Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[6flagzgreatmuricafan]

I can't wait for the new 165 ft wooden coaster next season!!!! It's supposed to be the fastest in the world!!!

[RandallDuell]

Steven has done a great job with that website....jealous he has several Sky Whirl cages in his possesion!

 

This has always been one of my faves (from the "real" Great America days):

[TunaSled]

I really wish I was around for the original great america, I fell that I would have enjoyed it more in its original state than what six flags has made it into.

For quaintness and charm, yes. But if you love coasters, 6F is the best thing to happen to GAm so far. They've put more into it than any other ownership (while simultaneously quashing the charm)

[tororific]

I really wish I was around for the original great america, I fell that I would have enjoyed it more in its original state than what six flags has made it into.

 

It was very pretty park and actually tried to keep to its themes. Obviously, things are clouded by nostalgia.

[GayCoasterGuy]

I really wish I was around for the original great america, I fell that I would have enjoyed it more in its original state than what six flags has made it into.

 

While many things were "nicer," remember that there were only 3 coasters (or 2 or 4/5, depending on the year you're thinking). I remember Tidal Wave and Demon having 45 to hour waits on the weekends, and Whizzer was always under 30 minutes (even with a full queue). The efficiencies now are probably 1/2 of what they were in 1980 (or even less, in Whizzer's case; compare 2,200pph compared to whatever they do now), BUT there were less rides.

 

Now that I'm thinking of it, Demon and Whizzer probably have longer waits on busy weekends now... but at least you have more to chose from these days

[EricGarbo]

I really need to chime in on this subject. Yes, the theme park has been lacking with theming updates and is getting ad-wrapped to all heck, but look at the water park. Beautiful theming (Real fricking palm trees in northern Illinois!), fantastic new and fresh rides, gorgeous buildings that give it a boardwalk feel. I mean, holy cow the water park is one of the best themed parks I've been to at a Six Flags park. You can clearly tell the direction that they're starting to go in and I like it.

 

Remember how Shockwave was a parking lot coaster? Have you seen the trees they planted that are starting to get pretty tall around Superman? I imagine that the area for Superman when it was built looked like how the area for The Whizzer did when it was built, and look at it now.

 

Despite all of the Six Flags sabotage the Gurnee park has retained much of its old charm and is continuing to develop it for the better.

[GayCoasterGuy]

Remember how Shockwave was a parking lot coaster?

 

Yup, and a damn fine one at that! If I knew what would take it's place, I would have given it more attention that last year. Shockwave was awesome - after you learned how to ride it, of course. Under the seat pads, you could make a lot of money! (no, I wouldn't steal from the park now, as an adult). I assume everyone knows the hills under Superman's lift are the old footers buried over?

 

Despite all of the Six Flags sabotage the Gurnee park has retained much of its old charm and is continuing to develop it for the better.

 

My main gripes are over operation and stupid-long entrance and exit queues. But with all the complaints, I still love my home park and think it's one of (if not) the best in the chain.

[EricGarbo]

My main gripes are over operation and stupid-long entrance and exit queues. But with all the complaints, I still love my home park and think it's one of (if not) the best in the chain.

 

Unless you cut the line short on the park side of the bridge the American Eagle has one of the dumbest queues on any ride. Isn't it crazy that a queue for a Batman: The Ride is the one of the shortest in the park?

[Airtime&Gravity]

^I've seen Eagle's line get up to the switchbacks at the entrance, and again by Dare Devil Dive, so yes, it does need to be as long as it is.

 

My issues with the park is the lack of shade apart from the bridges and the go-karts located in Yukon Territory.

 

I can't wait to hear the specs on this new coaster, while it looks to have a short but compact layout, given what we've seen from RMC, this should be a great coaster.

[EricGarbo]

^I've seen Eagle's line get up to the switchbacks at the entrance, and again by Dare Devil Dive, so yes, it does need to be as long as it

 

I've seen that, too, but that's usually when it's an unusually busy day and there's only one side running.

[GayCoasterGuy]

Isn't it crazy that a queue for a Batman: The Ride is the one of the shortest in the park?

 

You haven't lived until you've pushed a person in a wheel chair up that exit ramp. Or Eagle's. Or Raging Bulls. Or Vipers. True hell. Pushing a wheel chair up an inclined ramp for 1/3 of a mile is bad, but trying to accommodate exiting hordes of riders and then waiting at the small/congested exits to those stations... my gosh. The person who designed those exit ways should have a full time job of assisting wheel chair patrons all summer long. With overtime.

 

Cedar Point did their exits right. I'll give em that Even Indiana Beach and Hersheypark have dedicated elevators.

[TunaSled]

Despite all of the Six Flags sabotage the Gurnee park has retained much of its old charm and is continuing to develop it for the better.

There are carnival games hiding most of the "old charm". I forget where Rue le Dodge is at this point! Three point challenges and ladder climbs are worse than ad wraps and flatscreen monitors in my opinion.

[EricGarbo]

Despite all of the Six Flags sabotage the Gurnee park has retained much of its old charm and is continuing to develop it for the better.

There are carnival games hiding most of the "old charm". I forget where Rue le Dodge is at this point! Three point challenges and ladder climbs are worse than ad wraps and flatscreen monitors in my opinion.

 

I try very hard to forget about the existence of three point challenges, ladder climbs, and guess your weight/age games. They're so temporary in their design that I hope they disappear and never leave a permanent mark on the park. I 'love' seeing rides with understaffed operations when there's a thousand people standing around the park on dead days operating this stupid games.

[Olsor]

While many things were "nicer," remember that there were only 3 coasters (or 2 or 4/5, depending on the year you're thinking). I remember Tidal Wave and Demon having 45 to hour waits on the weekends, and Whizzer was always under 30 minutes (even with a full queue). The efficiencies now are probably 1/2 of what they were in 1980 (or even less, in Whizzer's case; compare 2,200pph compared to whatever they do now), BUT there were less rides.

 

Now that I'm thinking of it, Demon and Whizzer probably have longer waits on busy weekends now... but at least you have more to chose from these days

 

Very much THIS. I just took my nine-year-old nephew last week, and he could hardly tolerate any line longer than five minutes. I told him when I first went to the park in 1988, there were five roller coasters, and a half-hour line was considered short.

 

the American Eagle has one of the dumbest queues on any ride

 

This bears repeating.

 

Isn't it crazy that a queue for a Batman: The Ride is the one of the shortest in the park?

 

And I remember when it opened and the line started in Orleans Place behind Cajun Cliffhanger... and was 2 1/2 hours long. I also remember Shockwave's line extending out into the midway and under the train bridge.

[EricGarbo]

I was watching this video on Wimp. Notice anything funny about the intro?

 

http://www.wimp.com/vacuumexperiment/

[willthegolfer]

I was watching this video on Wimp. Notice anything funny about the intro?

 

http://www.wimp.com/vacuumexperiment/

 

We're getting a science lab?

[LoopScreweD]

The exact same smashing rock with a logo as follow the journey.

[CMV]

The Eagle's old queue in the circus tent (one of the odd features of the park I'm glad they kept around) was pretty ridiculous back in the day, at least until the mid to late 80's. A constantly shuffling mass of humanity where one couldn't really even see the coaster you were waiting for.

 

Z-Force used to have people spilling out on to the midway, and a lot of rubberneckers would just stop and stare at the structure (which to me, always looked cooler at night). If I had to pick one queue I really miss, it would have to be the Tidal Wave, with the sand, beach grass, and weathered rope and post accents. Now THAT was theming just for theming's sake.

 

Anyone who hasn't checked out Steven's site is missing some incredible stuff.

[GayCoasterGuy]

The Eagle's old queue in the circus tent (one of the odd features of the park I'm glad they kept around) was pretty ridiculous back in the day, at least until the mid to late 80's. A constantly shuffling mass of humanity where one couldn't really even see the coaster you were waiting for.

 

I remember never stopping... you kept walking and walking. Ahhh... 6 train ops with rare stacks. I think that ended around 85 or 86?

[PocketCookie]

Well Ragin' Cajun is leaving the park. (unless SFA is just getting a copy)

[Barge84]

If I had to pick one queue I really miss, it would have to be the Tidal Wave, with the sand, beach grass, and weathered rope and post accents. Now THAT was theming just for theming's sake.

 

I hadn't thought about that queue in a long time. I was pretty young, but I remember thinking it had the coolest theming in the park.

[thedirtyspaniard]

Well Ragin' Cajun is leaving the park. (unless SFA is just getting a copy)

 

Source?

[ArizonaGuy]

Well Ragin' Cajun is leaving the park. (unless SFA is just getting a copy)

 

Source?

 

Pictures posted

Six Flags America thread

[EricGarbo]

So I asked off of work and got approved for Thursday morning. I will be at the groundbreaking ceremony and will take lots of photographs and be sure to write down the best parts of Hank's speech. I will report back to this thread on TPR. Will anyone else from TPR be there in two days? It would be great to get together at the event and talk about/record what is going on. Unfortunately I will not be streaming the event for everyone at home. If anyone (Perhaps the guy who streamed the Village Board Meeting?) plans on streaming the event it would be great if we could link it here.

[Vonni]

Perhaps 2015 will be SFGAm year for Skyscreamer, and it will go where Ragin Cajun is? Or possibly an Aqua Twist?