Search found 131 matches
- Tue Jun 28, 2022 9:50 am
- Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
- Topic: Well, there goes my childhood
- Replies: 1
- Views: 50220
Re: Well, there goes my childhood
This is very, very sad news and was a bad way to start my day. I was just at the park a week ago (only my second visit) thinking how valuable the land must be. Then this news drops today. While SC and Gurnee have evolved in very different ways over the years, they've always been there together. Not ...
- Tue May 01, 2018 10:36 pm
- Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
- Topic: Gurmee Pictorium
- Replies: 1
- Views: 17797
Gurmee Pictorium
Not much traffic here, but I felt the Gurnee Pictorium deserved a final farewell post. IMAX (the "real" IMAX) was a big deal back in the day and the Pictorium was an amazing visual experience. Walking in and seeing that massive, 6 story screen (made of one continuous piece of material :) )...
- Fri Nov 14, 2014 5:32 pm
- Forum: Rides
- Topic: Gurnee top 5 of all time
- Replies: 19
- Views: 64581
Re: Gurnee top 5 of all time
Hmmm ... for me this would have to be:
1. Shockwave
2. American Eagle
3. Raging Bull
4. Demon
5. Tidal Wave
I still miss Shockwave. If Arrow had only discovered the optimized track layout used on Viper at SFMM sooner, all of the 7-looper triplets might still be around.
1. Shockwave
2. American Eagle
3. Raging Bull
4. Demon
5. Tidal Wave
I still miss Shockwave. If Arrow had only discovered the optimized track layout used on Viper at SFMM sooner, all of the 7-looper triplets might still be around.
- Mon Sep 16, 2013 8:42 pm
- Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
- Topic: Heading Back to Gurnee
- Replies: 4
- Views: 25254
Re: Heading Back to Gurnee
Yep - we were there on Saturday the 7th. Small world! Orbit was definitely down that day and Sky Trek was running in the morning, but not in the late afternoon. I should have gotten in a ride earlier but my daughter was anxious to get on all of the coasters at least once. Given the light crowds, goi...
- Sat Sep 14, 2013 10:16 pm
- Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
- Topic: Heading Back to Gurnee
- Replies: 4
- Views: 25254
Re: Heading Back to Gurnee
My trip back to Gurnee was awesome. Really awesome. I wasn't sure what to expect, but after all was said and done - I was pretty happy. As you said impala101, things were different, but overall I thought the park has "aged" gracefully and has kept up nicely with the times while not complet...
- Fri Sep 13, 2013 5:34 pm
- Forum: the GREAT AMERICA parks today
- Topic: New Roller Coaster for Gurnee
- Replies: 11
- Views: 52343
Re: New Roller Coaster for Gurnee
Goliath looks like a great addition to the park.
- Tue Sep 03, 2013 8:39 pm
- Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
- Topic: Heading Back to Gurnee
- Replies: 4
- Views: 25254
Heading Back to Gurnee
This weekend I'll be making a return trip to Great America in Gurnee for the first time in about 18 years. I've watched the park evolve through pictures and the Internet during that time and it'll be interesting to actually set foot there after such a long away period. The last time I was at the par...
- Sat Jul 13, 2013 5:11 pm
- Forum: Rides
- Topic: So Long Tidal Waves
- Replies: 1
- Views: 20195
So Long Tidal Waves
Kentucky Kingdom is scrapping Greazed Lightnin', which is a combination of both MGA Tidal Waves. The ride was originally the Gurnee Tidal Wave and after the 2005 season had track replaced using the Santa Clara Tidal Wave. From what I've read, the ride was in pretty bad shape and the weight-drop laun...
- Sun Jun 02, 2013 3:11 pm
- Forum: the GREAT AMERICA parks today
- Topic: (Six Flags) Great America Welcomes 100 Millionth Guest
- Replies: 2
- Views: 23783
Re: (Six Flags) Great America Welcomes 100 Millionth Guest
What a stunning show of apathy on the part of the park. Free food, a flash pass for the day and free admission? OMG - how special! In another 37 years when the 200 millionth guest arrives I'll bet they really go all out and throw in a free t-shirt too. Sorry to sound so sarcastic, but seriously, thi...
- Sun May 26, 2013 6:43 am
- Forum: the GREAT AMERICA parks today
- Topic: Backwards Batman
- Replies: 2
- Views: 21207
Re: Backwards Batman
They seem think the whole 'backwards' thing is some kind of big deal. It was kind of interesting and unique when they did it with the Eagle how many years ago, but now it appears they're going to keep expanding it to other rides as if it's some kind of big deal. Honestly, I have zero interest in rid...
- Sun May 26, 2013 6:35 am
- Forum: the GREAT AMERICA parks today
- Topic: Good Bye Home Town Square
- Replies: 11
- Views: 48459
Re: Good Bye Home Town Square
I've been watching this whole igNite thing (or whatever they're calling it) unfold though pictures online. I can't believe they're tearing up Hometown Square like that and turning it in to a concrete jungle. Ugh. It'll be interesting to see how well this production does with the public. The park rea...
- Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:44 am
- Forum: the GREAT AMERICA parks today
- Topic: A Little More Marriott Era Gone from Gurnee
- Replies: 2
- Views: 21377
A Little More Marriott Era Gone from Gurnee
Gurnee tore out the original Marriott ticket booths during the off season. Sorry to cross-link to another site Steven, but I felt this one was relevant. Scroll to the bottom of the first page: http://sfgamworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13797 Or just click here to get right to the point ... ...
- Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:17 pm
- Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
- Topic: Gurnee Park Pics on eBay
- Replies: 0
- Views: 57229
Gurnee Park Pics on eBay
Was bored tonight and did some random searches on eBay. There are several black and white pictures up for auction from the Chicago Tribune archives. Not sure if this link will work or not, but here goes: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=ct+photo+great+america&_sac...
- Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:04 pm
- Forum: Rides
- Topic: What's Better, TOTC or The Demon?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 70951
Re: What's Better, TOTC or The Demon?
Man -- tough call. You have to think about and put this ride in historical context. TOTC was great for the air time and the corkscrews were "the" inversion when the ride was originally built. TOTC was basically a "super" Arrow corkscrew. When the Demon opened in '80, the addition...
- Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:12 pm
- Forum: Rides
- Topic: X-Flight coaster coming in 2012
- Replies: 9
- Views: 39065
Re: X-Flight coaster coming in 2012
I have to admit -- I was pretty happy to hear about X-Flight coming to the park. While B&M is building another wing rider at Dollywood, Great America getting one of the first of this new kind of coaster really gave me a moment of nostalgia. It's great to see the park setting the trend for new co...