Six Flags III: Great America

I think Great America is a very underrated park. It has probably the most different types of rides than most other parks. It has a multilooper, inverted, standup, racing woodie, hyper, another looper, a wooden twister, and soon to come an impulse and invertigo. It seems it has almost the same types of coasters as SFMM but Great America doesn't get as much fame. I hope that the two new coasters will make this park be in the top 10 parks of the U.S. What do you think?

I couldnt agree with you more. However I have noticed that the 2000 season saw alot of positive feedback for this park that is was overdue for. SFGAm ranks up there with the best of them.

...................SFMM SFGAm
classic ......... Revolution ..... Whizzer
inverted ......... Batman ......... Batman
steel looper ..... Viper .......... Shock Wave
cyclone .......... Psyclone ....... Viper
hyper ............ Goliath ........ Raging Bull
racing ........... Colossus ....... American Eagle
stand up ......... Riddler's Rev... Iron Wolf

When I look at this list, I see that the rides are similar in quality. ex: Batman and Batman are identical, Viper and Shock Wave are very close. Riddler's Revenge is a whole lot better than Iron Wolf, but GAm's Viper is a whole lot better than Psyclone too. I think the whole reason is that Magic Mountain has a few more coasters, and more enthuseists have been to the mountain than GAm, considering that GAm is practically in the middle of nowhere in terms of amusement park density.


*** This post was edited by Krazy on 11/20/2000. ***


*** This post was edited by Krazy on 11/20/2000. *** *** This post was edited by Krazy on 12/23/2000. ***

Hey man its not the middle of nowhere its the middle of everywhere ;)

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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it

It's because the L.A. region is the largest metropolitan centre in the U.S. Plus MM is open year-round, meaning people do not have to wait, 6-7 months for the new season. I assume when non-coaster fans think of Six Flags, they probably think MM, and putting a new coaster in attract even more people to the park..

SFMM and SFGAM also both held the rights to owning the only DIVE coaster or whatever it is called. Z-Force was first installed at SFGAM then other parks, now making its home at SFMM.

SFGAM 2001

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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@aol.com

Umm, you forgot about SFoG...Thats where it was second!!

I know I couldn't remember where else it was installed. Sorry

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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@aol.com

Well, you are all welcome to have the Z-Force back if you want it. :) At least it will be moved back behind Psyclone and I wont have to look at it. LOL

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Say no, to lap bar nazis!

I also agree that it is very underated. Every coaster show I see has Cedar Point, PKI, IOA, or Busch Gardens. I think SFGAm is just as good, maybe even better than those parks. I would like to see my home park be in the high range with the other parks. That's where it should be.

SFGam is my home town park at the momment (I grew up in Pittsburgh). This park has grown on me over the last 8 years but it is a little too middle of the road for me to call it one of my favorite. Six Flag Parks are too big and I would guess have too many cooks in the kitchen to give us the highest quality ride expierance. I do love the Viper and the original Batman, and the Raging Bull is very good also. On the other hand it is hard to imagine Six Flags building a first of its kind ride like the Millineum Force or something as off beat as the Exterminator. How about rebuilding the Riverview Bobs? SFGam would be the logical place for this to happen and this is the kind of gutsy move that would separate SFGam from the middle of the pack.

There already is a tribute to those Bobs, Raging Wolf Bobs at my SixFlag's park of Ohio, if I am not mistaken. Believe me, you don't want one.
-Mike
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"Dawson's Creek Mega Trapper Keeper Week"

I understand that the Raging Wolf Bobs is based on the old Riverview ride but is not a faithfull replica. I admit that I do not have first hand knowledge of either version. I have talked to a number of coaster riders that rode the Riverview Bobs and have been told that it was a standout ride. I don't want to be too harsh about SFGam, I like the park and I am happy that there are people out there that make a living building roller coasters. The Raging Bull is a one of a kind and the Batman and Iron Wolf were originals so I guess I am full of it to some extent.

Danc- what do you mean Six Flags not building a "first of its kind"? What about Batman, S:UE, Z-Force (now Flashback), Raging Bull, and now this 90-degree Invertigo? They're not as progressive as Paramount, but they have built many "first of its kind" in the sense of Millennium Force or Exterminator, considering they're not something completely new, just variations of tried and true ideas.

*** This post was edited by Lifthill310 on 11/23/2000. ***

I agree with you lifthill (check my previous post at 11:47). As I have said I like the park (SFGam, it just seems like it is only one ride or two away from reaching its full potential. A blockbuster like the Millenium Force would push it over edge.

The only thing I see wrong with SF:GA is that they have no themeing. I know this is a minor thing but, I think the themeing of a ride is the real thing to have a great ride. They can do better. But then again, Its my oppion. PKI's themeing is great I think. The Beast is sooo well hidden, As far as the Son Of Beast goes, who can hide that since its so tall... Well to get back on the subject, G.A. is doing well and needs more credit...

I think you might have some people disagree with you about SFGam themeing btp

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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it

I actually prefer "coaster parks" with little or no themeing. Leave that to the parks that do it well, like Disney or Universal. On my trips to SFGAm I always end up power riding something (Raging Bull for the last two years). Same thing with CP, BGT, Kennywood, PKI, SFMM - heck, I don't really know or care if these parks have any themeing. I'm there for the coasters. SFGAm is fine the way it is, at least for what I look for in a coaster park.

Are we forgetting about Southwest Territory?
The theming there is Annheiser-Busch quality.
Batman the Ride isn't too bad itself.

Dont forget about Yukon Territory also. They did a pretty good job of theming there as well.

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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL