Category: history

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Marriott’s Great America opened for the first time 50 years ago today

Bill Marriott speaks at the opening ceremony of Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara, California on March 20, 1976.

On March 20, 1976 in Santa Clara, California the first of two Marriott’s GREAT AMERICA theme parks opened for the first time. To mark this major milestone, California’s Great America will hold a 50th Anniversary ceremony for the opening of the 2026 season on March 28, 2026. Gates open at 9:30 AM. The ceremony will take place shortly before 10:00 AM at approximately 9:50. At 10:00 AM the park’s 2026, 50th Anniversary season officially begins.

Opening Marriott’s Great America

In the photo above, Bill Marriott addresses the crowds at the opening ceremony for Marriott’s Great America in Santa Clara, California on March 20, 1976.

In the front row of seats, left to right, are:

  • Truman Woodworth, General Manager of Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara
  • Santa Clara Mayor Gary Gillmor
  • Mrs. Gillmor (partially visible)
  • US Senator John Warner of Virginia
  • Pamela Lundquist of Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara

In the second row of seats, to the left of Bill Marriott, partially visible is David Brown and to the right of Mr. Marriott is Michael Hostage. Brown and Hostage were key Marriott employees charged with making the two new theme parks happen. Senator Warner had come from Washington, DC to honor Marriott’s Great America for the United States Bicentennial and to present the park with the official US Bicentennial flag. Warner was the head of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. Pamela Lundquist served as Warner’s official park escort and assistant during the day.

Opening day at Marriott's Great America, Santa Clara, California, March 20, 1976: eager crowds are ready to enter the brand new park for the first time. The majestic Carousel Columbia stands in the background, ready to welcome its first visitors.
Opening day crowds are eager to enter the brand-new park for the first time. The majestic Carousel Columbia stands in the background, ready to welcome its first visitors. Click on image to view larger.
Marriott's Great America, Santa Clara, California's opening day: Following the opening ceremony, actors portraying historic figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin tour the brand-new theme park.
Following the opening ceremony, actors portraying historic figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin tour the brand-new theme park. Click on image to view larger.
Marriott's Great America employees on opening day, L to R: Bob Woodruff, John Poimiroo, and Art Larson.
Marriott’s Great America employees in the park on opening day. Left to right: Bob Woodruff, John Poimiroo, and Art Larson. Click on image to view larger.

In the photo above, Bob Woodruff of Marriott’s Great America human resources, Santa Clara, speaks with Marriott’s Great America public relations team members John Poimiroo, Santa Clara, and Art Larson, Gurnee. Many officials from the Gurnee, Illinois Marriott’s Great America park were on hand for the opening of the Santa Clara park. The Gurnee employees would benefit from what they learned here for the upcoming opening of the Gurnee park on May 29, 1976.

The Fun Country

Marriott's Great America's original freeway sign stands next to the US 101 freeway. This sign was soon replaced with a different one.
Sylvester proudly shows off the new Marriott’s Great America freeway sign standing alongside the US 101 freeway outside the park. This sign featured new technology for the display of imagery and messages. It also carried the Marriott’s Great America tagline of “The Fun Country”. The sign was soon, however, replaced with one that stood for decades.

At the beginning, some of the park’s marketing materials referred to Marriott’s Great America as “The Fun Country”. This did not stay around for too long, quickly disappearing from marketing references to the park. Even the first year’s commercials did not use the phrase verbatim but restated it as “the country of fun for everyone”.

This group of actors portrayed a family enjoying the new Marriott's Great America. They appeared in the 1976 opening year television commercials for both the California and Illinois parks.
Actors featured as a family in the 1976 Marriott’s Great America television commercials. Click on image to view larger.

The actors in the photo above, shown in Yankee Harbor, portrayed a family enjoying Marriott’s Great America in 1976 television commercials. The commercials were filmed in Santa Clara prior to the park’s opening. These four actors were taken through the entire park and photographed in a variety of settings, mostly focusing on the buildings and other features of the park rather than the rides. Thousands of photos of them were shot on 35mm film slides. Some of those photos ended up in the commercials such as the sequence of still photos that opens the commercial included below. At the end, note the not-yet-completed Carousel Columbia featured as the closing shot.

Video: The following video shows one of the 1976 commercials used to introduce Marriott’s Great America. Produced in Santa Clara, the commercials were also used for Gurnee. Click on the image below to play the video. Click on the full screen icon in the bottom right to view larger.

Saving Great America

Opening day in March 1976 was a joyous occasion, full of excitement, enthusiasm, and a bright future for the beautiful and thrilling new park. It was also a part of the excitement of the US Bicentennial celebration. Today’s anniversary date for the park’s fiftieth instead has potential dark clouds on the horizon. The park’s future is “uncertain”.

Great America was threatened with destruction in the early 1980s. Amazing, dedicated people stepped up and fought a long, tough, tough battle and succeeded in saving the park with the City of Santa Clara purchasing the park and its operations transferred from Marriott to Kings Entertainment in June 1985.

Their hard-fought victory has kept the park going from 1985 though to the present day. And the park’s future was supposed to be protected. Now it’s in question, with the land being sold out from under the park.

Today let’s give thanks and reflect on the fifty years the park has had and what it has meant to us and to millions of others. Then let’s turn our attention to another bright future for Great America.

We must find a way to SAVE GREAT AMERICA.

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Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor’s Statement on the Sale of California’s Great America

Santa Clara Mayor Gary G. and Mrs. Gillmor stand with J.W. "Bill" Marriott Jr. and a member of the park's Continental Militia during the opening ceremony of Marriott's Great America

In the photo above, Santa Clara Mayor Gary G. Gillmor and Mrs. Gillmor are with J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr. and a member of the park’s Continental Militia during the opening ceremony of Marriott’s Great America on March 20, 1976. Now in June of 2022 his daughter, Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, issued the following statement about Cedar Fair’s announcement.

The text of the mayor’s statement follows the video.

Text of Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor’s Statement

June 28, 2022

Hello Santa Clarans. I’m Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor.

I’m reaching out regarding [the Monday, June 27th] surprise announcement that Cedar Fair sold California’s Great America to Prologis, Inc. I want to clarify that the City found out yesterday when everyone else did. 

Following the announcement, I’ve received multiple interview requests and questions from the community to find out more. All we know at this point is what Cedar Fair released in their statement.

On the surface, it appears California’s Great America will not change in the short term. My hope and goal is to keep California’s Great America there as long as possible in the long term.

Great America is a beloved community asset and is the largest employer of our youth. It’s a devastating loss for the City of Santa Clara and the Bay Area. Great America has been embedded into the fabric of Santa Clara since 1976 and has impacted millions and millions of visitors throughout Bay Area and the world.

Many of us have grown up in Great America, and our children have enjoyed the park for decades. In fact my first job in high school was at Marriot’s Great America.

The City does not know of any current or future plans on how the Great America property will be used by the new property owner, so we cannot comment on the economic impacts or benefits. Therefore I would like to extend an invitation to Prologis, Inc. to a series of community meetings so they can share their vision for the Great America property with our Santa Clara residents.

Whatever direction is revealed, a community process will be involved and subject to approval by the Santa Clara City Council, as California’s Great America property is currently zoned for use as a theme park.

As the City learns more we will keep you informed every step of the way.

Lisa M. Gillmor, Mayor of Santa Clara

Original source of statement was at the first link below, but has since been removed. An archived version of the original page is available at the second link below.

https://www.santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/43734/3171

https://web.archive.org/web/20220703190134/https://www.santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/43734/3171

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Cedar Fair sold the land at California’s Great America and plans to close the park.

Marriott's Great America, Santa Clara, Carousel Plaza with Sky Tower

Terrible news for the Santa Clara park. Not this again! Stay tuned.

UPDATE: See statement from Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor.

Text from Cedar Fair press release today:

CEDAR FAIR CAPITALIZES ON OPPORTUNITY TO SELL ITS LAND AT CALIFORNIA’S GREAT AMERICA AMUSEMENT PARK

June 27, 2022

Cedar Fair will continue operating Great America under a long-term lease agreement as part of an eventual wind-down of the park

Transaction proceeds to support planned acceleration of strategic priorities including deleveraging and reinvesting in high-return projects within the portfolio

SANDUSKY, Ohio (June 27, 2022) – Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and immersive entertainment, today announced it has sold the land at its California’s Great America amusement park and plans to close the park. Cedar Fair elected to sell the land to Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD), a Bay Area-based logistics real estate company, for approximately $310 million with a lease agreement. The Company will continue to operate the park for a period of up to 11 years and then will close existing park operations at the end of the lease term.

The land sale, which was marketed by CBRE, was the outcome of a strategic review initiated by Cedar Fair in 2021 to explore potential avenues to maximize the value of the Company’s extensive asset portfolio. Cedar Fair purchased the land at California’s Great America in 2019 from the City of Santa Clara after the State of California dissolved redevelopment agencies, requiring the city to cede its ownership of the property to pay off existing debt. Prior to that transaction, the Company leased the land from the City for more than 40 years.

Cedar Fair intends to use proceeds from the land sale transaction to accelerate progress on its strategic priorities of reducing debt to achieve its $2 billion target, investing in high-return projects within its portfolio such as upgrading resort properties, and reinstating a sustainable unitholder distribution. Based on the strength and pace of the recovery since reopening its parks in 2021, and due to the additional capital raised through the Great America transaction, Cedar Fair expects to reinstate quarterly unitholder distributions by the third quarter of 2022, subject to review and approval by the Cedar Fair Board of Directors.

“We chose Prologis as our partner because of their deep ties in the Bay Area and their reputation for working closely with local communities on large developments,” said Cedar Fair President and CEO Richard A. Zimmerman. “For our investors, the sale and lease agreements allow us to monetize a high-value asset in the heart of Silicon Valley at a very attractive multiple. The transaction also provides us with a substantial sum of incremental capital which we intend to use to further advance our strategic priorities and generate enhanced returns for our unitholders.”

https://www.cedarfair.com/blog/2022/cedar-fair-capitalizes-on-opportunity-to-sell-its-land-at-californias-great-america-amusement-park

See also: statement from Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor.

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Marriott’s Great America in Gurnee, Illinois Opened Forty-Five Years Ago Today

J.W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. and "man of a thousand voices" Mel Blanc share smiles with Bugs Bunny at the opening of Marriott's Great America in Gurnee, Illinois

May 29, 1976: On this day forty-five years ago, the second Marriott’s Great America park opened to the public for the first time. The spotlight this day was on the brand-new state-of-the-art theme park in Gurnee, Illinois. Only a little more than two months earlier, a sister park opened in Santa Clara, California. This near-simultaneous opening of two new major theme parks was unprecedented in the industry.

Rainy weather in northern Illinois threatened to spoil much of the fun of opening day. However, those who took a chance on the weather were rewarded with a day full of smiles, laughter, and screams of excitement in the brand-new multi-million dollar family entertainment center.

The day kicked off with an opening ceremony that took place on a platform set up at the front of the Columbia Carousel’s reflecting pool. Speakers and special guests included J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., the park’s designer Randall Duell, and Mel Blanc. Marching bands from nearby high schools lined the sides of the reflecting pool while hundreds of balloons took to the sky above the Columbia.

Special guest Mel Blanc was known as the “man of a thousand voices”. He provided the famous voices for numerous beloved cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny. In the photo above, Bill Marriott and Mel Blanc share a moment and smiles with Uncle Bugs, the official spokesrabbit of Marriott’s Great America.

J.W. "Bill" Marriott Jr. is interviewed by Martha Teichner, reporter for Chicago NBC affiliate WMAQ
May 29, 1976: On opening day for Marriott’s Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, J.W. “Bill” Marriott spends some time answering questions from Martha Teichner for Chicago NBC affiliate WMAQ.
J. Willard Marriott and Alice Marriott walk near the Columbia Carousel on opening day at Marriott's Great America in Gurnee, Illinois
J. Willard Marriott, in suit and tie, and wife Alice Marriott, in sunglasses, walk past the Columbia Carousel during the opening day of Marriott’s Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.

The Marriott’s Great America parks opened as state-of-the-art showplaces featuring the best of everything. Theming based on U.S. history was exceptional in attention to detail. And everything was part of the “show”, consistent with the theme of each of the parks’ original five sections. Rides, shows, food, merchandise, and architecture — all first-rate — reflected the theme of each park section: Orleans Place, Yankee Harbor, Yukon Territory, County Fair, and Hometown Square. In both California and Illinois, Marriott’s Great America indeed opened as the new Country of Fun for everyone.

Happy Forty-Fifth Anniversary, Marriott’s Great America!

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Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara Opened Forty-Five Years Ago Today

Crowds eagerly await opening day at Marriott's Great America, Santa Clara, CA on the morning of March 20, 1976.

March 20, 2021: On this day forty-five years ago, the very first Marriott’s Great America park opened to the public for the first time. That morning, growing crowds, pictured above, gathered outside the front gates eager to be among the first to experience this new Fun Country in Santa Clara, California. A little over two months later, on May 29, 1976, a second Marriott’s Great America would open to the public in Gurnee, Illinois.

Before the park’s gates opened to the excited fun seekers, an opening ceremony featured speeches from J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. along with other Marriott and government officials. Members of the park’s Continental Militia in historically accurate uniforms joined with legendary figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin to celebrate Marriott’s Great America’s opening day. The Great America marching band was on hand to provide rousing, patriotic music.

Bill Marriott and Senator John Warner at opening ceremony of Marriott's Great-America, Santa-Clara, CA
Senator John Warner looks on as J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. hands off the American Revolution Bicentennial flag to a soldier for raising. Warner, head of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration, traveled from Washington, DC to present the Bicentennial flag and honor Marriott’s Great America on its opening day.
Left to right: Randall Duell, unidentified, David Brown stand outside Buffet Le Grand in Orleans Place on opening day at Marriott's Great America, Santa Clara, CA.
Left to right: Randall Duell, unidentified, and David Brown stand outside Buffet Le Grand in Orleans Place on opening day at Marriott’s Great America, Santa Clara, CA. Duell and his firm designed Marriott’s Great America, along with many other major theme parks across the country. Brown was the head of Marriott’s Theme Park Group and was a key figure in the development of the Great America parks.

From opening day forward, the Santa Clara park has entertained millions while the Gurnee park has entertained even greater numbers of people. While the two sister parks went their separate ways under new ownership, both started out by setting new quality standards for regional theme parks. Marriott’s emphasis on authentic theming blended with the best in rides and food service, top-notch and unmatched variety of live entertainment, as well as innovative merchandise options provided an unparalleled guest experience.

Happy Forty-Fifth Anniversary, Marriott’s Great America!

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