GREATAMERICAparks.com

Everyone, Sorry that the link went down. I am hosting those on my own server, and the power went out today. I have an issue with my server that when the power comes back on, I have to press the F1 key to boot the server. I believe that is because I have a bad fan in it. By the way, the server itself...

In the Gurnee Park, here is where the following things are at. In Hometown Square, above where the Trolley came out into the park (between the Triple Play and the Firehouse) is the Park Operations Office. Cash Control / Tech Services is located along the service road kind of behind Camp Cartoon Netw...

Everyone, The Warren Newport Public Library in Gurnee, IL has quite the collection of items from the early years of the park. A few friends and I spent a few hours in there last fall and scanned in a bunch of things. Some of them are good, others are not so good. Most of them are newspapers items, s...

Tanya,

That is an awsome collection! I'm glad you were able to share it with us.

I am not sure if Power Dive is still in the boneyard anymore. But, I do have sad news to report. Over the winter, all but 4 Sky Whirl cages were removed from the park. :cry: My fear is that they took the same fate as the ones in the CA park. The only reason they kept 4 of them (and they are red), is...

I remember the Edge. I only rode is once before it left the park though. By the way, Power Dive is no longer at the park either. It was SBNO during the 2002 season I believe, and was removed in 2003. In 2004, that area of the park was transformed into a Mardi Gras section, and the park added a Huss ...

Not really a "shows" gag, but it was a joke that was done over and over while I worked at the Gurnee park (1988-1992). Like most places in the park, there was a phone in the employee cafe. The rule was that if you sat next to the phone, you had to answer it, figure out who the person wante...

I had to make the walk from wardrobe to Orleans Place every day when I started in Park Services in 1988. Yes, that is a long walk, and being in park services, there were times when I would get off work 2 hours after park close. Sometimes, I would walk through the park instead of the service area. I ...

I took a look at that picture, and I think that it is a pole for the hanging basket of green plants just below it in the picture. I say that, because the pole is attached to the side of the bridge, with nothing connected to the end of it (like a water pipe would have).

I have a map from 1986, and it lists what was in the Farmers Market for the Gurnee park. Jose's Tacos Serves a variety of Mexican specialties including tacos and tostadas, nachoes with cheese, Spanish rice and deep fried burritos. Ole! Gliovanni's A delightful array of Italina specialties including ...

I don't think I have a 1984 park map or brochure, but I do have one from 1985. On it, the name is YuKon-Do-It

In 1992 it was renamed to Claimjumpers. It still sells the same food as it did back under the Yukon-Do-It name.

Also, make sure to check out Steve's site in the History Section.

http://www.greatamericaparks.com/sg/history/aerials/

He has pictures from both the CA and IL parks.

The Gurnee Park one year did a "Christmas in the Park", where they had the front section open, along with the Columbia. This was back when the park closed Columbus Day weekend, so it had to be early fall. They hung christmas lights up, garland, and played Christmas Music. I think it was th...

In 2002, the Gurnee park did a "last blast" weekend. The last day of Fright Fest was Sunday, October 27th. But, the park took a gamble, and opened up the weekend after. They were open Friday November 1st, Saturday November 2nd, and Sunday, November 3rd. Parking was free, they had 50% off f...

I do now that the computer in the Gurnee park has been modified, and only 3 trains can be run at any given time. I believe the park still has all 5 trains, but they never put more then three on (even on the transfer track). My understanding is the park does a rotation with the 5 trains. For a given ...