Neglected Nor Cal

There was a time I felt pretty lucky to live in the Bay area- throughout the 90's I considered the collection of coasters at PGA to be fairly decent. Furthermore, in 2000 we got Medusa and Roar (Awesome!) at SFDK and Stealth at PGA (...meh but it was new and fun at the time). Since then, though, Stealth has been removed, and neither park has embarked on any project more exiting than psycho mouse, Invertigo, or Tony Hawk's Big Spin. Is it crazy to feel deprived? Bottom lines:

Great America: The last great project, and only coaster really still worth riding here is Top Gun/Flight Deck. Thats 18 years! Everything else is so run-down. I am quite surprised the head-banging experience of the Demon is allowed to continue, and Grizzly is probably the most depressingly slow coaster I have been on.

Discovery Kingdom: When it opened with Roar and Medusa, I was really excited that a park nearby was setting a trend of getting quality rides (with the exception of Kong-ouch!), but since then it really has done nothing to further this trend.

I am not asking for the next record breaker, just something that may persuade me to buy my first ticket in a few years. I had season passes to both parks for at least 5 seasons, so I feel like I have done my part in supporting them. I want a reward!

Don't forget Zonga which was added then removed after what, two seasons?

Would you rather live in Seattle? Or Portland? ;)

You had to go there.

...Or Phoenix, by golly.

To a degree, I think having Bonfante, PGA, SFDK, and SCBB all within very reasonable day-trip distance might be more of a drawback to expansion at each individual park. Of course, if it were me, I'd have a season pass to SCBB in a heartbeat...absolutely love that place!

Oh, and a THBS is a darn fine ride IMO....the only thing SFDK really needs is a decent wooden coaster - not sure how any GCII ride can possibly get *that* bad...

Jeff said:
You had to go there.

Actually, you did. :) That being said, have you made the trek out to PNE or Sliverwood yet?

rollergator said:
To a degree, I think having Bonfante, PGA, SFDK, and SCBB all within very reasonable day-trip distance might be more of a drawback to expansion at each individual park.

Not so fast. Look at the Southern California market. Same situation, but the competition is fueling a lot of expansion. I think Cedar Fair woulld rather get rid of the place than invest in it. And Discovery Kingdom is probably drawing decent numbers without expansion (and I'll bet they have huge operating costs with all those animals).

^SoCal, like Orlando, has year-round weather...and the new stuff in both places has been pretty cool these last few years! :)

I don't think CF ever wanted PGA, Paramount wasn't too happy with the place. The ride selection there has been withering for quite a long time. Really loved SFDK despite Roar, the theming was top-notch for SF (SFFT having fallen off these last few years). Bonfante is just truly amazing, regardless of what rides they have (and QE was surprisingly rambunctious).

Can't say much more, but look to the 2012 season. :)

janfrederick said:
Would you rather live in Seattle? Or Portland? ;)

Or Maverick.

Or Fahrenheit.

janfrederick said:
Actually, you did. :) That being said, have you made the trek out to PNE or Sliverwood yet?

Nope... this summer was not one for driving trips. We did one in the spring, and it was kinda hard with a baby. Here in the fall, after flying to Louisville and through Detroit, we're more confident travelers, so maybe next summer.