Yankees99

Amazing that it's almost time for the 40th birthday/anniversary of GA. Almost positive the Sky Ride was the first ride I went on when I went there in 1974. Love some of the old-time photos you recently added. One of the most significant rides in the park's history. By the way, will you be doing a 40-year collage of the park's history in July? The web site looks fantastic. Keep up the good work!

Here was the setlist from that concert. Now you can see why so many people tried to get into the park that day. Running Like the Wind. It Takes Time, Tell the Blues to Take Off the Night, Silverado, Heard It in a Love Song, Take the Highway, This Time I Believe, Ramblin', Fire on the Mountain, The Time Has Come, Desert Skies, Searchin' for a Rainbow, Can't You See, This Ol' Cowboy

Some great photos. Nice job!

This was the last year that I went to GA. That was indeed a great season with what turned out to be some classic ride aditions in Freefall and Parachuter Perch. Hard to believe it's now been more than 30 years since the last time I've been to GA.

I wanted so bad to get down to GA to see one of those two shows. Imagine if this had happened in the summer? I believe they aired one of these shows live on either WPLJ (95.5) or WNEW-FM (102.7).

Excellent idea. Some good stuff. Have you ever found photos of Fun Fair being constructed?

Great pictures. Very strange not seeing Rolling Thunder around anymore. By the way, it's about 80 degrees here in sunny Southern California.

Nice photo taken from the Little Wheel in 1979. Brings back good memories. Also, who is the little kid in the photo standing near the small garden in front of the Little Wheel?

Yet another awesome trip report, Yoshi. Some good up-close shots of many of the attractions. You should consider a career in photography because you have some pretty serious talent there. By the way, you think maybe some time you can get some ariel shots of the different parts of the park from atop the Giant Wheel?

Very nice report. Maybe one of these days, I'll get back to GA and see all of these things. Can't believe it has been 30 years since I last went there.

I looked everywhere for those episodes, including on YT, but to no avail. I did find a three-minute home movie segment on GA from 1980. It showed a very, very young Rolling Thunder.

I believe that's roughly the same cost for the one out here in L.A. The one in Orlando has way more to offer.

Only watched the show when he had on a famous athlete or musician. I vaguely recall watching the GA episodes. Do remember him doing an interview in the arena and riding the Giant Wheel. I'm with you...love to see the videos from his tapings at GA.

I'm within about maybe 50 miles or so of Magic Mountain, Knott's and Disneyland with Magic Mountain being the closest. While I don't get a chance to get to any of them anymore, I've always like Knott's the best because it reminds me a lot of the original Great Adventure-type themes even though Knott's is way older than GA. It hasn't lost its original charm. Maybe I'll get down there in the next few months. By the way, if you go to Knott's, make sure to go to their restaurant and have some of their chicken. It's absolutely unreal! Glad to see you getting to a lot of parks in the Tri-State Area and Pennsylvania. I miss those places a lot, including the piers down in Wildwood.

That's an awesome trip report. Was last at Dorney Park in 1977 (the week Elvis died). If you ever come out here to Southern California, you need to go to Knott's Berry Farm.

The original. The attractions were tucked away, plus you looked down Main Street to see the Carousel and Giant Wheel. What a backdrop.

Looks like you had a lot of fun today. You nailed it with a lot of great photos. Very hard for me to not see the wagon and teepee still standing, as the Rootin' Tootin' Rip Roaring section was one of my favorite areas. By the way, the flume would have been open out here in Southern California today as it was in the 80s here.

Two questions for anybody who had to work either the Giant Wheel or Little Wheel: How many complete spins would the riders get before it was time for them to exit the car? How did/do the ride operators keep track of each car since there are so many?

Hard to believe that the Garden of Marvels and the old Koi Pond once were located there.

My grape juice container (in a box somewhere) and my original GA program.

Cyclone at Coney Island. First wooden roller coaster I ever road.

When was that photo from the Sky Ride taken? I remember those steels being there in the early 80s.

Went to GA twice in 1979. Seem to recall being there for all 14 hours (10 a.m. to midnight) each visit and not coming close to getting everything done. You had Rolling Thunder in its first year and Lightning Loops in its second year. I remember getting a light blue "Rolling Thunder T-shirt" near the front gate as a souvenir before heading home. For those of us here who went to the park during the first seven or eight years, we can truly appreciate GA all these years later. Sort of like treasuring Coney Island if you went there in the 40s/50s. Can't wait for the 1980 photos. That was another great year for GA.

I went every other time. The Safari has its own rich history, one that should not be forgotten.

Looks like you had fun. Love that shot of the Big Wheel. How close were you from Pat Benatar when you took that photo?