Stealth being moved to Carowinds, Paramount's Great America to put water park in its place

Tim, I wouldn't say they do an excellent job at theming. Compared to Busch and IoA, Paramount is pretty mediocre. (Admittedly, never been to PCW or PKI). Yes Six Flags and CF are both pretty weak (especially CF), but there are way too many unthemed, uninteresting, would be parking lot coasters if there were a parking lot under them, rides at Paramount parks.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

LOL, Paramount does a great job at de-theming.

Carowinds was one of the most highly detailed theme/thrill parks when it opened into the 80s when it started falling apart under Keco management. But even then, the theme was continous to the Carolinas. 7 themed sections dedicated to the history of the Carolinas plus HB land. Rides with names such as Thunder Road (with themed trains) and White Lightning that matched the Carolina theming. In fact, just about every ride was named to go with the theming of the section. If you never got to see this park at this period of time, you might not realize how much they have taken away from it in terms of theming.

Now what's left? Plantation Square is the unthemed Paramount Plaza, Pirate Island gone, Queens Colony, gone, Frontier Outpost, gone and rethemed as some California like boardwalk section (without water at that). Country Crossroads is not continuous to the theme, with rides like Top Gun and a Scooby Doo ride plopped down. Theming is not just naming a ride after some Cartoon characters and plastering their pictures on the ride. Theming is actually making the customer feel like he is in another place and time. So many things have been removed that gave it is special Carolina touches. The removal of the sternwheeler is the final blow.

Looks at Great American in IL vs Great America in CA. The CA park has lost almost all of its themed sections, while Six Flags (while they do have some theming issues) has managed to keep them intact. Kings Island has went the same direction. Its now more or less just rides plopped down wherever was convient, not rides themed to the section they are in. I mean, the Beast just doesn't feel as isolated and frontier like with a 5 story aluminum building hovering over it next door.

While they are still a notch above Cedar Point (which has none of that "special feel" that theming gives a park except in Frontierland, they are quickly heading in the same direction as that park with all their parks.

Wait wait... I'm really confused by this. Agreed that waterparks appeal to all ages and are a great way to get people into the park, especially in blazing hot California summers, but does it really warrant removing Stealth, a ride that the GP absolutely eat up? Also doesn't Paramount own a waterpark in the very nearby area? I've been to it but can't remember the name, but what I do remember is that it was a good quality waterpark with a lot to offer in the way of attractions and fun. Sooo I suppose I could be wrong, and Paramount may not own it, but if it does... Why the hell would you try and take business from your waterpark, and give it to your amusement park. If Boomerang Bay is the success I'm sure Paramount hopes it will be, it's basically driving its own nearby waterpark into the ground. Sensical? I think not.

-BB (Hoping for Paramount's sake that somebody corrects me and tells me the waterpark is owned by somebody else)

BBSpeed26, Paramount did indeed once own Raging Waters about 15 miles south of PGA, but unloaded it years ago.

ApolloAndy, regarding Top Gun, I'll give you that, still my #1 steel coaster in all of NorCal, still fast, furious and intense. B&M just doesn't build em like this anymore, I'll take Top Gun over any of their recent forceless wonders anyday.

As far as SFMW delivering, I look at it this way. Since Marine World was flagged just 5yrs ago, they've bought in 8 new coasters to the Bay Area. Yeah, some of the choices were questionable, but the bottom line is, the Bay Area has never seen a surge of new and different coaster thrills like this ever before.

On the other hand, since Great America was Paramountized, we've seen a total of 3 new coasters in 11 years (I never credit Paramount for Top Gun, KECO had already started verticle construction when Paramount bought the chain, all they did was add the theming. Otherwise I guarantee you PGA would have never had a B&M invert. SLC, maybe.). Now that Stealth is leaving, that leaves 2 new coasters in 11 years from Paramount. Even you'd have to agree, as far as the Bay Area is concerned, SFMW is far and away delivering the goods for us coaster fans.

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"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it"

Question of the Day: Is Cedar Point a theme park?

Answer of the Day: NO.

Seriously, let's think before we post. If you're going to pick a park to trash for "poor theming", why don't you at least pick a self-proclaimed "theme park"? Cedar Point has never been a theme park, and probably never will be. Trashing Cedar Point because it has poor theming is like trashing IOA for not having animal attractions (well, uh, it's not an animal park) or SFMW for not having enough waterslides (well, uh, it's not a water park).

Thanks for your time.

-Nate

I think people need to be more open minded about this whole decision. First of all, yes, Stealth was a fun ride and it's never a good thing to see a roller coaster leave but it was the GP who helped make the choice in the first place. The GP were asked tons of questions about the new water park being added even if it meant removing a roller in a huge market research program they did last season. Guess what, the majority of them thought it was a good idea. Also, just because the water park is going to be small doesn't mean it won't provide thrills. Everything has to start out small and build it's way up. They have to establish a base that can be built upon in future seasons. In the end it all comes down to what makes more money and I think it will end up being 100 times better than Stealth. I'd rather spend an hour floating in a pool at Boomerang Bay than spending an hour waiting in line for Stealth.

I agree with everything you said TopGun93. I recently took another survey for Paramount's on Themeing. They wanted to know if I would rather them spend the bulk of thier money on Themes and such or just add the biggest, scarriest rides around. I choose Themeing. If we are to ve a Movie Studio Theme Park then I think we need to get with the program. Adding a great theme adds more to the park experience than just a new coaster. I am a huge coaster buff but I want to see Paramount around for many years to come. Why do you think Disney Parks have been around for such a long time? It definantly is not for the high speed thrills but for the Total Experience.

I LOVE the idea, only because i live near Carowinds, so i'm looking forward to having a new thrill ride; however, i probably wouldn't be happy if i lived near the Cali park instead. But i don't think it's a stupid move, cause since Cali is hot all year round a water park is probably a very smart move, and Carowinds needs a a new cool ride. And I must say: Who R these 80-year-olds saying that it's a bad idea to remove that god-awful snooze boat they had? Seriously, that thing served NO purpose! GOOD-RIDENCE!

this is ridiculous im very pissed at what as happened i was a regular at paramounts great america i use to go every sunday no matte rif i were sick or anything u would find me every single sunday since for 4 years now and i would even go on the first day it opens for the season andbe th elast one to leave when it closes for the season i love paramounts great america and now i dont even want to go back this is to u pga u mae a big mistake by taking greased lighting away and i loved that rride then i wa slike ok no biggie but then u said stealth was going i was like whats going on i thought it was a joke!!! now that its gone you made a bigger mistake im havent gone i went the fist day it opened for the season and that it who trades a 17 million dollar coaster (stealth) and runs it for three years for a stupid hand me down water park. it gonne be funny how u look at the decreaseing of people in the park cuz i kknow my family and my friends and family are not going cuz it boring i thought i would never say such a thing but PGA your screwing up and big time u wither need to bring in like two coasters that are awsome and big cuz the only big coaster there is are top gun invertigo and thats it deamon and vortex are good but not as fun and then phyco mouse and taxi jam and run away raptar those are not roller coasters u cant count those u need to bring in something big cuz your loosingg people fast six flags i kicking paramount in the behind tey have way more rides and it fun and ir eally hate sixflgs but pga messed up so im going to sf until pga can clean up there little mistakes.!!!! GET STEALTH BACK PLEASE AND GREASED LIGHTNING!!!!!

I'd just like to give everyone a fair warning about Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, CA. I took my family there yesterday and that was the last time they'll ever see us again. This supposed theme park no longer has a theme or any atmosphere, and it more resembled a higher class carnival, literally. There were no new interesting rides, and the ones that were new looked very much like little carnival rides, you know, the kind that spin you around in a circle so many times you feel like being sick.

I guess our first clue should have been the lack of cars in the parking lot. All the previous times we've gone there, it was packed and they had shuttles to help bring the people to the entrance gate, where you stood in line for what seemed like forever to get in. Now, there are no lines out front, you pass right through the gate, go through the security check, and you're in. Apparently there are many people don't feel like paying $10.00 to park in their unmonitored parking lot and are being dropped off or they're parking elsewhere and hiking in. Ten dollars to park is a rip-off! I would expect at the very least to have some sort of parking lot monitor, but no employees are found whatsoever in the parking area, so you would be just as safe leaving your car on the street and walking in, except for the long, long hike. There are no signs directing you to where the entrance gate is, you just follow the other people. Would it be so hard to put some sort of arrows or signs out there?

I was expecting to see the old Great America, but it's gone. There was no atmospheric music in the various sections, and no theme decor to even let you know that you were passing from one section to the next. The vendors were all selling what seemed to be the exact same cheap souvenirs, one store after another, same stuff. The last time we went there, it was hard to decide what to buy there was so much great merchandise, this time, it was hard to find anything we wanted. One would think that the Australian section would give some hint of Australia, but all we found were a couple photos of Crocodile Dundee with crocs hanging on the walls inside the food vendor.

We didn't find one single theme character wandering around the park, and we didn't find one single entertainment event the entire day. That seems to have gone bye-bye. Sure wasn't like that the last time we visited, there were activities, shows, and many things to see of interest, back then, not now. So, you couldn't expect to sit down and enjoy any type of entertainment and enjoy a moment to relax this time. There are video games, not good ones mind you, around every turn and corner and it seemed to me they were mostly the same games, just different locations.

What we did find that has replaced the theme of the park is carnival type vendors throughout the park, you know the type, guess your weight for a cheap price, hit the sledge hammer and win, climb the rope and win, that type of stuff was everywhere all around the park, whereas it used to have a carnival type section which was enjoyable if you like that type of thing, but now that's the new theme of the park. That cheap stuff was spread out way far away from the old confined section. What the heck is this type of stuff doing in a theme park? Is this a carnival or a theme park? And if this is a theme park, what's the theme these days? Obviously PGA realizes this type of stuff doesn't belong here, which is why not one single carnie tried to lure us over, you know the technique, they sound like used car salesmen trying to bring you over to get your money on a game you have little to no chance of winning. So they stand there quietly waiting for you to come to them, which a few people did.

Stealth was removed and replaced by the thing they're calling a water park installed in its place. I never had the opportunity to ride Stealth. I was there when they were building it, not open at the time. I was there two more times at the park all day long and Stealth was closed those two days I was there for the entire day, just wasn't working right. Now, I come back to hopefully ride this ride and it's gone. Oh well, I guess this ride will be set up in another amusement park so their patrons can watch it sit idle for days at a time, not exactly a safety inspiring ride to have it broken more times than not. So much for Stealth. Whoever gets it, good luck finding a day when it's working. Now you know why you're getting it.

The most upsetting part is that we thought maybe we might enjoy the water park, only to find that there was very little water. They have two adult/mature water slides, both of which you used a raft with. That was a count of two. That's hardly worth putting on your swimming suit, and actually, I got as wet on their other water rides outside the supposed water park as I did in the water park. Speaking of putting on your swimming suit. That will cost you five dollars, because when you need a place to put your shoes and clothes, you'll find the only place available is a locker they'll rent to you for $5.00, and that's the very, very small one, and let's not forget that they charge an additional $5.00 deposit for the rental of the locker that you'll receive back when you return the key.

I keep hearing references to a water park at Great America in Santa Clara, and folks, I'm here to tell you that is not a water park like any other I've ever been to. There wasn't one single pool of water you could get in and actually swim. The kiddy section looked vaguely interesting, but tiny. They didn't have a swim area either, but there was water sprinklers going off all around to wet you down, and a huge bucket the kids liked to stand under, which was no wonder since that was one of the few ways to actually get wet. What a rip-off to even advertise it has a water park. I think this classifies as false advertising.

There are only a couple worthy coasters, Top Gun was super, very smooth and a pleasure to ride. The line was a little tiny bit long, but really, since hardly anyone was at the park, we pretty much had a very short wait.

But the Vortex, the stand up coaster has literally gotten off balance or something because it boxed your head back and forth so hard in the head restraint that I heard others who had sore ears after leaving. Years ago it was rough, not this rough, but now it should literally state that it will box your ears off your head and give warning to those wishing to ride it. Gee, no wonder no one was standing in line to ride this one. We rode it once and said forget it. That ride has literally gone bad. Obviously no one is caring for the ride, makes one not want to get on it. They really need to offer little head pads it's gotten so bad.

Invertigo has a nice long line, and was a very nice coaster to ride, however, that has to be one of the world's shortest coasters out there. Not much waiting for you on the ride end after you stand in line for so long.

I chose not to try the Drop Zone this time since the noise it was now making at the bottom of the ride gave one hesitation to want to try out their braking system. It sounded like a Mac Truck with failing brakes.

Now, I've been to PGA before, many times, and never have I ever been so overwhelmed by the number of people working there who did not have a grasp of the English language. I literally could not understand what they were trying to tell me. Most of the park help are of Mexican descent, as are 90% of the customers enjoying the park. I only mention this because this was not the case in point the last time I visited this once wonderful park. Now, English seems to be the second language, and Spanish is the preferred language.

We ran into trouble only one time with the ride cutting, and that was over at the water park area. There being only two water slides, if you can call them that, they are more exactly two raft slides, there was a fairly decent line to get on either slide. We were the only people in that section of the park not of Mexican decent. We are Latino in our blood, however, we don't look to be your traditional Latino, therefore, we were by far a minority. While waiting in a practically stopped line on the stairs trying to ride the slide, person after person pushed their way past us claiming their party was ahead of us in the line. We literally were not moving forward because after 15 people took cuts, we could see that they were riding the slide and then racing back up the stairs and riding again by taking cuts in line claiming some member of their party or family was ahead of us and they needed to be "together". After we graciously allowed about 15 people in front of us, all Hispanics, I said "ENOUGH". I put my hands on both rails and announced that the cutting in line was over and that we were also there to ride the slide. Well that was a big mistake. Being the minority, the heckling began from about 10 people back, and two women literally tried pushing me out of the way to cut past us. I still held my ground and said forget about cutting, you're done. The ride attendant knew full well this was going on and began sympathizing with the cutters, he of course was also Hispanic. One family ahead of us, when it was their turn, refused to go without the rest of their party, that would be the pushy broads behind us. The attendant said "I can't this time", and so they left on the raft. My party, family, then finally got our turn and we enjoyed it, short as it was. When we got to the bottom, all those in front of us and behind us chased us down and began cursing, yelling, and getting in our faces to the point we felt the need to call security. The park section manager, "Maria", yes, she's Hispanic, talked to the gang, that's what they appeared to be at this time, a gang of teens with attitudes, but Miss Maria never once talked to us to see what the reason was there was trouble. I don't need gang appearing, rough talking men and women chasing down my children and I just because we feel we have the same rights as they do to ride the rides and not wait until the cutters are finished cutting, which could be forever. The park rules strictly state no cutting, and no cursing, well forget it, this is wholeheartedly allowed, and even promoted as being the only successful way to ride the rides. Maria told the Hispanic gang to dispurse, so by the time the one security guy arrived, also Hispanic, they were gone. When we did call security over the gang issue, it took them over 10 minutes to arrive. I assume they are only out front at the gate, and the one guy who did arrive certainly would not have been able to defend himself against this gang. They really made light of it, the whole thing stunk to high heavens. The area manager, Miss Maria, told security right in front of me that this harassment we were receiving from the gang who remember, followed us off the slide and continued to pursue us, was a non-issue and to not worry about it. I'm sure they were told, now kids, behave yourself and stop cutting in front of people. But, considering it is those very kids, and hundreds more just like them that are the only soles keeping this park open these days, I guess PGA can't afford to rock their boats too roughly since their only paying customers are now all these gangster types, huddled in large groups all over the park. This atmosphere is frightening to say the very least, and not too conducive to bringing ones family, especially smaller children, to the park.

About security, and park employees. Where the devil are they? We walked around the park and the only employees we saw were running the rides, or tending the stores. There wasn't security visible once inside the park.

Let's talk about maintenance. What I saw was looking pretty run down. Nothing was freshly painted, and you could tell nothing was being maintained in the manner it used to be. There were repair jobs sitting and waiting everywhere. Nothing was kept up. In the American Cafe, right as you walk in, was a jagged spiked piece of sharp metal where glass tiles had been broken out, and nothing to keep the customers from injuring themselves. The greenery was a bit less lush, rather looked like they weren't caring for the trees and shrubs, but kept the weeds out. The rails and such around the park were in need of repair, and they could certainly use a few more benches for those wishing to sit down.

We paid $5.00 for Star Watch braceletts and we were told we could use throughout the park to monitor, track, find, and leave messages for members of our party. They also charged $1.00 for a deposit which would be returned to you after you return the bracelets. This system in theory was a wonderful way for us to monitor where the kids were when we split into groups, however, as with much of the rest of the park, we found that about half of the stations around the park where you could go to to find your missing family, didn't work, broken down and out of service. So this was a huge downer, because it left only about four working stations for the entire park instead of about seven. The people giving/renting these out spoke such bad english, we could only wonder what he was telling us. We found them at two stations. The first station couldn't find a wrist bracelet that actually worked and he had a whole bag full. The second vendor for these did manage to get us set up, but we didn't know for sure what he was saying because he was heavy in his accent. When we went to return them, they didn't know how to get them off, and finally had to hunt down some scissors to cut them off. They certainly were not knowledgeable or prepared for this new service.

The eating facilities, besides all being highly overpriced, were not offering much besides pizza and burgers. To have 99% of all the food offered be the same, was just awful. It mattered not which food placed you picked, there was no variety. We found one place offering fish and chips, and one place with roast beef, but all the others were pizza or burgers or corndogs. Boring!

If you're looking for a carnival experience, at a very high price, then this is the place for you.