Ok so we all know SFGAm has a HUGE amount of rides that have been removed, sold or simply thrown to the nearest dumpster. An average fan has no idea of some of these rides and what happened to them and why. Let us look back at some of these and explain WHAT happened and WHERE these rides are now...or aren't..Deja Vu should be the most detailed.
I'll start with The Edge -- An Intamin AG First Generation Freefall
Introduced: 1983 season
At the park: 1983-1986
Reason for leaving: Accident in 1984 sent many to the hospital and it never regained popularity
Where it went: Geauga Lake in 1997 but where it was before 97 I can't find at the moment. It was removed in 2005 and sent to RAL.
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The Not-So Forgotten Rides
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13 Years with SFGAm World!
From Wikipedia:
Past Roller Coasters Ride Year Opened Removed In Description Gulf Coaster 1976 - End of 1976 Lasted only one season due to a small fire and unpopularity. Rolling Thunder 1989 - 1996 Intamin bobsled coaster. Relocated from Great Adventure and eventually to The Great Escape as the Alpine Bobsled. Shock Wave 1988 - 2002 Arrow Dynamics steel super-coaster. Upon its completion in 1988, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world. Shockwave also featured 7 loops; the most in the world until 1989 when a clone version of the ride was introduced at Six Flags Great Adventure (known today as Great American Scream Machine). Closed and disassembled in 2002 and finally scrapped in 2004. Had a reputation of being extremely rough. Site now occupied by Superman: Ultimate Flight. Z-Force 1985 - 1987 One-of-a-kind Intamin space diver roller coaster. Relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia until 1991. It last operated at Six Flags Magic Mountain but has since been scrapped. Iron Wolf now stands on the original footprint. Tidal Wave 1978 - 1991 Schwartzkopf Shuttle Loop. Relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia as Viper until the ride space was cleared for their Superman: Ultimate Flight. Tidal Wave currently operates as Greezed Lightnin' at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. Déjà Vu 2001 - 2007 The park sold the unreliable and often-closed Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang to Silverwood due to high operating costs. When running, the ride suffered low capacity issues. Past Flat Rides * Power Dive (Intamin Looping Starship thrill ride) - opened in 1987; located in Orleans Place-Closed in 2001 * Cajun Cliffhanger (Chance Rides Rotor spinning ride) - opened in 1976; located in Orleans Place-Closed in 2000 * Sky Whirl (Intamin Triple Wheel) - opened in 1976; located in County Fair-Closed 2000 * Eagles Flight / Delta Flyer (Von Roll Sky Ride) - opened in 1976; stations in County Fair and Orleans Place-Closed in 198? * Southern Cross (Von Roll Sky Ride) - opened in 1977; located in Orleans Place-Closed in 1982 * Traffique Jam (Arrow Development Antique Cars) - opened in 1976; located in Orleans Place-Closed in 1983 to make room for Roaring Rapids raft ride. * The Edge (Intamin 1st Generation Freefall) - opened in 1983; located in Orleans Place-Closed in 1986 * Haybailer (Mack Matterhorn (ride)) - opened in 1977; located in County Fair-Removed in 2000 * Bottoms Up (Chance Rides Trabant) - opened in 1976; located in Hometown Square-Closed in 1983 * Davy Jones Dinghies (Intamin Flying Dutchman) - opened in 1977; located in Yankee Harbor-Closed in 1982 * Yukon Yahoo (Schwarzkopf Bayern-Kurve) - opened in 1976; located in Yukon Territory, later Orleans Place as Delta Flyer-Closed in 1990 * Various Children's Rides - in the early days of the park, there were several small kiddie rides scattered throughout the park, notably in Hometown Square and in County Fair. The County Fair kiddie rides were removed over time, and Hometown Square removed their kids area (named Hometown Park) in 2001. * Trailblazer (Zamperla Joker) - Opened in 1996 with Southwest Territory. Removed in 2006 due to safety issues with other rides of this type. * Spinnaker - (Hrubetz Roundup) - Opened in 1976 and removed two years later when Tidal Wave was built. * Space Shuttle America (I-Werks Motion Simulator Ride) - opened in 1994; located in Carousel Plaza (has shown several other movies) Closed after the 2007 season due to unpopularity and rising operating costs. The ride and building were removed in December of 2009 after being SBNO for two seasons. * Splashwater Falls (O.D. Hopkins Shoot The Chutes) - opened in 1987; located in County Fair. Closed in August 2007 due to decline in popularity and old age. * Hilltoper Most Likely a "Himalaya" style ride - Opened in 1976 as Hilltoper next to Turn Of The Century's lift; moved closer to the midway not long after and renamed Industrial Revolution(**NOTE - This is not the same ride that was relocated to Orleans Place; that particular ride was the Yukon Yahoo. Industrial Revolution and Yukon Yahoo were similar rides that existed in the park at the same time.) * Ferris wheel Little is known about this ride, such as when it was added; It can be seen in pictures from the 1984 season. It looks to be an Eli Bridge version. It was sandwiched between the Fairgrounds Junction train station, and the Eagle's Flight skyride station; removed after the 1984 season, when Fairgrounds Junction train station was moved over to accommodate Z-Force; located in County Fair. * Ameri-Go-Round (P.T.C. Antique Carousel) - originally built in the 1910s, opened at Great America in the County Fair area; removed after the 2003 season, replaced by Revolution.
As far as I know, only 3 people were injured when the car came back down the lift on the Edge. They weren't seriously injured, but were treated at a hospital, and as far as I know, recovered okay. It's amazing how the rumors on the accident were grossly exaggerated to the point where people died, the car flew off the track, it crushed another car below, etc. I really miss the Edge- it was my favorite flat ride at the park, or just about any park. Giant Drop is great too, but the first generation freefalls feel like you're on a possessed elevator out of control. Nothing beat the feeling of being pushed forward over the edge!  After Great America, the Edge was moved to Rocky Point amusement park in Rhode Island where it was given the name "Freefall" When Rocky Point closed, it moved to Geauga Lake.
Anyone can copy and paste plus very few will want to read ALL that...
 13 Years with SFGAm World!
I want to say the injuries were serious but not life threatening. I know there was at least one lacerated kidney.
Other than that that list pretty much covers everything except Ameri-Go-Round was Denzel, Haybaler was Jhle Brothers and Space Shuttle America was Intamin/Giovanola, film was IWERKS. And Cajun Cliffhanger I seem to remember made it way over from Riverview. Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder
Favorite Steel: Voltron Nevera, Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping Parks visited: 232, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 894, Wood: 179, Total: 1073
You asked for info on past rides...that is what I posted. If you were only looking for information on a few specific rides, others would not have been mentioned. Those who don't want to read the list won't and those that are interested will.
Wish they would build a section for these classics.
I read the whole list. You did exactly what was asked, so just ignore people who refuse to spend two minutes, tops, reading. Too much to ask these days, I guess. Interesting stuff. I remember riding Davy Jones' Dinghies as a little kid, and several others. Power Dive was awesome! The Edge injuries were thankfully fairly minor as I remember, bruises mainly, maybe a fractured bone. I still remember the ride and the TV news reports the day the accident happened. The car fell back down the lift shaft due to a computer malfunction. This ride was not very tall, under 100 ft. I think. Only 3-4 teen boys in one car were hurt.
This is for all of you SFGAm fanatics who want to learn more about the park's history. This is from SFGAM's official site:
"Take a look at what it takes to build a theme park from scratch. This show takes a look at Six Flags Great America from teh conceptual stage in 1972 through 1984. This is a can’t miss show for theme park fans! The Show runs Late May - September 11." The show will be in the pictorium.
^That is a really neat idea. Bravo to the park.
Yes, I saw that. Screams and Dreams, its called.
-Cole Top 5: 1) El Toro. 2) Maverick. 3) Millenium Force. 4) Diamondback. 5) X2.
Coaster Count: 167 (41 Wood, 125 Steel) @Coaster_Cole on Twitter
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