After making the hour drive to California's Great America, Nate, Grandma Sue, and I had to wait for Nate's parents to meet with us at the park. While we waited, I went into the park's Starbucks and get coffee and hot chocolate. Once everyone was at CGA, we went in and did our first ride of the day, Star Tower. After taking in the views from the tower, we took a nice ride on Carousel Columbia, and with the wind it was rather chilly.
Nate and Grandma Sue suggested we go clockwise through the park, and we stopped to ride Flight Deck. I wish we got a reride, because Flight Deck is so much fun. We started to walk to the back of the park, passing through American Corner and Planet Snoopy. I got my last credit of the trip here, Woodstock Express, before waiting 30 minutes for Psycho Mouse.
Finishing up my time in California during this trip, we made a visit to the other Great America, California's Great America in Santa Clara California. While we only had until 6pm at the park (so I could catch my plane home) this visit was incredibly fun. What made this especially fun was getting to with Nate, who used to work here years ago.
Psycho was very fun, even with its wait. We decided to get lunch afterwards, and I got a burrito. It was very good, and I even told Nate's dad I wish I knew of the place during my last visit to CGA. We followed with a ride on Mass Effect: New Earth. Its a 4d show, not really a ride, but we walked right on and had a good time.
After Mass Effect, We made our way over to Demon and RailBlazer. Grandma Sue and I rode Demon twice, and it was so much fun. Its a little uncanny how similar the two Demons are, but the ride was fun regardless.
We then went to wait 45 minutes for RailBlazer. It always annoyes me how slow the line moves because of its 2 8 person train ops. Nate's mom, Grandma Sue, and I rode and it was as demented as I remember. Afterwards, Everyone else was done with rides for the day, but I managed to snag a walk-on ride for both Patroit and Gold Striker. I found that Gold Striker was better then I remembered, which was a shock to me. Patroit ran pretty good as the Oldest B&M currently in operation, but it was still boring.
We then went to wait 45 minutes for RailBlazer. It always annoyes me how slow the line moves because of its 2 8 person train ops. Nate's mom, Grandma Sue, and I rode and it was as demented as I remember. Afterwards, Everyone else was done with rides for the day, but I managed to snag a walk-on ride for both Patroit and Gold Striker. I found that Gold Striker was better then I remembered, which was a shock to me. Patroit ran pretty good as the Oldest B&M currently in operation, but it was still boring.
After the last rides of the day, we took some time to look at the merch at the park before heading to the airport. I bought a seagull plush and a magnet.
We made one more stop before heading out, and that was to a nearby In-N-Out, and it was pretty good. We talked about the trip before Nate's dad, Nate, and I went to SFO.
Visiting California's Great America during its 50th anniversary, and having the opprotunity to visit again after thinking my 2025 trip was my only trip I would get, I had a wonderful time. The park felt so alive, and the atmosphere was lively the whole day. You couldn't tell that the park was due to close in the near future. There was some improvements compared to 2025, such as the merch game being better then last season, and the food options were open. I love CGA, and I hope to make one more visit before it's gone in 2027.
We made one more stop before heading out, and that was to a nearby In-N-Out, and it was pretty good. We talked about the trip before Nate's dad, Nate, and I went to SFO.
Visiting California's Great America during its 50th anniversary, and having the opprotunity to visit again after thinking my 2025 trip was my only trip I would get, I had a wonderful time. The park felt so alive, and the atmosphere was lively the whole day. You couldn't tell that the park was due to close in the near future. There was some improvements compared to 2025, such as the merch game being better then last season, and the food options were open. I love CGA, and I hope to make one more visit before it's gone in 2027.
