GREATAMERICAparks.com

I've never been to the Gurnee park, however in brochures that I collected (now gone) I remember seeing a restaurant listed next to the American Eagle called Eagles Nest.

What kind of restaurant was it? Was it anything special or just the standard hamburber/hotdog outlet? Was it themed well?

Steve, What do you think of the removal of the Railroad? I actually like it better because it opened up the area behind Columbia. Visually it looks great. Any of you Gurnee people have thoughts about the current state of your park? I've always envied tha fact that you guys have American Eagle, Ragin...

The last time I went to Great America I was so disgusted that I have no need to return. It sounds like they may have cleaned some things up since then.. Those were my exact sentiments about the place in the early 90's. It has improved slightly since then, but I still found the employees to be indif...

Tanya,

Thanks for your contributions to this site/board. Great stuff!

When I look at the Yukon Territory photos here it pains me to think of how they painted over most of these buildings with quick cheap make overs.

JW65, Great observation. I love your enthusiam for this board. I'm 45 years old and still go to theme and amusement parks a few times a year. I less live than an hour's drive from PGA, but still prefer to go to Southern California because the parks there are better IMHO. I make it to Disneyland twic...

Yes, the Pictorium is still there, but it's an empty, unused shell. It was taken out of service a few years ago. I understand that the screen and the IMAX equipment have all been removed. Regarding Hometown, the Fire Station is still there! Steven I think I need to go to PGA again. I haven't been t...

I was able to get in and view the photos. It works intermittently though. First time I tried it wouldn't work and now it doesn't work again.

These are great Tanya. I forgot about Kid Kingdom. On the Castle Rapids Boat I remember we used to get a miniature boat and take it to the top near the castle, release it and watch it float down the little river. It usually got stuck. One of the parks simple pleasures from the early days. Wasn't &qu...

That's great! I used to have that clipping. It got so old I tossed it out. It's good to see it again. Thanks for posting that Tanya.

Oops I forgot. The Sky Tower and Pictorium are still there. Hometown Square had the train station and hill removed. it's now a wide open plaza from the Columbia to the Paramount Theater which used to be Grand Music Hall. Whizzer, Triple Play and Bottoms Up and the Fire Station are gone. In Yankee Ha...

What attractions and concessions from the "Marriott era" are still operating at the parks? I think in Santa Clara it's: Columbia Carousel Rue Le Dodge Delta Flyer/Eagles Flight Orbit (Orleans Orbit-Name Change) Centrifuge (Fliddler's Fling-Name Change) Logger's Run (altered experience with...

JW65 wrote:I've also heard that because Six Flags already owned Magic Mountain in Los Angeles, they didn't want to purchase the "nearby" Great America in Santa Clara.

How ironic since they (Six Flags Marine World) are now in the same metroplitan area (bay area) as Great America.

Why did Marriott sell off the parks and which park was sold first?

It sounds like Six Flags was interested in Gurnee, but not Santa Clara. Was Gurnee more successful than Santa Clara?

Does anyone know the story behind this?

I remember the fireworks and the Tidal Wave lighting. Didn't Willard's Whizzer have head and tail lights on the coaster cars that were lit up at night?

Otherwise I think both the Turn of the Century and Willard's Whizzer were in the dark.

Does anybody remember that?

MGA Santa Clara had five major theaters: Grand Music Hall (AMC) Theatre Royale Wilderness Theater Grand Stand Pavilion IMAX Pictorium I was familiar with all of these except the Grand Stand Pavilion. Wasn't there a circus in this out-door theater? I remember seeing ads for Circus Fantastic! and Colo...