JJnCFL

It was added for theming, had nothing to do with noise or appeasing the neighbors.

^DITTO!

The lines should be light as it's not too crowded since it's the beginning of the season. I've never had a problem with my knees, I usually leave some leeway to bend a little, but it's your head that's another story lol, (be prepared for head banging) Yes, they'll ask you to take out your phones, keys, wallet etc that might set off the metal detector but they'll give you a bin to place it in. Have a great time!

Awesome, great photo op when the train zooms by, can't wait to see it in person next month!

The Planet Snoopy area has been redone/remodeled so much I think the other areas were getting jealous. I'd rather have them invest along with the themed area music coming back, with bringing back the theming like the Orleans Place lettering back on the brick entranceway, the County Fair Archway sign, and the 1950s Covertible by American Cafe in the "50's area" (old school CGA peeps know what I'm taking about) to name a few, Pictorium back up and running, and yes new paint and new paint job for Vortex please!

They do enforce the rule on most of the major coasters: Medusa, Superman, Roar & Kong, but V2 & Boomerang have cubbies where you can store your stuff since they only have 1 train.

The park will still be open even during game days and other events that coincide, there's no way they'd give up that revenue. The new parking garage that's across the street from the stadium just opened recently, and there's another parking garage behind the Convention Center. Also they are currently re-configuring the parking lot and will soon be relocating the Tasman substation on the far corner of the lot that will give way for even more spaces. Also the businesses around the area may rent out their parking lots as well. There's plenty of room as well across the stadium where they can build more parking garages/lots if needed. And also don't forget about public transportation; light rail runs right through the area where you can connect to Mountain View CalTrain & the future Milpitas BART station, and Amtrak/Capitol Corridor is a short walk away.

Yay, only took 27 years to get another fully covered station roof

When I used to work at CGA at Grizzly, I'd hear guests saying they wouldn't ride it cause it shakes too much and that it's going to break after seeing the train pass through the turnaround closest to the station. Also not coaster related but many guests would ask about the underground facility underneath the park (obviously from the movie Beverly Hills Cop III) I would just look at them and say REALLY?!

^^^Thanks so much to CoasterGiant for the awesome shots, after an epic day at the park tour it was a nice treat to come home to see!

That thing is so awesome! I didn't even realize it was flying above us!

Had a great time with the gang and a huge thank you to CGA for holding a great event for us coaster geeks! During the presentation portion before the tour, I couldn't help but feel excited and thrilled to hear of all the changes and how CF is 100% committed and are now fully invested in the park, now that all of the hurdles and uncertainty are out of the way, and are determined to bring back the park's charm lost along the years. The attention they are giving to the minor details makes a huge difference, such as new roofing on buildings, new paint jobs, beefing up operations with more staffing/management with a commitment to customer service, more new entertainment and show options to finally adding themed music to match the themed areas (no more in the words of Clayton from CGA, music that's like plugged into and ipod playing only "Mambo #5" and "Single Ladies" in a loop all over the park). It is great to know that they are here to listen and are encouraged and open to all feedback to make this park better for us, the guests, and that "yes they do read those yelp reviews", is a great thing to hear. The future is bright! But enough of the words, here's a big buttload of pics! First ride of the day, the new elevator to kill time before they open the lot up! It ain't Tower of Terror but it smells so good and new! One of the first things you'll see, the parking lot is getting a big makeover, will have brand new lighting and a brand new configuration, will be easier to navigate... CGA's forever changed skyline, it's Golden.... Wider shot of work on the parking lot But we're here for the main event, GOLD STRIKER! Star Tower & Gold Striker harmonizing as one.. Columbia in it's new Golden paint & blue spire, the gold paint really shines, pics don't do it justice.. Closer look at the newly painted top portion.. Just as beautiful as ever, and a great way to enter the new CGA, the rebirth Snoopy came to greet us! We <3 Snoopy! Partial group photo Star Tower entrance/ and soon to be Gold Striker viewing area inside.. Station in the background, and soon to be exit/on ride photo area in the middle with a Leather shop to the left, well get a whole new look... Getting ready for the presentation in the Great America Theater Got nice giant Gingerbread Men Cookies to boot to snack on, promoting Coasting For Kids! Goldy's entrance signage! New Subway, Yay! SpongeBob has finally left the building, double yay! Clayton Lawrence, Entertainment Manager discussing the 3 new shows.... 3 New haunt mazes and a new building! It is indeed! Food Festival new paint.... Barney's new paint... Psycho Mouse new roofing and soon to be newly painted Mouse ears! Really big ears.... Centrifuge's new paint and platform.. Outback Shack's new green paint job... Action theater's new paint... Hasta La Vista, SpongeBob... Adios River Adventure, my childhood memories live on...... Pizza Orleans new paint.. Girl Space new paint... Dragon's Lair new paint... Sweet Tooth new paint... Gold Striker looking striking.......... Goldy forever changing the landscape, hiding the office buildings finally making it a true theme park feel.. Backstage tour.. Banking curves.. The gang listening intently... Starting the Goldy up close tour, with the soon to be entrance way.. Soon to be queue area.. more queue pics.... Entrance looking back, will be going under the structure twice while in the queue line Soon to be up close and personal views while waiting in line.. Ready to see the sheer terror coming out of the "mine shaft" tunnel really up close and personal... What you will see walking underneath in the queue line... Walking under Goldy..... Soon to be pathway for the entrance to IMAX... Part of the queue is a cutaway through the old Carousel Souvenirs shop Looking back at the passageway.. Awesome pic opportunities galore... Robman pretending to be a miner at work Looking at the station.. More sexy station pics... Coming around from the transfer/brake run Closer view of the soon to be exit & leather shop..... Shot of the lift from Xtreme And to end the day with a surprise special ride on Xtreme Skyflyer! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Thanks again to the wonderful team at CGA! See you again on opening day March 29!

Awesome! Just one more bent to go, I too can't wait till next month to see it!

The trolley and track were still physically there until 2001, when they did the major redo of the area where they leveled the old train station and removed and paved over the trolley tracks, though they stopped operating it I believe around the 98-99 season. I remember having passdowns with the crew on the trolley my first year working there back stage in 2000 where the trolleys sat before they moved them permanently, I definitely miss it.

Was around 2000, after Stealth was put in and the train was removed. When DCA announced their street cars I was thinking how it would be nice if they brought back the trolleys, definitely added charm. Backstage you can still see remnants of the track...

Oh that's what that is, I thought it was a big crane...

*rubbing eyes* Am I really seeing what I'm seeing?!

Kudos to CP for hauling butt on construction! Can't wait to see this in action, regardless if they're yellow, gold, copper or whatever colored trains....

Liking the new color scheme at the top and the subtle color changes they made. Nice to finally see it fully painted, including the whole roof and the top spire. Can't believe March is almost here already!

FD & Stadium harmonizing as one.. WIth all the new paint this season, I have a pretty good feeling more coaster paint will be put on for next season, hopefully. Also noticed the Kidzville River Adventure gone from the map as well, had a lot of fun memories playing with those boats when I was a kid 20+ years ago...

Sounds like a good plan to me, it would be nice to see them reuse the stadium even if it's a second dolphin show, definitely helps alleviate the crowds.

They removed it from the map a long time ago.

Great to see the final bent on the drop completed! The station is already well on it's way up and the transfer/brake run should all be up in no time as they're already getting the bents made for those. Also glad to see the map stay the way it is for now, also curious to see the path leading to the Pictorium as well, at least it still lives on in the maps.. Wow when did they change it? I'm guessing the same year as the Flight Deck/Drop Tower name changes? I think that was the last year I went to the park. It got repainted in 2003 when Paramount Parks changed their logo with the "big to little swooping stars" effect, which was also painted on the bottom of the cabin: Star Tower Cabin PGA Logo 2003-2006

If they do repaint it, I was hoping they'd copy Carowinds' & Knott's Sky Tower with the American Flag theme. It obviously would fit in, hence the park is called "California's GREAT AMERICA". I know CF repainted Carowinds' Sky Tower right after they took over. I was thinking they were gonna do the same with CGA's since at the time they were getting rid of all the Paramount Theming, we'll see...

What a difference a week makes huh? On that last pic by GCI, nice to see our resident Elephant still there, big behind and all..