Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[yay101]

Far more likely (at least IMO) would be one or more of the following: another waterpark expansion/Six Flags' take on the dinosaur stuff CF is cramming into all of their parks/some show or musical/a Star Flyer just because there isn't one already/some more mouse coasters.

 

:shrugs:

If it was a StarFlyer, wouldn't the video have shown the sky and not rocks/ground? The Six Flags take on Dinosaurs Alive! would fit perfectly, I didn't even think of that, although I really hope it doesn't happen and that it's an actual ride, since personally I do not like Dinosaur educational exhibits in theme parks, and I'm still wondering why the heck Cedar Fair parks built Dinosaurs Alive stuff in most of their parks. But that's just my opinion. Maybe a dinosaur-themed roller coaster, water ride, or dark ride?

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Far more likely (at least IMO) would be one or more of the following: another waterpark expansion/Six Flags' take on the dinosaur stuff CF is cramming into all of their parks/some show or musical/a Star Flyer just because there isn't one already/some more mouse coasters.

 

:shrugs:

If it was a StarFlyer, wouldn't the video have shown the sky and not rocks/ground? The Six Flags take on Dinosaurs Alive! would fit perfectly, I didn't even think of that, although I really hope it doesn't happen and that it's an actual ride, since personally I do not like Dinosaur educational exhibits in theme parks, and I'm still wondering why the heck Cedar Fair parks built Dinosaurs Alive stuff in most of their parks. But that's just my opinion. Maybe a dinosaur-themed roller coaster, water ride, or dark ride?

 

It's over 125 feet so that rules out any sort of dark ride.

[yay101]

^ Regarding dark rides, I stand corrected. And it completely rules out a show idea as well that someone else had. A roller coaster or a water slide seems more likely now.

[AndCamSS]

125' 1" tall animatronic dinosaur named Zed. Damn I blew the surprise lol

[LoneRider92]

Actually, the first impulse I had after the teaser was a Six Flags take on Dinosaurs Alive, but I wasn't sure if they would go down the same path as Cedar Fair (judging from the addition of Alive at several Cedar Fair parks, however, perhaps it's been working out pretty well). That's why the next logical step in my head was a dark ride.

 

I still would have a hard time believing a new coaster is landing at Great America that soon. If there is in fact one on the way, well then I'll be one surprised sonovagun. Now it's anyone's guess (unless they've gone and flat-out told everyone what it will be).

[yay101]

Another thought I have, maybe SFGAm's new ride would be a Star Flyer but without a SkyScreamer theme, which would be why the video showed rocks/ground and not sky. Maybe a Dinosaur come-to-life or a Sasquatch-themed Sky Screamer or another themed flat ride.

Edited August 2, 2013 by yay101

[ScottyDoesKnow]

125' 1" tall animatronic dinosaur named Zed. Damn I blew the surprise lol

 

Damnit! And I was hoping for a launched inverted 17 looping RMC wooden coaster!

[AndCamSS]

125' 1" tall animatronic dinosaur named Zed. Damn I blew the surprise lol

 

Damnit! And I was hoping for a launched inverted 17 looping RMC wooden coaster!

 

With a dinosaur shaped layout??

[LoneRider92]

I've heard of a dogbone layout, but a dinobone layout? You might be on to something there.

[ilrider]

Hearing signs have been posted. It's going to be over 125 feet. SWEET!!!

 

Yep, saw the Gurnee village zoning meeting sign at the back entrance when we went today!

[Sfgam_Bong66]

Just throwing this out there... CALLED IT!!!

So now let the speculation being ladies and gentlemen.

[sfgam#1]

I just can't see a sky screamer with the tagline "Follow the journey". I just can't...

[Ed Farmer]

I just can't see a sky screamer with the tagline "Follow the journey". I just can't...

 

Journey has a song that addresses a "wheel in the sky" that "keeps on turning", so...

[Vonni]

I think a coaster is a very probable candidate. Possibly a GCI in IW former plot, or like somebody else mentioned, another take on the Goliath coasters.

[yay101]

I just can't see a sky screamer with the tagline "Follow the journey". I just can't...

 

I think a coaster is a very probable candidate. Possibly a GCI in IW former plot, or like somebody else mentioned, another take on the Goliath coasters.

 

I actually could see a Sky Screamer themed to a "Follow the Journey" thing. However, I think a take on the Goliath coasters or a woodie (esp. because CGA just opened one, although I doubt they're trying to compete) is more likely. A woodie named Goliath perhaps?

 

It could also be a waterslide named Goliath or with that theme, except it would be pointless because they already have two giant drop slides that they just built. Then again, though, HW built 2 uphill waterslides in 2 years.

 

And about the Goliath thing, it seems alright with the rocks in the video, but I don't think "Goliath" and "Follow the Journey" have any connection, since Goliath = massive ride and not a journey.

[Ed Farmer]

a take on the Goliath coasters

 

Which Goliath coasters? The first 1/2 of Goliath's (SFMM) layout is a take on Raging Bull. SFOG's/La Ronde's are also both B&M hypercoasters, SFFT's is a mirrored Batman The Ride, & SFNE's is Deja Vu.

[Vonni]

I'm hoping for a wooden version of Goliath this time around

[ilrider]

Zoning hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23 according to the sign outside the park, just to put a date to it.

[RandallDuell]

How does the zoning hearing work? I mean, if they're asking some sort of Variance do they specify "publicly" exactly where they're looking to build?

 

Also, my silly dream is to have some sort of transportation system be devised that would Pay homage to the old skyride that didn't make it long enough to be a one way trip to (what is now) SW Territory. Or, at the least, a cut through path/bridge/tunnel that would give access to both sides of the park about where First Aid-Batman's loop or B Battle/Little Dipper would meet up.

 

Anyway, I know they'll market the hell out of whatever it is they're getting...but it does seem promising!

[deathbydinn]

^ Basically they just go to the Gurnee board and say what they want to build if it's over 125 feet tall. Residents then use it as a chance to complain but thankfully the city always sides with the park. Here's a video of the Chang meeting if you want a better idea of what it's like.

 

 

The downside of these meetings is that they are open to the public, so the park can't keep new additions a secret.

[Vonni]

Is SFGAm limited on undeveloped property, or do they have plenty of room to grow?

[Woodie Warrior]

Would an Intamin Accelerator Coaster fit into the park?

[yay101]

^ A small one, like Heide-Park's Desert Race or Rita, but I'm not sure if a 125 ft one would fit, although Superman in Australia may fit so it's possible.

[Sfgam_Bong66]

Is SFGAm limited on undeveloped property, or do they have plenty of room to grow?

SFGAm is mostly surrounded by land already devoloped on so that would be a no go, but on the far North side is some un-devoloped farm land but I think thats all private property. All the other sides of the park is either surrounded by development or boarder by the toll way, which would be impossible to bridge over. Now IF the park did get the farm land north of the park they would need to come up with some sort of expensive, very high capacity transportation system to go threw or under eagle and Washington street, so with that said its highly unlikely the park could expand. Hope I was of some help!

[Ed Farmer]

A lot of recent expansion has come at the cost of existing attractions. X-Flight took the place of Splashwater Falls and some antique cars, The Splash Battle took the place of Deja Vu, Superman took the place of Shockwave (IIRC it was set for Whizzer's lot, but a fairly significant maintenance problem on Shockwave coupled with declining popularity allowed them to axe the Arrow Megalooper instead), the mouse in a box was built where Theater Royale once stood, Rolling Thunder for Southwest Territory, and so on...

Whenever the topic of space issues comes up, Indiana Beach and other parks of the sort are usually quickly thrown into the discussion as proof that space issues are a myth; but getting creative and building things on top of other things (I'm not an engineer), additional material (supports, etc.), and difficulty of access during the actual construction surely add some challenge to the design and construction processes which manifests itself in the form of a higher price tag for the park.