Author: Erik Chalhoub
-
ACE tours Great America, honors Spirit Award recipients
California’s Great America opens for the 2019 season on March 23, but for ACE members, the season typically kicks off much earlier than that. Such was the case on March 9, when Great America hosted ACE for the seventh annual behind-the-scenes tour, where members got the chance to not only check out the ongoing improvements,…
-
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Harley Quinn Crazy Coaster opens, Batman on the way
With a new ride recently opening, and a new coaster on its way in 2019, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has grown rapidly these past few years. Greeting guests as they drive into the park’s main entrance is Discovery Kingdom’s newest ride: Harley Quinn Crazy Coaster. The first of its kind, Harley Quinn is manufactured by…
-
Unique single-rail coaster RailBlazer opens at Great America
For each of the past few seasons, California’s Great America has introduced a major new attraction. In 2016, the park took guests into space with Mass Effect: New Earth, and later that year, introduced WinterFest, adding millions of Christmas lights. In 2017, Great America’s Vortex coaster got a floorless remake and transformed into Patriot. Yet,…
-
Great America 2018 preview: Construction, food, expanded entertainment and more
Last year, ACE NorCal’s annual California’s Great America preseason tour hit a record attendance of nearly 60 members and guests, all eager to get a glimpse at what was new for the 2017 season. This year, ACE NorCal smashed that record, two-fold. More than 130 ACE members and guests packed Great America on Feb. 24…
-
Gilroy Gardens’ Water Oasis expanding in 2018; nighttime festivals underway
Gilroy Gardens is making a big splash in 2018. The park is expanding its Water Oasis area with a new slide structure, complete with a tipping bucket on top, as well as splash pads and cabanas. The half-acre Water Oasis opened in 2014 with two slides, a shallow pool, splash pads and other features. Pinnacles…
-
RailBlazer construction update, Oct. 21, 2017: Track arrives on site
Work has ramped up on RailBlazer’s construction at California’s Great America. In the past week, heavy equipment has arrived on scene, and crews have drilled holes for foundation work. CGA also received the first shipment of track from Rocky Mountain Construction’s Idaho facility. That wraps up this update. Great America closes for the season on…
-
RailBlazer construction update, Sept. 9, 2017
Less than a month after California’s Great America announced RailBlazer, land clearing on the site is nearly complete. With the park recently applying for a permit to construct the ride, it appears vertical construction will start soon. Let’s take a look at the site as it appeared on Sept. 9.
-
New prototype coaster at Great America pays homage to California scenery
National Roller Coaster Day was celebrated in a big way on Aug. 16, when California’s Great America introduced its newest coaster, RailBlazer. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, RailBlazer is a prototype coaster based on RMC’s new “Raptor” model. Eight riders will traverse in a single file train on a single rail, giving riders a unique…
-
Great America offers a taste of Cajun culture
California’s Great America’s Taste of Orleans festival is taking guests on a Cajun experience of food, art and music. The second annual festival, which is also the park’s second food festival of the year after Red, White and Brews in May, features Cajun cuisine such as crisp frog legs with Creole aioli, craw fish etouffée,…
-
Great America teases 2018 coaster
California’s Great America has been teasing a new roller coaster at the park for 2018, dubbed “Project SR1.” In late June, observant park visitors noticed a set of painted white tire tracks leading to a construction stake placed in the large grassy area that formerly housed the Invertigo coaster. Written on the stake was “2018”…