Flight Deck (California's Great America)

Last updated

Flight Deck
Previously known as Top Gun (1993–2006) and Soaring Chiefs (2024 opening weekend)
Flight Deck (California's Great America) logo.png
2017.04.09 California's Great America (33155577763).jpg
California's Great America
Location California's Great America
Park section Orleans Place
Coordinates 37°23′53″N121°58′18″W / 37.39806°N 121.97167°W / 37.39806; -121.97167
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 20, 1993
General statistics
Type Steel  – Inverted
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
ModelInverted Coaster
Height100 ft (30 m)
Drop91 ft (28 m)
Length2,260 ft (690 m)
Speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Inversions 3
Duration2:26
G-force 4.5
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Cedar Fair Fast Lane availibility.svg Fast Lane available
Flight Deck at RCDB

Flight Deck (formerly Top Gun and briefly as Soaring Chiefs) is an inverted roller coaster located at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard and designed by Werner Stengel, the roller coaster made its debut on March 20, 1993, as Top Gun. The roller coaster was built as Paramount, who had purchased the Great America theme park in 1992 along with several other parks, sought to expand its entertainment opportunities and promote its films. After Paramount sold off its Great America park to Cedar Fair (now Six Flags), the roller coaster was rebranded as Flight Deck.

Contents

Flight Deck reaches a maximum height of 100 ft (30 m), with a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a total track length of 2,260 ft (690 m). The roller coaster was the second Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted model to be built. Originally themed to the Top Gun film, the roller coaster was set on an aircraft carrier with various displays. Upon opening, the roller coaster received mostly positive reviews from critics and guests.

History

Paramount Communications Inc. announced its intentions to purchase Kings Entertainment Company for $400 million on July 31, 1992. The planned acquisition would see the transfer of four theme parks owned or operated by the Kings Entertainment Company under the Paramount brand, which included Great America. Paramount was one of several entertainment companies that would acquire or purchase stakes in amusement parks to expand live entertainment opportunities and promote films. It was expected Paramount would develop rides based on films and franchises such as Top Gun , Star Trek , or The Addams Family. [1] [2]

Great America became Paramount's Great America under the newly formed Paramount Parks, which planned to expand thematic elements in their park, including the addition of a Top Gun attraction to open in March 1993. The Top Gun attraction would be a steel inverted roller coaster, have a length of 2,260 ft (690 m), and feature an elaborate themed queue. Construction on the station was underway in January 1993. [3] Top Gun later opened with the park on March 20, the first operating season under Paramount and the 18th for Great America. [4] [5] [6] Top Gun was one of several movie-inspired attractions to open during the 1993 season, which included Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jaws at Universal Studios Florida, and Back to the Future: The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. [7] After Paramount sold off Great America to Cedar Fair in 2006, the Top Gun theming was removed and the name changed to Flight Deck. [8]

Before Super Bowl LVIII, California's Great America, located in Santa Clara and sharing a parking lot with Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, made a bet with Cedar Fair sister park Worlds of Fun, based in Kansas City, Missouri, the home city of the Kansas City Chiefs, that one of the rides in the losing team's theme park had to be renamed in honor of the winning team for opening weekend. The Chiefs' win over the 49ers meant that Flight Deck was renamed to "Soaring Chiefs" for the 2024 opening weekend, complete with a new logo that bears a resemblance to the Chiefs logo. [9]

Ride experience

The train departs making a small right turn out of the station, ascending the 100 ft (30 m) chain lift hill. [6] [10] The drop at the top of the hill begins with a sharp left turn. After the initial drop of 91 ft (28 m), the train reaches its maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h). The train enters a vertical loop, then performs a right-banked 270-degree turn before dipping down and up into a zero-gravity roll. Following the inversion, the train makes a short dive and then banks left into a flat right turn. The train then maneuvers into a shallow drop, immediately followed by a corkscrew. Exiting the corkscrew, the train enters a left-banked 270-degree turn over a pond before turning right into the brake run and station. One roller coaster cycle takes around two minutes and twenty-six seconds to complete. [5] [11] [12]

Characteristics

Flight Deck is a custom Inverted Coaster model manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and designed by Werner Stengel. [11] Upon opening, the roller coaster was the second B&M Inverted Coaster model to be built. [13] Flight Deck operates with two trains. Each of the two trains can accommodate 28 passengers, arranged in seven rows with four to a single row. [5] [11] Each seat features an over-the-shoulder restraint. [14] [15] The roller coaster exerts 4.5 g-forces to its riders. [11] Flight Deck has a total track length of 2,260 ft (690 m). [11] [16] Flight Deck was repainted in 2014 to feature a red track and white support color scheme. [17]

The original roller coaster was themed to the Top Gun film. [14] The roller coaster itself represented the F-14 Tomcat Tom Cruise's character piloted, with guests said to assemble for a military conflict. [5] [6] [10] The queue area presented various displays of an aircraft carrier, [10] including a tower, storage facilities, and an engine. The queue area played songs from the film's soundtrack, [5] [6] as well as voice clips from the film. [15] A large mural was created depicting "Fightertown, USA", an homage to Miramar's Air Station, on one side with an aircraft carrier on the other. [5] The station represented the flight deck of the aircraft carrier, with ride operators adorned in relevant uniforms. [16] When renamed to Flight Deck, the roller coaster received a new color scheme. [8] During the 2021 off-season, the park revitalized the queue area to restore the classic aircraft theming. [18]

Incidents and accidents

A 24-year-old man was killed on the site of Top Gun on September 7, 1998. The man's wife had lost her hat while riding the roller coaster, and the man had gone under a section of track to retrieve it. A park official stated the victim had to pass through a door marked "Do not enter" and cross a 6 ft (1.8 m) fence to enter the area where the hat had fallen. There, he was struck in the head by the foot of a 20-year-old female rider on the roller coaster. The female rider was treated at a local hospital for a broken leg. [19] [20] [21] The man, who was visiting from Mexico, was said to only speak Spanish and could not read the English safety signs displayed. [20] He died one hour after being struck.

An employee working Flight Deck was seriously injured after being struck by a train moving into the roller coaster's station on June 12, 2015. A passenger on the roller coaster was also injured, sustaining injuries to their hand and legs when the employee retrieved an item in the train's path. [22] [23] [24] The roller coaster remained temporarily closed thereafter pending an investigation. [25] Cedar Fair was later fined $70,200 by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health relating to eight violations in safety, two pertaining to the accident. [26] [27]

Reception

A train of Flight Deck traversing through the zero-gravity roll California's Great America (14339953171).jpg
A train of Flight Deck traversing through the zero-gravity roll

Upon opening, the roller coaster received generally positive reviews from critics and guests. Cheri Matthews, a writer for The Modesto Bee , noted guest reactions to the roller coaster, with an American Coaster Enthusiast member stating it was their "favorite steel coaster" with another guest having exclaimed it was better than nearby steel roller coaster Vortex. [6] Matthews also recorded several pilots' reactions to the roller coaster, with a former United States Air Force pilot stating the ride experience was not dissatisfying and a United States Navy Commander noting it was akin to a fighter jet, especially the vertical loop without the g-forces. [6]

Susan Young, a writer for the Oakland Tribune , noted how she felt an adrenaline rush through the queue area's theming and overhead roller coaster. [5] By the end of the roller coaster, Young remarked that Top Gun was "pure exhilaration", having restored her interest in roller coasters altogether. [5] Leigh Grogan, a writer for The Sacramento Bee , commented that, "despite being a lifelong" wooden roller coaster fan, she gave "high marks" to the roller coaster's thematic experience, satisfied with the ride and its g-forces. [14] Debra Salonen, writing for the Merced Sun-Star , positively noted the roller coaster's smoothness, speed, and excitement, simply concluding it was a "wow". [15] Leah Smith, a reporter for the Press-Tribune , commented on the roller coaster's "breathtaking" elements alongside the in-depth theming that guests could expect waiting for the ride. [28]

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year2003
Ranking45 (tie) [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kings Dominion</span> Amusement park in Virginia

Kings Dominion is an amusement park in Doswell, Virginia, United States, twenty miles (30 km) north of Richmond and 75 miles (120 km) south of Washington, D.C. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the 280-acre (1.1 km2) park opened to the public on May 3, 1975, and features more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including 13 roller coasters and a 20-acre (8.1 ha) water park. Its name is derived from the name of its sister park, Kings Island near Cincinnati, and the nickname for the state of Virginia, "Old Dominion."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverted roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

An inverted roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. Riders are seated in open cars, letting their feet swing freely. The inverted coaster was pioneered by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard in the early 1990s with the development of Batman: The Ride, which opened at Six Flags Great America on May 9, 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingda Ka</span> Roller coaster in Jackson, New Jersey

Kingda Ka is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States. Manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, Kingda Ka opened as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world on May 21, 2005, surpassing Top Thrill Dragster. It is the second strata coaster ever built, exceeding 400 feet (120 m) in height. Both were made with similar designs, although Kingda Ka's layout adds an airtime hill on the return portion of the track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Great America</span> Amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois

Six Flags Great America is a 304-acre (123 ha) themed amusement park located in Gurnee, Illinois, within the northern Chicago metropolitan area. The amusement park originally opened as Marriott's Great America on May 29, 1976, as one of two theme parks built by the Marriott Corporation. Six Flags acquired the amusement park in 1984 after the theme park division was an earnings disappointment for Marriott. The sale gave Six Flags rights to the Looney Tunes intellectual properties.

Carowinds is a 407-acre (165 ha) amusement park primarily located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the park first opened to the public on March 31, 1973. Carowinds straddles the state line between North and South Carolina, adjacent to Interstate 77, with a portion of the park located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The park has a sign telling guests where the state line lies. It was constructed at a cost of $70 million following a four-year planning period led by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall. Carowinds also features Carolina Harbor, a 27-acre (11 ha) water park that is included with park admission. Annual events include the Halloween-themed SCarowinds and the Christmas-themed WinterFest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California's Great America</span> Amusement park in Santa Clara, California

California's Great America is an 112-acre (45 ha) amusement park located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, it originally opened in 1976 as one of two parks built by the Marriott Corporation. Great America features over 40 rides and attractions, with Gold Striker among its most notable, which has ranked as a top wooden roller coaster in the world in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today. Other notable rides include RailBlazer, a single-rail coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction, and Flight Deck, an inverted coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard. The park made appearances in the 1994 films Beverly Hills Cop III and Getting Even with Dad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman: The Ride</span> Roller coasters at seven Six Flags parks

Batman: The Ride is an inverted roller coaster based on the DC Comics character Batman and found at seven Six Flags theme parks in the United States and at least one outside the US. Built by consulting engineers Bolliger & Mabillard, it rises to a height of between 100 and 105 feet and reaches top speeds of 50 mph (80 km/h). The original roller coaster at Six Flags Great America was partially devised by the park's general manager Jim Wintrode. Batman: The Ride was the world's first inverted roller coaster when it opened in 1992, and has since been awarded Coaster Landmark status by the American Coaster Enthusiasts. Clones of the ride exist at amusement parks around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GhostRider (roller coaster)</span> Ride at Knotts Berry Farm in California

GhostRider is a wooden roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It is located in the Ghost Town section of the park, south of the main entrance. Manufactured by Custom Coasters International, GhostRider is the longest wooden coaster on the West Coast of the United States, measuring 4,533 feet (1,382 m) long and 118 feet (36 m) tall. The ride follows an L-shaped double out and back pattern, with a station themed to a mining building. There are three trains, each themed to a different precious metal, though only two are in use at any given time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Lantern (Six Flags Great Adventure)</span> Steel roller coaster

Green Lantern, formerly known as Chang, is a stand-up roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Green Lantern stands 155 feet (47 m) tall and features a top speed of 63 miles per hour (101 km/h). The 4,155-foot-long (1,266 m) ride features five inversions and a duration of approximately 21⁄2 minutes. This steel coaster was designed and built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Riddler's Revenge</span> Roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Riddler's Revenge is a steel stand-up roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened as the park's eleventh roller coaster on April 4, 1998, setting multiple world records among stand-up coasters. Originally located in the Movie District section of the park, which later became Metropolis in 2017, The Riddler's Revenge was also the park's single biggest investment at a cost of $14 million. It features a height of 156 feet (48 m), a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h), six inversions, and a track length of 4,370 feet (1,330 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman & Robin: The Chiller</span> Defunct roller coaster

Batman & Robin: The Chiller was a dual-tracked, launched roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Designed by Premier Rides, the ride was themed to the 1997 film Batman & Robin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Ultimate Flight</span> Roller coasters at three Six Flags parks

Superman: Ultimate Flight is the name of three flying roller coasters currently operating at three Six Flags amusement parks in the United States, those being Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Great America. Each of these steel coasters were designed and built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard and opened in 2002 and 2003. Since 2003, Six Flags has installed Superman: Ultimate Flight in three of their parks. Themed to the popular comic book character, Superman: Ultimate Flight simulates flying by positioning its passengers parallel to the track, supported by harnesses and facing the ground through most of the ride. In the station, riders board the train sitting down. After the train is locked and checked, the trains are raised into the flying position. After the ride, the seats are lowered back into the sitting position for the next round of riders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nighthawk (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster

Nighthawk is a steel flying roller coaster located at Carowinds. Constructed by Vekoma, it is located in the Thunder Road section of the park. The roller coaster originally opened as Stealth at California's Great America on April 1, 2000. In 2003, Paramount Parks decided to relocate the roller coaster to Carowinds. It reopened as Borg Assimilator – the first coaster in the world to be themed to Star Trek – on March 20, 2004. After Cedar Fair purchased Carowinds in 2006, Paramount themes were soon removed from the park, and the ride was renamed Nighthawk. It is one of only two Flying Dutchman models still in existence from Vekoma, the other being Batwing at sister park Six Flags America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volcano: The Blast Coaster</span> Defunct roller coaster at Kings Dominion

Volcano: The Blast Coaster, or simply Volcano, was an inverted launched roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, United States. Designed by Werner Stengel, it was the first launched roller coaster manufactured by Intamin and the first of its kind in the world to be inverted. Its launch mechanism utilized linear induction motor (LIM) technology. After a series of delays, Volcano opened to the public on August 3, 1998. A portion of the ride was enclosed inside an artificial mountain, constructed in 1979, which previously housed other attractions. Following nearly two decades of operation, Volcano abruptly closed a few weeks into the 2018 season, and the closure became permanent during the following offseason. In 2024, Rapterra, a launched wing coaster, was announced to replace Volcano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bat (Kings Island; opened 1993)</span> Suspended roller coaster at Kings Island

The Bat is a suspended roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, United States. Built by Arrow Dynamics, the roller coaster originally opened as Top Gun in 1993, themed to the 1986 film Top Gun. It is the second suspended coaster to open at the park following an earlier prototype from Arrow Development — also called The Bat – that briefly operated at Kings Island from 1981 to 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurler (roller coaster)</span> Wooden coasters at Cedar Fair parks

Hurler is a wooden roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. A second identical installation of the ride was also built at Kings Dominion, and both locations opened to the public in 1994. The Hurler at Kings Dominion was closed following the 2015 season and was renovated by Rocky Mountain Construction, re-emerging as a hybrid coaster in 2018 named Twisted Timbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight Deck (Canada's Wonderland)</span> Roller coaster in Ontario, Canada

Flight Deck is an inverted roller coaster located at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It originally opened in 1995 under the name Top Gun. It was renamed Flight Deck in 2008 after Paramount Parks sold Wonderland to Cedar Fair, necessitated the gradual removal of all Paramount names and trademarks from the theme park.

Afterburn (roller coaster) Inverted roller coaster at Carowinds

Afterburn is an inverted roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. After more than two years of planning and construction, the roller coaster opened on March 20, 1999. The ride previously operated as Top Gun: The Jet Coaster, before it was renamed following Cedar Fair's purchase of Paramount Parks in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight of Fear</span> Enclosed launched roller coaster

Flight of Fear is the name of two identical enclosed roller coasters located at Kings Island and Kings Dominion amusement parks. Built and designed by Premier Rides, they were the world's first launched roller coasters to feature linear induction motor (LIM) technology. Both locations opened as The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear on June 18, 1996, originally themed after The Outer Limits TV series that began airing in 1995 as a revival of the original 1960s series. Paramount's licensing rights to the TV show eventually expired without renewal, and all references to The Outer Limits were removed from the ride and its name in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mystic Timbers</span> Wooden roller coaster at Kings Island

Mystic Timbers is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Constructed by Great Coasters International and designed by Skyline Design, the roller coaster opened in the Rivertown section of the park on April 15, 2017. The ride's fictional theme is set to the site of an abandoned logging company where unexplained events are taking place. During its marketing campaign, the finale element in an enclosed shed was not revealed to the public until opening day.

References

  1. ↑ Fabrikant, Geraldine (August 1, 1992). "Paramount Joins the Theme Park Bandwagon". The New York Times. pp. 39–40. ProQuest   108915132.
  2. ↑ Woodyard, Chris (August 23, 1992). "More Studios Open Theme Park Attractions That Tie Into Their Movies". The Los Angeles Times. p. D3. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Paramount revamping Great America park". Desert Dispatch. January 2, 1993. p. 3. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "A Thrill Every Screaming Second". The San Francisco Examiner. March 21, 1993. p. B-1. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Young, Susan (March 20, 1993). "Paramount is bringing Hollywood to Great America". The Oakland Tribune. pp. C-1, C-7. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Matthews, Cheri (April 1, 1993). "Feature Attractions: Amusement Parks Unveil Bigger, Better Rides, Robots". The Modesto Bee. pp. F-1, F-4. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Sloan, Gene (May 2, 1993). "It's the season to amuse yourself". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. C13. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 Zavoral, Linda (March 20, 2018). "Great America marks Flight Deck coaster's 25th anniversary". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ Niles, Robert. "California theme park pays off Super Bowl bet with ride retheme". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 "New coaster's a real blast". The Press Democrat. April 8, 1993. pp. D1. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Marden, Duane. "Flight Deck  (California's Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Take a Virtual Ride on Flight Deck - POV". California's Great America. April 5, 2017. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2022– via YouTube.
  13. ↑ Wooley, Eric (March 26, 2015). "California's Great America Kicks Off 40th Season This Weekend". Coaster101. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 Grogan, Leigh (May 27, 1993). "A 'Woodie' Lover Takes On Top Gun". The Sacramento Bee. p. 21. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 3 Salonen, Debra (May 29, 1993). "New roller coaster labeled supreme scream machine". Merced Sun-Star. p. D1. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  16. 1 2 Staff (April 21, 1993). "Great America opens new 'Top Gun' roller coaster". The Orangevale News. p. 13. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ California's Great America [@CAGreatAmerica] (January 20, 2014). "Flight Deck is getting a new paint job for 2014! Can you guess how many gallons it will take to paint this favorite?" (Tweet). Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Twitter.
  18. ↑ Wooley, Eric (May 14, 2021). "8 New Things You'll Find In California's Great America When it Opens". Coaster101. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  19. ↑ Delgado, Ray (September 8, 1998). "Roller coaster ride proves fatal". The San Francisco Examiner. p. A-5. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  20. 1 2 "Man dies after being kicked in the head at Great America". The Napa Valley Register. September 8, 1998. p. 3A. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Fatal accident at theme park". The Sacramento Bee. September 8, 1998. p. A4. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "2 injured, 1 severely, at Great America theme park ride". Los Angeles Times. June 12, 2015. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  23. ↑ Kaplan, Tracey (June 12, 2015). "Great America roller coaster accident injures two people". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  24. ↑ Barnard, Cornell (June 13, 2015). "Roller coaster accident leaves 2 injured at Great America". KABC-TV. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ Giwargis, Ramona (June 14, 2015). "Great America ride remains closed following accident". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  26. ↑ Kurhi, Eric (December 14, 2015). "Santa Clara: Great America fined for accident that injured employee". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  27. ↑ Staff (December 14, 2015). "California's Great America Owner Fined Over June Roller Coaster Accident". KNTV. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  28. ↑ Smith, Leah (August 5, 1993). "All aboard Amtrak for Great America!". The Press-Tribune. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 14–15B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.