California's Great America

California's Great America
Previously known as
    • Marriott's Great America
    •  (1976‑84)
    • Great America
    •  (1985‑92, 2007)
    • Paramount's Great America
    •  (1993‑2006)
Map
LocationSanta Clara, California, U.S.
Coordinates37°23′45.4″N 121°58′20.1″W / 37.395944°N 121.972250°W / 37.395944; -121.972250
StatusOperating
Public transit
OpenedMarch 20, 1976 (1976-03-20)
OwnerSix Flags
General managerBarbara-Lea Granter
ThemeVarious
SloganIt's Amazing in Here, For the Fun of It
Operating seasonApril through October
Area112 acres (45 ha)
Attractions
Total42 (as of 2024)
Roller coasters9
Water rides2
Websitewww.cagreatamerica.com

California's Great America is an 112-acre (45 ha) amusement park[1] 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.

Ownership of the park transitioned several times, beginning with the city of Santa Clara's acquisition from Marriott in 1985. It was then sold to Kings Entertainment Company in 1989, while Santa Clara retained ownership of the land. Paramount Parks acquired the park in 1992, followed by Cedar Fair in 2006. Santa Clara eventually sold the land occupied by the park to then-owner Cedar Fair in 2019, who then sold it to Prologis in 2022. Due to the subject of the sale, Six Flags (who merged with Cedar Fair in 2024), is required to close the park by June 30, 2028, unless Prologis extends Six Flags lease five years through 2033.[2][3]

  1. ^ Vo, Thy (March 28, 2019). "Great America owner buys theme park property from Santa Clara for $150 million". Bay Area News Group. The Mercury News. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Great America's Land Sold to New Owners, It Will Close in Six Years or 'Up to 11 Years'". SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports. June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Avalos, George (January 7, 2025). "Santa Clara's Great America theme park lease could be terminated in three years: new docs". SiliconValley.com. Retrieved January 26, 2025.

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