California’s Great America unveils NorCal County Fair area with new ride and makeovers

California’s Great America has been busy lately clearing land and sprucing up structures in the County Fair area of the park, and on May 4, the park revealed its plans for the summer.

The area will receive a makeover into the NorCal County Fair, featuring a new ride, a new look for a classic attraction and a renovated games area and picnic grove.

Opening in the summer is Pacific Gliders. The Zamperla Windstarz features 12, two-person “hang gliders” that rotate and allow the rider to control their own movement.

The ride will be located on the site of the former Tooth Fair Halloween Haunt maze. Toward the end of 2022, CGA demolished the building that once held the maze, as well as a few games that were adjacent to it. The empty site was used for a WinterFest activity before the construction walls went up earlier this year.

Barney Oldfield Speedway will be renamed Barney Oldfield’s Redwood Rally, featuring a new look and scenic updates throughout, including billboards and signage of California landmarks.

Although Cedar Fair plans to shutter Great America sometime in the next decade, it has continued to make smaller investments in the park. Since it made the announcement in June 2022, Great America debuted Liberty Twirler, a scrambler ride in the former spot of FireFall, and updated the All-American Corners area of the park with a refreshed Orbit and renovated sports bar.