Relation in Sixflags, and Paramounts Great America
*** This post was edited by WoodenCyclone on 1/6/2003. ***
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JOHN
RCT INSOMNIACS
KIMBERLY LAKE INC.
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Bob Hansen
A proud CoasterBuzz Member
"Sorry folks, park's closed. The moose out front should've told you."
Even more interesting, a 3rd park was planned outside Washington,DC, but got mired in zoning (neighbors) problems and never got built.
Mike
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Laugh your troubles away at Riverview, the world's largest amusement park.
Marriott built both parks with detaling to theming as a tribute to America (although some of their ride names were just downright bad and corney). While Six Flags has did an ok job at maintaining that theming (except Batman crammed in the Nantucket themed area and now apparently Superman in New Orleans) and have added some excellent rides, Paramount complete destroyed the theming and have added mediocre rides at the most. Unbelievable that these 2 parks were identical.
Both were pooly planned though as far as the accessing enough land to expand and isolate the park. They have both been surrounded by development.
Marriott built both parks with detaling to theming as a tribute to America (although some of their ride names were just downright bad and corney). While Six Flags has did an ok job at maintaining that theming (except Batman crammed in the Nantucket themed area and now apparently Superman in New Orleans) and have added some excellent rides, Paramount complete destroyed the theming and have added mediocre rides at the most. Unbelievable that these 2 parks were identical.
Both were pooly planned though as far as the accessing enough land to expand and isolate the park. They have both been surrounded by development.
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--George H
---Superman the ride...coming to a SF park near you soon...
The two parks, while sharing key similarities in the park layout and landmark attractions (double decker carousel), the Six Flags - Great America turned out to be better (the California one is now boxed in by businesses, convention centers and residential areas).
Great America in California had plenty of space around it long ago:
http://rcdb.com/installationgallery76.htm?Picture=4
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Please visit the small parks. We don't know what's happening behind the scenes
Woodencoaster.com
bigkirby said:
Great America in California had plenty of space around it long ago:
http://rcdb.com/installationgallery76.htm?Picture=4
Whoa! That pic is a trip! Can you imagine? Now, the park is surrounded by the likes of Nortel, Cisco, etc.
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"Hey, man! Is that Freedom Rock?! TURN IT UP!!!"
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proud PKD homer :)
(currently a Dorney Park homer though...thanks to college:))
super7 said:Both were pooly planned though as far as the accessing enough land to expand and isolate the park. They have both been surrounded by development.
With the exception of WDW, most urban area parks that were built in the 70's have been surrounded by development and have space issues. It seems unfair to single out Marriott. Even SFGAd which has a lot of acres has ecological issues to contend with which forces them to build in a parking lot.
Mike
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Laugh your troubles away at Riverview, the world's largest amusement park.
I wasn't singling out Marriott, there are a few that were well planned for the future Kings Island (althought the park has become stagnant and does not grow any more, they have all that wonderful land around them to isolate them, except now their are some condos seen from the Beast) Six Flags in St Louis (not so much the land they own necessarily but the foothills are excellent isolation), Busch Gardens in Va. Its neat to be able to go to a park and not see the outside world, it adds to the experience.
The problem with the Marriott parks is that they are now landlocked. The are both in huge population areas attract crowds to support bigger parks, but space is an issue at both.
vacoasterfreak said:
actually....Paramount, like its other parks, did not purchase Great America CA until 1992. I am not sure when Marriot pulled out of ownership, but im pretty sure at some point the city of Santa Clara owned the park....can anyone correct me if im wrong? however, im positive that Paramount didnt own it till 1992.
I'm a little hazy on the details, but you're right. Marriott pulled out of the theme park business in 85, if I'm not mistaken. Six Flags was glad to have the IL park, but for whatever reason, they didn't get the CA one. The town of Santa Clara owned it for a while, but they soon realized they had no idea how to run a theme park. Now here's where I'm a little unclear: Apparently, they first leased, and then sold outright, the park to a company that had expertise in running amusement parks. I have no idea what this company was, or what other parks it had. All I know is thta it was eventually bought by Paramount.
If anyone has anything better, please feel free to correct me.
(SF) Great American: The Company I believe that you are talking about is KECO or Kings Entertainment Company. It Consisted of Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Carowinds, and Canada's Wonderland. Great America came in somewhere there, but I believe they only owned 50% of it then.
Actually, I think that Marriot tried to sell the California Park first, because the one in Gurnee was doing so well, while the one in California was failing badly in there expectations. They later decided to sell both of them.
I agree that in this case, Six Flags has done alott better than Paramount in theming. Six Flags Great America has added a new American-themed area, while Paramount's Great America is now just a flurry of themes with a Double-Decker Carousel at the entrance.
*** This post was edited by Dukeis#1 on 1/7/2003. ***
Whoa! Nice pic of Turn of the century. That's awesome I have never seen any picks of it upclose before.
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"It's like something out of that twilighty show about that zone"
bigkirby said:
Great America in California had plenty of space around it long ago:
http://rcdb.com/installationgallery76.htm?Picture=4
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Please visit the small parks. We don't know what's happening behind the scenes
Woodencoaster.com
That was before silicon valley existed.
Just for the record, back when Marriott put both parks on the block, SF was indeed, at one time, also interested in the California park. Only problem was, Marriott had already cut a very lucrative deal with a local developer who was intent on ripping out the park, and replacing it with a huge business/industrial park on the very valuable Silicon Valley property. Once the City of Santa Clara got wind of this, they stepped in behind the developers back and cut another deal with Marriott in order to save the city’s only tourist/revenue generating attraction. The developer of course wasn’t at all pleased with this and filed several lawsuits against the City of Santa Clara and Marriott. With all the red tape and pending lawsuits, there was no way SF and any other prospective buyer wanted anything to do with this park.
In the end, Marriott got their money, the City got to keep the park, but had to pay a hefty sum to settle the lawsuits. Part of the concession of the lawsuits settlement was that the City was forced to allow the developer to go ahead and develop the surrounding undeveloped property, which is why the park is now landlocked against those ugly buildings. Even the park’s parking lot wasn’t spared, more buildings have recently been built on the parking lot near the entrance, as well as a brand new Hilton Hotel on the far side of the lot. Bummer, cause the park really could have used that space for a much needed expansion.
The City ran the park for a few years, while looking for an experienced company to manage the park. KECO came to the rescue in 1985 and ran the park until 1992, when Paramount bought the chain. Although I’m not all-together crazy with the direction that Paramount has taken our Great America park, I guess all things considered, I’m glad it’s still here. At least in the long run, we Bay Area coaster enthusiast still ended up getting a SF park!
*** This post was edited by Draco on 1/8/2003. ***
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