GREATAMERICAparks.com

Here is a skyhawk photo

Here is an old photo showing the exterior of the Hot Shoppe.

The big 1927 Davenport 2-4-4T from Karl Auhl (which was originally #55, an 0-4-2T from N&S Coal in Pittsburg, Kansas) was delivered to Great America (Gurnee) sometime later in 1978 or possibly as late as 1980. It was placed on the coach track behind the enginehouse (see “Ward Kimball” picture i...

Correct, 1984 may have been the last year for it. It is on the 1984 park map. I am quite sure that it was gone by 1985 when Zforce arrived.

Nice research Tanya, Thanks.

I found out that the Gurnee Ameri-go-round is older than I had originally thought. It is a Dentzel - 3 Row Menagerie Carousel. Originally built in 1910 and operated at Fontaine Ferry Park (Louisville, KY). I still do not know where it's present location is.

During the 8 years while I was employed the park, they was yearly talk about possibly building a southwest area. Also, there was talk about building another wooden roller coaster, something similar to the cyclone at coney island. While both ideas seemed far fetched at the time, both became a reality.

. To the left of the Trudy's bay window and to the right of the large grid window near the "EAT" sign is a single door that is always closed. I couldn't find the 5-cent rootbeer sign, though. Is this the storefront you're talking about? If you stand just to the right of it and look inside...

. To the left of the Trudy's bay window and to the right of the large grid window near the "EAT" sign is a single door that is always closed. I couldn't find the 5-cent rootbeer sign, though. Is this the storefront you're talking about? If you stand just to the right of it and look inside...

Thanks Brian, I had forgotten about the moving of the train station. I do recall it now that you mention it. I remember when when I first saw it in its new location, it was quite noticable. Maybe this is what squeezed out the ferris wheel. The ferris wheel could also have been taken out when Eagles ...

I just posted 4 hometown photos (gurnee) taken in 2004. http://www.pbase.com/redfishpaw/sfga2004 (see bottom of page) It looks like the former Hometown Grill is now a funnel cake shop. The root beer store might be part of the sweet shop, hard to tell from the photos. I thought that I walked in the (...

Who remembers the ferris wheel at the Gurnee Park? It stood between Eagles Flight and the train station. I do not believe that is was an original ride and I'm not sure when it was removed, also I am not sure if SC had one. I was reminded of it today when looking at a 1984 Gurnee map. I did ride it o...

Very nice watch. I sold a Great America mug once on ebay and I was surprised at how poorly it did.

Redfishpaw, That article about zforce is cool, but why, oh why did you staple it over something to do with Tidal WAVE?? On the right side, about 1/2 way down, you can see one of the waves. I would like to see what's under the ZForce Article myself! :) The Z force article was found stapled to the in...

Nice picture, I believe that later on, the gazebo at gurnee was open on all sides.