Great America to get new name, and new attractions

Santa Clara, CA -- Great America will be transformed in 2008 starting with a new name -- California's Great America. Part of the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company's family of theme parks, California's Great America's new name signifies exciting new additions to the popular attraction as well as a 14 million dollar investment from the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company over the next two years.

New Rides
Taking guests head-over-heels this season will be FireFall. This new thrill ride will take 40 brave riders to a height of 60 feet, then subject them to 360 degree vertical arcs as they twist, turn and spin through both fire and water effects. FireFall is manufactured by Huss of Germany and promises to be the hottest ticket in 2008.

In 2009, California's Great America will add to its roster of thrill rides a new world-class wooden coaster. This copious coaster will boast a lift of 104 feet and take riders on a two minute ride at 52 mph through a twisting first drop, low to the ground S-turn, and a high speed station fly-by! Designed by Great Coasters International, this ride promises to take coaster enthusiasts to new heights.


New Ice Show
Bringing back an old time favorite for the entire family, California's Great America will debut an all-new Ice Show Spectacular to their summer line-up. Performed in the newly named "Great America Theatre" the Ice Show Spectacular will feature a professional ensemble of skaters, dazzling sets, colorful costumes, and plenty of surprises!

New Hours
California's Great America will also be offering new and longer operating hours for the 2008 season, staying open as late as 10:00 PM the majority of the summer. Extended operating hours will give guests more time to enjoy the park and all the new attractions.

New Seasonal Event
In 2008 throughout the month of October, California's Great America will be bringing Halloween Haunt to the Bay Area. From the creative team of Knott's Scary Farm's Halloween Haunt, voted the "Number One Halloween Event in the World" by Amusement Today, this ultimate, in-your-face, Halloween extravaganza features walk-through mazes, scare zones, themed rides and Halloween themed shows. And for the junior set, California's Great America will continue its kid-friendly, non-scare Halloween themed daytime event, "Nick-Or-Treat."

New Passes
Great America has three different Season Pass options, starting with the Season Pass for California's Great America admission only, the Gold Pass which includes California's Great America and Gilroy Gardens, and the Platinum Pass which allows admittance to ALL Cedar Fair properties, including Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California. As an added bonus, ALL pass types include FREE Parking at California's Great America.

"Ultimately, it is all about providing our guests with new and exciting reasons to visit" says Bill Lentz, General Manager of California's Great America, "and we feel that these new additions for the 2008 season will accomplish just that."

California's Great America is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. In addition to California's Great America, Cedar Fair owns and operates 10 other amusement parks, five outdoor water parks, one indoor water park resort and six hotels. Cedar Fair also owns and operates Star Trek: The Experience, an interactive adventure located in Las Vegas, and operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, Calif. under a management contract.

For more information visit pgathrills.com or call (408) 986-5841.


YES! for another great coasters international coaster, i love them

Oh, not again. lol

I actually dislike the name even more now.

yeah... idk about the name.. but im very excited to hear about great coasters international building another coaster for 2009, all of their rides are very higly rated on my list...

I posted something about this a couple of days ago and still hasnt been moderated... but ya im amped for the new coaster. About time california starts getting some good woodies.

Originally posted by Austin

yeah... idk about the name.. but im very excited to hear about great coasters international building another coaster for 2009, all of their rides are very higly rated on my list...

Mkay, I don't know why, but it drives me up the wall that you refuse to call it GCI :-
Anyways, FireFall sounds like a KMG FireBall on steroids, but I don't even know what the ride is...

Originally posted by CalawayPark

Originally posted by Austin

yeah... idk about the name.. but im very excited to hear about great coasters international building another coaster for 2009, all of their rides are very higly rated on my list...

Mkay, I don't know why, but it drives me up the wall that you refuse to call it GCI :-
Anyways, FireFall sounds like a KMG FireBall on steroids, but I don't even know what the ride is...

I'd assume it's a top spin

Calaway, it sounds like an oversized Top Spin to me.

Originally posted by Austin


In 2009, California's Great America will add to its roster of thrill rides a new world-class wooden coaster. This copious coaster will boast a lift of 104 feet and take riders on a two minute ride at 52 mph through a twisting first drop, low to the ground S-turn, and a high speed station fly-by! Designed by Great Coasters International, this ride promises to take coaster enthusiasts to new heights.

Hmmm...Sounds a LOT like Renegade.

3 in a row Gerstl lol?

Anyway, it does sound like a top spin now that I think about it.

Cedar Fair's California's Great America. It seems any California's anything as fallen on it's face. Let's hope that's not what happens.

Originally posted by CalawayPark

3 in a row Gerstl lol?

I was having computer problems like you wouldn't believe. I got it covered now.

im still confused about that firefall ride. I dont understand what the ride is about.

yes, it is a top spin, theres a picture of it on the great adventure website under thrill rides, the picture is a top spin...

edit: its on the front page of the website : http://www2.cedarfair.com/greatamerica/#actions just look under the "new for 2008" just another tomb raider water effect fire show type thing.

Originally posted by GerstlCrazy

Calaway, it sounds like an oversized Top Spin to me.

Originally posted by Austin


In 2009, California's Great America will add to its roster of thrill rides a new world-class wooden coaster. This copious coaster will boast a lift of 104 feet and take riders on a two minute ride at 52 mph through a twisting first drop, low to the ground S-turn, and a high speed station fly-by! Designed by Great Coasters International, this ride promises to take coaster enthusiasts to new heights.

Hmmm...Sounds a LOT like Renegade.

I have to aggree with you there but i doubt that they would build woodie clones. Then again in the coaster world they will do anything now. At least if it is going to be a clone it will be a good clone. It would suck if it were going to clone twister 2.

ah, i get it now. thank you austin.

That Firefall thingy looks like one of those surf rides in rct3. I mean those that have one row looking forward and one backward, and the arms that hold it, can bend sideways...