 6 meeting.
JT2002 wrote:I remember when they were thinking about building a casino somewhere around there, but the project never really got enough support.
You are thinking of Waukegan and Park City. Gurnee has no interest in a casino and wouldn't qualify for one.
Well I remember it being somewhere around the Gurnee/Waukegan border by six flags. Actually it might have been closer to 120 now that I think of it. Anyways, it would have been built close enough so they could potentially profit from the crowds generated by Great America and Gurnee Mills too.
They say there isn't a spot in the park where rusting metal or peeling paint is at least 15 feet away from you.
Why doesn't the park have season refillable Icee bottles?
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Ilovthevu' wrote:Why doesn't the park have season refillable Icee bottles?
I thought they still did although it was like $2 a refill.
1.) Steel Vengeance 2.) Iron Gwazi 3.) The Voyage 4.) El Toro 5.) Velocicoaster Ragin Cajun and Iron Wolf went from Six Flags Great America to Six Flags America. I guess they weren't GREAT anymore.
Random question: It's been a while since I've been to park open this year. Where are all the masses going to this season at rope drop? Is there a mad dash to any rides?
momlovescoasters wrote:Just went on Yelp and several people have already posted one star reviews who were at the park last night. I agree with the others in regards to raising ticket prices. Between the horrendous lines and kids/gangs it’s getting completely out of hand.
I'm an older adult and because of my work schedule I hadn't been able to make a Coasters after Dark event for several years although I do visit during the daytime quite often as a season pass member.
I was stunned at the difference in behaviour from just a few years ago. Large groups line jumping, fighting, pushing, language (I'm not a prude but it was ridiculous), etc. I had my member sports bottle stolen at Raging Bull. I said something to the male who took it and he and his friends flashed what I would presume to be a gang sign and then did a fingers to the head (like a gun) sign. I tried to follow them hoping I would encounter security but no luck. (A side gripe.....I wish Six Flags would go the Cedar Fair route with their drinks and offer a plan that allows you to use cups instead like Cedar Fair's drink plan.Then you don't have to tote the bottle around)
I complained at guest services and through the contact us portal on the website. Guest Services said " sorry about my bad experience" and I could buy a new bottle for $29 since it was a member bottle . I haven't got a response otherwise. I expect I'll write a letter to Hank Salemi just to make myself feel better.
I don't have any magic answers but something needs to happen.
After this amount of time, I'm convinced the park really doesn't care about or even want to acknowledge this behavior. I took the time to write a very polite but direct letter to Hank Salemi regarding what happened to me personally during Coasters After Dark. Never even got the courtesy of a reply. Looks like less trips to Six Flags and more trips to Cedar Point next year.
Jodon wrote:Random question: It's been a while since I've been to park open this year. Where are all the masses going to this season at rope drop? Is there a mad dash to any rides?
Yep Superman, Goliath, MGH, Joker, and Raging Bull from what I know.
^Yeah, those are the main rides people rush too (although I would imagine Joker and MGH for not much longer). Demon, Viper, X-Flight, V2, and Batman among a few others are all marathonable at the start of the day.
After this amount of time, I'm convinced the park really doesn't care about or even want to acknowledge this behavior. I took the time to write a very polite but direct letter to Hank Salemi regarding what happened to me personally during Coasters After Dark. Never even got the courtesy of a reply. Looks like less trips to Six Flags and more trips to Cedar Point next year.
That's exactly what my family is doing this year!! Back in June we did a amusement park vacation with most of the parks being Cedar Fair parks. Every CF park we went to, I did not see the amount of bad behavior that I have seen at SFGA. The service from the CF employees was so much better too. We were so impressed with the rides, behavior, and the service from their employees, that we are going back to Cedar Point for 3 days in Aug with a trip planned for Kings Island over labor day and Carrowinds (Fury 325!!) over thanksgiving. I would rather spend 6 1/2 hrs driving and several hundred dollars for a hotel to go to one of the best amusement parks in the world than drive 90 minutes and spend one day at Great America.
After this amount of time, I'm convinced the park really doesn't care about or even want to acknowledge this behavior. I took the time to write a very polite but direct letter to Hank Salemi regarding what happened to me personally during Coasters After Dark. Never even got the courtesy of a reply. Looks like less trips to Six Flags and more trips to Cedar Point next year.
That's exactly what my family is doing this year!! Back in June we did a amusement park vacation with most of the parks being Cedar Fair parks. Every CF park we went to, I did not see the amount of bad behavior that I have seen at SFGA. The service from the CF employees was so much better too. We were so impressed with the rides, behavior, and the service from their employees, that we are going back to Cedar Point for 3 days in Aug with a trip planned for Kings Island over labor day and Carrowinds (Fury 325!!) over thanksgiving. I would rather spend 6 1/2 hrs driving and several hundred dollars for a hotel to go to one of the best amusement parks in the world than drive 90 minutes and spend one day at Great America.
Six flags needs to update their stations and everything. Renovations everywhere. They should also start enforcing code of conduct. What the park looks like is how people are going to start acting like. But tbh, the people who come to the park is not the park's fault. I have personally seen no bad behvior. Not even after dark. Probably because I look serious all the time so nobody messes with me.
