GREATAMERICAparks.com

My favorite food memory was having the chicken and apple dumpling, particularly the latter, at Maggie Brown's Boarding House. The Hot Shoppe was great, too. The root beers were served in frosted glass mugs, and the first year, they were only a nickel each! And there was a certain efficiency to the o...

I prefer the Loggers Run. The wavy shape of the drop is more enjoyable, and the splash is bigger, which is good in hot weather. I'll give points to the Clipper, though, for the jump at the bottom of its drop.

I just saw the post that mentioned the Edge, and yes, that was a good one too. If you ever get to Six Flags over Texas, they still have theirs, called the Wildcatter.

I miss the Tidal Wave most of all, but also the sky rides - Eagle/Delta and Southern Cross. I miss the appearance of the Sky Whirl, but honestly I don't miss riding it much. I think I only rode it once, and it was o.k., but as far as ride time went, it really only needed to be a double wheel like th...

Glorfindel7,

Re: the jingle, what did you think they were saying?

After my 1976 visit to the Gurnee MGA, I wrote to the park about my experience. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I know it included a complaint about the ToC being down or having a slow line, as well as my joy after I finally did get to ride it, because the park official commented on that a...

Steven, your answer cracked me up! It also reminded me of Frank Mathie's Channel 7 (Chicago) news story on the new park. He gave us a little tour, and then we saw him on the ride that he said most matched his speed: The Buzzy Bee Ride.

When I posted, why did it say "Buzzy Bee" under my user name? How do I change it?

I was 14 when Marriott's Great America in Gurnee opened. I'd become a coaster fan the previous year when my parents took me to Six Flags over Mid-America. But even better to have MGA just 50 miles from home. I’d read up about the place in various articles, and when I bought Gary Kyriazi’s book, The ...