Hard to believe it, but Raring Rapids will be 45 years old this season. It was only the second ride of its kind in the world when it opened in 1981.
www.greatadventurehistory.com/Roaring%20Ra...
Photo of El Toro from the 2006 season, just after the ride opened in June.
The 2026 season will mark the 20th year for El Toro!
Great to see that it's getting some much needed TLC in the off season to bring it back to the great ride it started out as.
Disney uses them (backstage) and removes the word "Ass" from the label.
They can't-- it's used a break space for the staff. All the break rooms are at capacity in Magic Kingdom...
Excited to share that “Ticket to Ride- America’s Theme Park Trains” is now available for pre-order!
rivershorepress.com/ticket-to-ride
This book will be a “must have” for train & theme park fans everywhere. Photos from my Great Adventure History collection and my personal collection of are included.
From this date in 2008– both coasters are gone now…
May the 4th be with you!
Surprised they haven't fixed those lights...
They've been selecting random TMs to get Valet Parking so all of the TMs/systems can be put to the test. They've also done that with Express Pass and VIP Tours.
These photos are so awesome— I time capsule of the late 70’s/early 80’s in a theme park! The fake Darth Vader/C3PO photos are rare and amazing!
Another Monday, another map! This week it's 1987-- Splashwater Falls made a big splash, but it was another rough year for the park with bad publicity.
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1987_Yearboo...
This could have interesting implications for the theme park world. I believe the licensing with Six Flags runs out next year...
Map Monday this week is 1986, and the debut of the first (and only) Togo Ultra Twister outside of Japan! The unique ride was thrilling, but low capacity and only lasted a few years.
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1986_Yearboo...
No Ultra Twister on this map— it, and the bridge connecting the Rolling Thunder side of the creek to the Runaway Train side were added in 1986.
Today’s Map Monday brings us to 1985, a “rebuilding” year for the park. Looping Starship was the new ride, and the Looney Tunes took over as park mascots. Behind the scenes a $5 million fire safety system was retrofit park wide.
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1985_Yearboo...
turn that shit up!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQsw...
More ‘84 goodness with a look at the Season Passholder mailer:
www.greatadventurehistory.com/New1984SPMai...
To go with our Map Monday, the 1984 season also had Pac Man and Ms. Pac Man.
Yep— the first and only season for Shirt Tales (they also had Pac Man and Ms. Pac Man). Looney Tunes came the next season. The license came with Great America (Chicago) when the park was acquired from Marriott in 1984.
It was fun, just REALLY low capacity and it there was even a drop of rain it had to shut down.
This week’s Map Monday takes us to 1984, the year that changed everything for Great Adventure and industry wide. The Sarajevo Bobsled was the marquis addition for the season.
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1984_Yearboo...
Smithsonian Magazine has a post about the demise of Kingda Ka:
www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/t...
I missed Map Monday, so we’re doing a Two Map Tuesday to make up for it! Here’s the 1982 map featuring the “new” Games Area, and the 1983 map which introduced Freefall, Parachutes, and the Ski Show!
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1982_Yearboo...
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1983_Yearboo...
The best of 70's design!
Before AI, computer animation, and CAD drawings were used to show new rides, elaborate models used to be made to help show off what was coming to the park. The Roaring Rapids model was one of the most elaborate, and actually could hold water!
www.greatadventurehistory.com/RoaringRapid...
The Super Sidewinder was REALLY lost back there!
Another Map Monday— 1981 and the arrival of Roaring Rapids! The rapids ride was developed by Six Flags and Intamin and was only the second in the world when it opened.
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1981_Yearboo...
It’s Map Monday again!
This week we’re looking at 1980, when swinging ship mania was in full swing and the Buccaneer was introduced.
www.greatadventurehistory.com/1980_Yearboo...
This week’s Map Monday brings us to 1979, the year Rolling Thunder made its debut. The wooden racing coaster would remain Great Adventure’s largest coaster for ten years.