Gold Striker's trains revealed

Gold Striker's trains recently arrived at the park, and CGA showed off one car on its Facebook:

Via Facebook.

Gold Striker first rider auction is now live

Gold Striker's first rider auction is live, and on the tentative date of May 1, riders will be able to take their first spin on the coaster.

The ride is expected to open to the general public soon after, CGA said.

The auction is open through April 28, and the seats will be auctioned off to the highest bidders.

Proceeds will go to the San Francisco 49ers foundation.

New show for Action Theater?

According to a rumor from PureCoaster, the 10-year-old Spongebob 4D movie in the Action Theater could be on its way out.

The rumor said the film will be replaced with some sort of 2D white water rafting movie, possibly this season or next.

A Gold Striker photo update was posted as well.

Subway restaurant update

With all the recent Gold Striker news, such as construction crews topping off the lift hill, to the first drop being partially (or fully) enclosed, let's take a look at the other new-for-2013 attraction at CGA.

The park recently posted a photo of a building being remodeled. Although it didn't say, it's likely for Subway. The building also appears to be located close to the Great America Theater, across the way from Xtreme Skyflyer.

From CGA.

Perhaps the most exciting part? CGA applied for a permit to build a new bathroom in the restaurant. Now that's certainly more interesting than any Gold Striker announcement.

Yes, I'm kidding.

Gold Striker update 1-26

CGA posted an amazing new photo of Gold Striker on their Facebook page.

Via Facebook.

The lift hill should be finished in the next couple weeks and the station will be constructed next month, a worker told members from Theme Park Review recently.

American Coaster Enthusiasts also posted a nice behind-the-scenes construction update of the coaster.

Gold Striker logo changed

In likely response to the school shootings in Connecticut, CGA altered Gold Striker's miner logo. The miner now holds a lantern instead of a pistol:

New logo

Old logo

New Gold Striker pictures

New Gold Striker pictures have been posted to CGA's Facebook, and the ride is really moving along quickly and nicely.

Via Facebook.

End of season recap and 2013 predictions

CGA's season ended on Oct. 28, and now is a good time to look back on the 2012 season, easily the best I've had since I started going in 2008. My highlights and predictions for next season are as follows: 

The reason why 2012 was so great. This picture was taken in early September, and a lot has changed since then.

Highlights

- Gold Striker construction! I'm sure this is everybody's highlight. The first time I saw that picture of land clearing back in May was probably the best moment I've had yet as a CGA fan.

- Five-person raft on Didgeridoo Falls (with fellow Theme Park Review members). Never before have I felt a near-death experience on a ride. If I hadn't held on, I would have certainly fell out. Easily got a foot or so out of my seat!

-Trying out the body slides for the first time. Can't wait to go on these again!

- Five-person Logger's Run.

- Kiddy ride takeovers: Pumpkin Patch, Woodstock's.

- Haunt!

- Mini-ERT session on Drop Tower to end the season.

- Firefall open for the first day and whole season. Also, getting a backwards flip and flying over the water, Stealth-style.

- Getting addicted to Flying Eagles.

Predictions for next season

- Gold Striker opens in late April/early May, and the ride consists of 50 percent tunnels. My goal is to be there on media day (please be on a Sunday!).

- That ugly blue on the Pictorium gets repainted to at least match Gold Striker.

- An older flat ride is removed. Amid all this excitement for Gold Striker, it wouldn't surprise me if a ride is ripped out for no apparent reason (remember, this is still CGA, after all).

- Demon's red train returns, orange gets sent back to rehab.

- Cabin #1 on Drop Tower returns, another (I'm going to say #4) goes down for the rest of season.

- No new mazes for Haunt, but Werewolf Canyon gets the next "Revamp'd" treatment.

- New shows.

- An announcement for a 2014 water slide, but nothing more.

Gold Striker officially announced

CGA officially announced Gold Striker today, the fastest and tallest wooden roller coaster in Northern California. For images, video and stats, visit www.cagreatamerica.com.

Project Au13 construction update

Au13, to be announced Aug. 29, is really coming along. I visited CGA on Saturday (Aug. 25), and this is what it looked like. One of the turns is nearly complete:

The park's skyline is really starting to change.

For a more in-depth look at Au13's progress, check out Au13 Construction Watch, a new blog devoted to all things Au13.

More Au13 pictures

CGA has posted a bunch of new pictures of "Au13" on their Facebook page. One of the turnarounds looks nearly complete.

"Gold Striker," likely the coaster's name, will be officially announced Aug. 29.

Via Facebook

New coaster codenamed Au13, to be revealed Aug. 29

CGA has posted teasers on their Facebook about a full reveal of "Au13" on Aug. 29. The image, showing a gold miner, teases that the coaster will "strike new records."

Via Facebook

Cedar Fair has recently trademarked the name "Gold Striker," which seems will be the name of the new coaster, based on the teasers.

Meanwhile, the coaster has achieved vertical construction:

Via Facebook

Halloween Haunt 2012 details and wooden coaster announcement date

CGA has confirmed that Carnevil, Toy Factory, Cornstalkers, Slaughterhouse, Werewolf's Canyon and Black Widow's Cavern will make a return for Halloween Haunt 2012.

A new, yet-to-be-revealed maze will be set up behind the former Invertigo location. Rumor has it that the maze will be called "Massacre Manor," according to Screamscape.

No word yet on Club Blood's fate, although it seems likely it won't make a return due to the clearing of it's former area for the 2013 wooden coaster.

Speaking of the coaster, Screamscape mentioned that an official announcement will be made around Aug. 29.

Land clearing for new maze behind the former Invertigo site. Via Facebook.

Wood coaster construction continues

Although not officially announced (yet), CGA's wooden coaster project is starting to make some significant strides. Wood has arrived in the parking lot, and the cement foundation is being poured. From the park's Facebook:

Land clearing for new coaster has begun

CGA posted this picture on their Facebook, showing off the land clearing as they prepare for the new wooden coaster.

Via Facebook

City approves plans for 2013 coaster

Santa Clara's architectural committee recently approved the revised plans for the 2013 GCI wooden coaster. But once again, Prudential, because they have nothing better to do, is complaining, appealing the city's decision.

Almost official: GCI woodie in 2013

CGA is reportedly dusting off the old plans for the GCI woodie. The park has applied for architectural reviews for a "wood coaster ride" on the city's permit website.

Screamscape is also confirming that the coaster will indeed open in 2013.

More good news: The new paint jobs for Demon, Flight Deck, and now Columbia are going well. Check out the pictures on CGA's Facebook.

2013 coaster rumor

Things are getting interesting...from Screamscape:

2013 - New Coaster - Rumor - (12/8/11) Screamscape sources tell us that Cedar Fair management may have privately confirmed to GCA management that the park would get a new roller coaster for 2013. So the question remains… is it the long delayed GCI wooden coaster or something new?

New wooden coaster is coming...just not in 2012

Theme Park Review members who attended a Q&A session with park management recently were told that the wooden coaster is indeed back on track, and will be built either in 2013 or 2014.

I'd expect the coaster to open in 2013, seeing that it would be within the time frame of the two-year height variance extension.

As far as 2012 announcements go, Cedar Fair plans to announce new additions for "all" of its parks in late August/early September, so stay tuned.

Wooden coaster project being revived?

I came across some interesting information regarding the supposedly dead wooden coaster project.  Last month, Cedar Fair requested a two-year extension for the 111-foot height variance for the wooden coaster.  You can see the request from the Santa Clara Planning Commission agenda for their June meeting.  I've highlighted the important bit here:

Also of note is the permit status for the project, which you can view on Santa Clara's online permit database.  It looked like the project died in 2009, but now there are a few new entries dated in May and June of this year.  The request for a time extension is noted on one entry.  I don't understand the code words on the other entries, but what is important is that there has been movement recently on the project.

Stay tuned...