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California Great America (CGA) Discussion Thread


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Does CGA have an option to compete or not? It's close proximity means that those who have the means to go to either will make a choice, which would put them in competition. You're right though, CGA would need CF to give it some capital investment for it to survive. Right now I think in ten years it'll probably just be a parking lot for the 49ers.

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Yeah...not gonna lie, it's really not the greatest park. SFDK is much better. I've never seen CP or KI, but I don't think CGA live's up to the standards of those parks. CGA has Top Gun (Flight Deck? Please....) That's about it. They foolishly dumped Stealth, and their latest coaster addition was 2003, Psycho Mouse. Wild Mouse? Really? lol, I just don't see much of a future for this park, especially if SFDK adds another big coaster.

 

Psycho Mouse was 2001..... I've been to CP and in no way does CGA match up with the ride standards of the roller coaster capital of the world. I'm sure there are only a couple in the world that might give CP a run for its money.

 

As for competition, even though they are both in the Bay Area/Nor Cal area, they do cater to very different crowds. SFDK gets a lot of visitors from San Francisco and CGA gets the San Jose visitors. Did you know that San Jose has a larger population than San Francisco? They both cater to big cities and there is definitely room for both parks in the market. Some people go to both, but I highly doubt that SFDK brings in a huge portion of its attendance from the San Jose area.

 

No longer does the park have a "gang park" atmosphere. I remember going once a while back and there was a fight. Now, that reputation is almost completely gone. The "newer" family atmosphere has attracted a much larger amount of families over the past couple years, which is really good for the park.

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Um yeah, I'm going to have to crap all over that article about the "approval" for the coaster to be built. Yes, the height variance issue appears to have moved forward, but they did not mention how they would deal with the noise issues. Honestly, the height issue seemed almost a trivial setback compared to the noise issue that Prudential bitched about. Once the city can get Prudential to STFU, then it's safe to say this coaster will become a reality (unless Cedar Fair turns this park into a parking lot - which after my visit there last summer, would be an improvement!).

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  • 3 weeks later...

So far, it appears as though the overflow parking will be replaced by shared spaces in a to-be-built parking garage.

 

It seems to me that the city decided to get the deal with the 49ers worked out first, then deal with Cedar Fair... because getting all 3 to agree was not working.

 

Now (afaik) they will continue to meet with Cedar Fair and try to address their concerns.

 

 

Does anyone know exactly what those concerns are? I understand the issues with game days, but how many of those are there during Great America's season? Not many, right?

 

I guess bigger problems will occur if they use the stadium for concerts or anything else.

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Um yeah, I'm going to have to crap all over that article about the "approval" for the coaster to be built. Yes, the height variance issue appears to have moved forward, but they did not mention how they would deal with the noise issues.

 

Last I had read, the noise issue is just about "solved", too... the noise level will be measured at Prudential once it is built, and Cedar Fair seemed to believe that they could easily meet the requirement. Of course, there were still some issues about who would do the measurement, and what the weather conditions had to be like on the day of measurement, etc... hopefully they can work that out while they BUILD...

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^So what does this mean for the park. Are they going to share parking, or will the park be bought out?

 

I honestly have no idea. I'm simply sitting back and watching it all unfold. I believe there was some past mention of the park seeking compensation for days when its operations would be limited, or precluded, due to events at the future stadium, but I have no direct link to such statements.

 

While I don't want the park to fail, I don't find myself feeling very passionate about it one way or the other. I would consider Gilroy Gardens a greater loss than CGA should either of the parks cease to exist.

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  • 1 month later...

Looks like the Nickelodeon and Hanna Barbera characters/merchandise/rides will be changed to the Peanuts for next year. There are signs outside of the stores selling Nickelodeon merchandise that selected items are 75% off. And all Hanna Barbera merchandise is 50% off at the store next to Delirium. Sad because kids these days don't know who Snoopy is. I would love to see the full return of the HB characters though.

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I just got back from CGA today and noticed all Scooby gear was also marked 75% off. True, kids these days wont know peanuts, but for me I'll be glad to see them as it was something from my childhood.

 

On another side note while boarding the Sky Tower I spotted something: Wood panels marked CB ## (insert whatever number there). So with this said, Club Blood looks like it's already erected.

 

EDIT:

I guess CB has been up since last Haunt, and withstood the winter weather. In one of my shots, you can see that a portion of it was covered. The entry area to CB still has it's red lighting still up from last year too.

 

Lastly, major kudos to CGA's lifeguards, watched a quick rescue in the wave pool. Not sure what happened, going to say that the guy couldn't tread water and was right at the 6-foot area and seconds later, a lifeguard jumps in to his rescue and just after that, the guy swims across the deep end to the step ladder (which leaves me puzzled and assume he couldn't tread water). So kudos to a quick response. That place was packed too!

cb_4.jpg.b3ba13f00a2434839b539e1fb7a0b6a3.jpg

Overviewage of the entry area.

cb_3.jpg.2e1683ef723f7d5fd741dbce874d9e86.jpg

I tried to zoom in to see the details down there, it looks like the *SPOILER* beginning back alley you go through prior to entering the club

cb_2.jpg.a1edde1d4251fc7f3251a01f2d381eca.jpg

Wall panels are up for the outside portion of Club Blood (This was taken from a normal spot, no trespassing was done)

cb_1.jpg.2ef3406dbb2f666fe1fce03589f70645.jpg

Hmm...this looks interesting.

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^^^Demon needs to go? Are you kidding me? Its like a classic!

 

What really needs to go is Vortex and/or Grizzly and add a launch coaster in or around those spots.

 

I can definitely see a coaster similar to Maverick in Grizzly's spot.

 

Indeed Grizz has gotta go. It's so unpopular and I'm not surprized. A launch coaster is definately what they need. They removed their last launch coaster, the Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop. And it better not be another clone of "Backlot Stunt Coaster (formerly Italian Job).

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Yeah, people definitely still ride it! I wonder if it's the whole fear of inversions thing. I know when I was still scared of coasters, I'd always go to the wooden coaster first when visiting a park.

However, that is the one adult-sized coaster I've ridden that I would advocate getting rid of and replacing. It just doesn't do what a wooden coaster should. Imagine the possibilities.

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Roar is at least 10 times better, and Grizzly is my least favorite wooden coaster by far, but you know what surprised me? There are 2 or 3 moments of very mild air in the back seat...maybe not even true airtime, but close to it. I was expecting there to be nothing whatsoever, so I was pleasantly surprised. It's still completely forgettable though.

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I went on Friday (7.24.09) and today (7.29.09), and both times Flight Deck/Top Gun was closed. Also today Vortex was listed as a ride closed on the sign outside the park, though it opened around 11-11:30.

 

Does the show in the theater below have any effect on Top Gun/Flight Deck's operation?

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The only time I've heard of a B&M having significant downtime recently was when Raptor broke its lift chain last year or the year before. When that happened, though, Raptor was down for only a week or so before they got it fixed. Could this have happened to FD?

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I was there on 7/26 and saw the service cart up on the lift. There were 4-5 guys up there working, starting at the top and making there way down. It seemed like one would hammer at something for a while and then a couple of them would give the track a belly rub--sort of a sanding motion, but maybe applying grease?

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