Daved Thomson

I'm sure the actual sign posted on GA's Roaring Rapids with the phrase "You Ride Hard and Come Out Wet" on it was freshly painted for our park and our rapids ride. That being said, I was surprised to learn today while reading an East Texas Historical Association journal article covering the complete history of AstroWorld, that the phrase was widely known and appeared in the queue house of that park's Thunder River. Another interesting tidbit I took away from the article, if it is correct, is that it appears that Great Adventure may have been the first Six Flags acquisition of a park that they purchased outright. The article claims that Six Flags had leased AstroWorld from interests of the Hofheinz family beginning in 1975, but did not actually purchase the park until 1978. Some good stuff (much of it surprising to me) about AstroWorld's history can be found in this journal article. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethj/vol36/iss2/12

I certainly remember those days and, if you think about it, the incredible value that was built into your ticket (especially the combination ticket). More than 100 rides, shows, and attractions. And, something for everyone in the family, from toddlers to teenagers, dating couples, and parents to grandparents. "Where you're part of the fun... There's something for everyone."

What an incredibly thorough spotlight and update. I never rode Shockwave at Great Adventure, but did get to ride it at Magic Mountain. The novelty of standup coasters, for me, is probably their strongest asset. Personally, I find standups to be uncomfortable and noticeably slower than their counterparts with seats. Still a great ride, especially as a part of the ride rotation program. Interesting note regarding Ray Williams, who appears in a number of the photos. After leaving Great Adventure, he briefly went to Six Flags' corporate office in Piscataway, directly under Larry Cochran. After leaving Six Flags, he briefly went to work for Arrow Dynamics. He was among the earliest of the Six Flags park Vice Presidents/General Managers, going all the way back to the company's ownership under the Great Southwest Corporation.

I agree that they may have considered the winding walkways and, in all honesty, I think they looked great on the model. But in the end, there was little to no landscaping or planting of grass beyond the queue. I think it's very likely that Six Flags had a strong multi-year plan for the park, given their intent to make it the nation's largest seasonal theme park. For their first season, though, I think they probably inherited alot of prior management's plans for this ride. Lightnin' Loops (Six Flags' name for the new coasters) are the same two shuttle loops that were to be called the Double Header, under Hardwicke's management and the Pritzker Family's ownership of the park. I think it's probably very likely that the contract to purchase the two coasters was actually signed by Hardwicke's leaders, especially when you consider that all three of the loop coasters added to SFOT, SFOG, and AstroWorld for the 1978 season were Swartzkopf coasters, and only LL was Arrow. If I recall correctly, Six Flags claimed to be spending $6 million on capital improvements at GA that year. LL was $2.7 million of that. I have no idea what the Americana Music Hall cost or the cost to build the LL Cafe and replace the Big Fury, Dream Street Dazzler, and the Wild Flower.

Just a thought as to why the entrance was not located in Fun Fair. First, the ride's footprint basically forms an "X" as opposed to a plus sign (+). The X results in the area to the right and left of center being larger than the area above and below the center point. You'll notice that the area between the two loading stations as built, is a smaller area than what it would have been had you simply reversed the red/upper loops loading station with its reverse platform. The area between the blue/lower loops loading station and red/upper loops reverse platform (as well as the area between the red/upper loops loading station and blue/lower loops reverse platform) are essentially the sides of the "X". The distance between the two loading platforms would have been significantly larger had you simply reversed the ends of the red/upper loop than how it was actually built. In addition, had the entrance to the rides been in Fun Fair, it would have put the entrance to the rides, at least partially behind Fun Fair's pizza and hot dog stands as well as the Enchanted Bandstand and restrooms. As built, they were able to add Lightnin' Loops Cafe to the backside of Gingerbread Fancy (a new revenue source), whereas they might have had to remove the pizza and hot dog stands as well as the bandstand had it been built with the entrance in Fun Fair. Probably a lot more economical and logistically easier to build as we knew it. But, who knows? They may have also had plans for new warehouses, administration building, wardrobe, cash control, etc. on the board already. We lost the Safari Shootout (a revenue source) after the 1980 season. In its place for 1981, was service vehicle access to the park, new employee parking, wardrobe, a satellite cash control for getting and dropping tills, and the ice house all opening and accessible from its former location. I like to think that there was a lot more thought put into growing the park and improved efficiencies back then.

Giant Wheel, Aqua Spectacle, and Runaway Train. Probably a little skewed by the family next door who had already visited and raved about the Giant Wheel, the high diving show, and the Runaway Train. The Great Arena's Chariot Races, Best of the West's giant logs on the roof, and Garden of Marvels were big favorites of theirs as well. My reason for the Giant Wheel was that the entire family rode together and it gave a great view of the entire park. Aqua Spectacle because we had heard about the divers and dolphins and had never visited Sea World or seen those types of live performances before. Runaway Train was definitely influenced by my neighbors who thought it was such an incredible ride and told my mother and father to beware of that small hill over the lake and how it pops you out of your seat. It's also important to consider that I had visited Disneyworld, Busch Gardens, and Hersheypark prior to visiting GA for the first time. Word of Mouth (the neighbors, again) was a huge factor in my parents taking us for the first time. Also, my father was glad it was another park that served beer. Although, unlike Busch Gardens, you had to pay for it at GA.

The original intended use for the Great Arena was certainly not concerts. If it was, there were far different designs that would have been more appropriate for a concert venue. I understand that concerts have been a significant portion of the arena's usage over the years. But, honestly, I don't think it's ever been considered an excellent venue for concerts, largely because of its seating layout and sound quality. My point, however, is simply that most, if not all, of the Six Flags parks are lacking in shows and performances that can, and have, drawn the family demographic that the current CEO claims he wants more of in the parks. That being said, the Great Arena remains a very large venue capable of hosting all sorts of performances even though it may not be the best layout for certain types of shows. And, it remains one of Great Adventure's original icons. Losing it, for me, would be a lot like losing the Big Wheel or Fort at this point. Without them, or refurbished/new versions of them, I just see the park becoming a slab of concrete with rides thrown down (and most of those rides are rollercoasters that do not hold universal appeal for the family demographic). Heck, at this point, even losing the four tents would be a serious detraction from what charm the park still holds for me.

Truly a country music legend who lived a long storied life. A rags to riches story that really was well portrayed in "A Coal Miners Daughter." I was eleven years old when she played at Great Adventure, and I had not even visited the park for the first time. I understand she was 90 years-old when she passed. That would make her about 44 years old in these pictures. Sadly, we have lost another of the great ones.

Have to say I hope and pray we have not lost the Great Arena. Especially if we've lost it to simply a lack of basic maintenance over it's nearly 50 year lifetime. I think we've already lost too many uniquely Great Adventure features/icons mostly due to a lack of basic season-to-season upkeep. Just my opinion, but the real lack of family oriented shows in so many of the park's (and other Six Flags locations) large venues seriously detracts from the company's ability to attract the family demographic that the current CEO claims he wants to attract because of their willingness to pay premium pricing. Personally, nobody is willing to pay a premium price for a product or service that does not warrant that price. That being said, any park filled with even the best rollercoasters, but lacking in so many other family oriented rides, shows, and attractions, does not warrant a premium price at the gate. Especially when, once inside, they learn that they'll have to shell out even more money to pay for upcharge services like fast passes and may even have to make their purchases using everything except the mighty dollar. None of this comes across well to guests. They may sucker someone in the first time, but I have to believe that for many people, that will be their first and last visit.

Of all the variations we have seen come and go with this planter, I still think the giant GA is the simplest and the most impressive. They achieved just the right slope of the hill and it really personified the oversized/undersized vision of Warner LeRoy, despite its installation in 1976. When it was moved out toward the parking lot, it actually shielded the view of the storm fencing behind it (which surrounded the back stage administration area, former balloon landing area, a small pond and several trailers that housed various administrative offices (like marketing, promotions, show operations/productions, grounds quality, and merchandising). I don't know if it's still possible, but employees could reach this backstage area from within the park using three paths. Those working in Strawberry Fair and Fun Fair used a path behind Guest Relations, another path led from between the Fortune Festival/Goodtime Ally and the Garden of Marvels, and the third path/road ran between Kiddie Kingdom and Fortune Festival/Goodtime Alley/First Aid/Security. It was much easier for employees to quickly reach Employee Dining and this area regardless of where they worked in the park, especially when the park was filled with large crowds of guests.