Once in a while, I'll check in on GreatAmericaParks.com, which, though still under construction, has some amazing pics from the park. It has been updated. Did you guys know that Orlean's Place once had both a coaster and a kid's car ride where the Rapids are now? Hence why that section is so devoid of rides: Marriot removed two to put in one!
InsaneNewman wrote:Hence why that section is so devoid of rides: Marriot removed two to put in one!
Actually, from what I've read online, I gather that the Gulf Coaster was removed after only a single season of operation, and replaced with the Southern Cross skyride station(which also didn't last too long). When Whitewater Rampage went in, I think it replaced the Traffique Jam, and The Orleans Orbit.
If you look at a map of PGA, their Orbit is still in it's original location.
Anyway, I too check that site often for updates. It is a great site with totally awesome pictures. Since I'm only 19, it is my only way of seeing how Great America once was.
The Gurnee tower opened in 1977 as the Sky Trek Tower. The Santa Clara tower opened in 1979. I believe it opened as simply the Sky Tower. On clear days, the Chicago skyline is visible from the Gurnee tower. The Santa Clara tower is known as the tallest observation tower in Northern California.
What is keeping our Sky Trek Tower from being the highest observation tower? Do they go by elevation above sea level or above the ground? I don't believe there are too many 300 foot observation towers in Illinois (especially Northern Illinois). And if you classify the Sears Tower as a observation tower (it does have an observation deck), then they should be dwarfed by the skyscrapers in SanFransico.
The Gurnee tower opened in 1977 as the Sky Trek Tower. The Santa Clara tower opened in 1979. I believe it opened as simply the Sky Tower. On clear days, the Chicago skyline is visible from the Gurnee tower. The Santa Clara tower is known as the tallest observation tower in Northern California.
What is keeping our Sky Trek Tower from being the highest observation tower? Do they go by elevation above sea level or above the ground? I don't believe there are too many 300 foot observation towers in Illinois (especially Northern Illinois). And if you classify the Sears Tower as a observation tower (it does have an observation deck), then they should be dwarfed by the skyscrapers in SanFransico.
Just my 2 cents.
Northern Cali. has more than one real park so it actually means something for them to say it.
Yeah White Water Rampage is a better name but we all know that SF parks all must have the same names among rides .
Sorry to dredge up such an old topic, but you really should go over to http://www.greatamericaparks.com and check out the new tv commercial available on the front page. What's cool is that in one clip, you see people riding unicycles in the arena that is now home to American Eagle's que! Check it out!
I love that site, It's so cool to look at Great America's early days. But I just want to know if anyone knows why we got ride of the ride called Bottoms Up. It looks like a Wipeout type ride you would see at carnivals and those are really fun. I think we got ride of it for the Orbit though.
Then for some reason I dont know they took Bottoms Up out. And placed Orleans Orbit in Hometown Square but just gave it the name Orbit and painted it Red and blue. The moved orbit in the 1983-1984 offseason. Orleans Orbit stood on the land now occupied by Roaring Rapids (Whitewater Rampage)
Not exactly, Trade Name for the Wipeout is Wipeout, Trade name for the Trabant is Trabant
(Trabant all seats face the same direction, Wipeout has seats facing eachother, also wipeout has automatic lapbars where Trabant has questionable manual lapbars at best, there are other significant differences but I dont go into them)
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
Anyone notice that there hasn't been an update on GreatAmericaParks.com since 4/28. On his last update he said this:
28 April 2004
Let's see what this does to my monthly bandwith usage... I added a 1978 Marriott's GREAT AMERICA television commercial to the home page. Enjoy!
What does the "monthly bandwidth usage" mean? Is this possibly the reason why there haven't been updates? It has been over two months. Can anyone clear this up for me?
it just means that when someone downloads the video, it takes up some of his alloted space for the month, which could overflow causing him money, if this were the case, he would have taken the video down.