California's Great America Closing After 2027 Season - Attraction Speculation

Yep. That’s me. Back when it was Marriott’s Great America. I don’t remember it, but I seem to be enjoying myself.

The most logical thing for this Chance Rides Double Carousel is extra parts for Six Flags Great America. These were both built at the same time in 1976 and they are near identical layouts. I don’t see this being saved in it’s entirety. But if it keeps the Six Flags Great America version in tip top shape for the foreseeable future I’m okay with it.

Like the Carousel Columbia I see this being used as parts for the Sky Tower at Knott’s Berry Farm and/or Carolina Skytower at Carowinds. If it keeps those two attractions running for the immediate future then that’s a good thing.

I would absolutely love to say this is going to be saved. I just don’t see it happening. The amount of wooden coasters that have been moved with success can probably be counted on 1 hand. It will only be 14 years old but off the top of my head I can’t think of another park in the chain where this would fit seamlessly. I also see this being used for parts for other Great Coasters International coasters in the chain. Apocalypse. Mystic Timbers.

This has already been moved once in it’s lifetime. I don’t see it moving again. I can’t think of another park in the chain that needs a swing attraction unless they want to swap out the Swashbuckler at Magic Mountain for a newer model. Swashbuckler is 43 years old at this point. So once again, parts for the existing Zierer swings in the chain.

A lot of people have claimed this is going to be saved. I don’t see it. You guessed it. Parts. Send it to Cedar Point for extra train parts for Rogaurou. It’s a 35 year old B&M that’s been converted once. It’s time to let it go. The layout isn’t that exciting.

I think this is sold to another chain. I can’t think of another park in the SF chain that needs one. But selling it to a smaller park definitely is something I could see happening. There is a Scandia in Sacramento. I could definitely see that happening somehow.

You guessed it. Parts. Nobody is looking to move a 37 year old Intamin Water ride.

This one is interesting. I can actually see this being moved. It got a very thorough update a few years ago and is in amazing shape. And I happen to know a park in Southern California that has a spot for it right now with very little effort.

As soon as they announced CGA was closing most of the online chatter was about where Railblazer was going to end up. Would it be Knott’s? Easy fit right? Take out the mouse that nobody rides. Move the flyers and the Scrambler (again). Or, sadly replace Xcelerator. The problem is Railblazer is completely welded together. It is not an easy move. Or a cheap move. Sad to say this RMC’s days are numbered. Which really sucks if I’m being honest. It will live on as parts for the other single rail coasters in the chain.

Another one that really sucks. But it’s over. Parts for Six Flags Great America or even Viper at Magic Mountain.

Another interesting one. This also got a very extensive refurb a few years ago. So I do see the cars at least living on. They’ll get shipped to Kings Island, SF Great America, or perhaps sold to a smaller park like Castle Park (which has also announced some major changes over the next few years).

I see this being saved. It’s only 3 years old. 4 when the park closes. Expect to see this show up at maybe Magic Mountain or Knott’s. No point in shipping it any further than that.

Nobody is looking to reinstall a 31 year old Intamin Drop Tower. Parts.

I think everybody knows where I’m going with this one. It’s scrap. Parts will be divided amongst the other parks that have Curtis Summers designed coasters (Kings Island, Kings Dominion, SF Great America, Canada’s Wonderland). No big loss here.

Here’s where it gets interesting. And everybody laughs at me. I love this ride. Absolutely LOVE IT. I really would hope this gets saved. I don’t have high hopes but I could see this working at quite a few parks that need a fun plug-and-play family friendly attraction that’s definitely unique. Fingers crossed on this one.

Sadly. It’s gone. It’ll be shipped to Cedar Point for parts and hopefully preserve that Skyride for the foreseeable future.

Here is where I surprise the hell out of you. I actually think this ride is safe. It’s only 1 of 3 of these coasters still in existence. And the only one still in the Six Flags chain. I would be shocked if this doesn’t get sent to another park. It’s an easy fit and a unique ride.

Parts. Do any parks even still have gas powered go karts? Magic Mountain’s are electric now. I can also see the cars being sold to another chain. Maybe even the forementioned Scandia in Sacramento who has a really fun Go Kart track.

I really hope this is saved. I’d love to see it end up at Magic Mountain to expand their flat ride collection. Something that is SORELY needed there. If it’s not saved I imagine it will be used for parts at Six Flags Great America and Cedar Point.

I can see a lot of this being saved. It’s one of the better kids area’s in the chain and I can see the attractions being divided amongst a few parks. It’s already got the Planet Snoopy themeing. I’d say maybe half of the attractions here will be saved. The rest will be used for parts.

I love this show. But it’s dead. I don’t even know if another park has a theater that could conceivably fit the show without building an entirely new state of the art IMAX building. That’s not going to happen.

Normally I’d say a 25 year old Chance Revolution could be saved. And it possibly could be. But this ride has been plagued with issues for years and has had a LOT of downtime. I can’t think of another park in the chain that REALLY needs one, it could possibly get sold.

This is an easy move into a park that doesn’t have flyers. Most of them in the chain do I think. If it doesn’t go somewhere in the chain expect it to be sold to a smaller park. They’re incredibly popular with the GP. Plus it’s only about 24 years old.

A Scwartzkopf Enterprise that’s almost as old as me. That being said, this got a VERY extensive rebuild a few years ago. In an era where most rides of this kind are being retired, Great America put a lot of TLC into this ride. For that reason I honestly think it’s going to be saved. I have some ideas.

No way this gets saved in any capacity. Parts and nothing else for the remaining Intamin Rapids rides in the chain. But I have to be honest, I don’t see any of these older Intamin rapids rides lasting more than another decade or so without being completely redone.

This is a custom built model. It’ll be 34 years old by the time the park closes. Parts, parts and parts. Sadly I can see more of these first generation B&M Inverted Coasters starting to get retired over the next 5-10 years.

100% parts. Although I couldn’t even tell you if any other parks in the chain have Soli Bumper cars. Most of them are probably Reverchon. There were so many manufacturers of bumper cars back in the day it’s honestly kind of hard to keep track. But I’m sure some of the parts are interchangeable.

This got a HUGE facelift a few years back so I’d honestly wager most everything here will be saved, as far as the slides are concerned. They'll be moved to another water park in the chain or sold. There is Hurricane Harbor Concord which is an easy move from CGA. And of course Hurricane Harbor and Soak City in Southern California. There also is CaliBunga waterpark that caught fire in San Jose earlier this year. Could be a nice gesture to send the slides over there.