Daved Thomson

Four of the seven coasters selected as New Jersey's best by two famous theme park/roller coaster authors were at Great Adventure and included in The Courier News (of Bridgewater, NJ) article from July 25, 2001.

The man who "created and designed" Great Adventure, Warner LeRoy, passed away in late February of 2001. Warner LeRoy, in addition to creating Great Adventure, was the son of Mervyn LeRoy, who produced the Wizard of Oz. LeRoy's most famous and popular creations were two New York restaurants, first opening Maxwell's Plum in the 1960's and Tavern on the Green in the 1970's. Tavern on the Green went on to become the country's highest grossing restaurant and Great Adventure would become the nation's largest seasonal theme park (in terms of property size and, at one point, attendance).

Mark Kane reflects on the policy he began to implement two years earlier when he returned to Great Adventure as park President. The simple policy of bringing back the basics (like keeping the park clean, organized, safe, and free of line jumper and rowdy guests), seemed to breath new life into the park. And, guests had begun to notice the parks improved operations. Mark Kane began his career at Great Adventure in 1976, working in the games department. He returned to GA after serving as Six Flags New England's President.

Mark Kane, GA President, spoke with Camden's Courier-Post newspaper following the park's 2008 opening. With The Dark Night Coaster opening later in the Spring, Kane was upbeat about the park's prospects for the season despite a weak economy. The park president predicted that families would take trips closer to home as a result of the soft economy, which would work in favor of Great Adventure.