Had a fun day at Great America! It's a solid Bay Area amusement park with a good mix of thrill…read morerides and family-friendly attractions. The roller coasters are definitely the highlight--Gold Striker is a must-ride if you like fast wooden coasters, and Flight Deck brings that intense, feet-dangling adrenaline rush. The park itself is easy to walk around and has a nice layout, so you can hit most rides without feeling lost. There's also a water park area (South Bay Shores) which is perfect on hot days. That said, wait times can get pretty long, especially on weekends, and food prices are what you'd expect--on the higher side. Some areas of the park could use a little refresh, but overall it's still a great spot for a day out with friends or family. If you go, try to arrive early and hit the popular rides first. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the South Bay and want some classic theme park vibes.

I bought a season pass for the 2026 year because I am worried that Great America might be gone next…read moreyear. I wanted to experience all the rides, food, games, the vibes and much more, all once again. I have been coming to Great America for over 25 years and I have made many memories at the park. From first rides on Stealth, to Days of Thunder, to getting wet on Whitewater Falls. Of course, some of those rides are long gone and have been replaced by other attractions. My favorite roller coaster there is actually Patriot. It is a simple floorless coaster that use to be the standup coaster, Vortex. I like how there are many rides very close to each other and you are just a few feet away from food and drinks in every corner. There are some days though where the lines move painfully slow. I wish the staff would consider optimizing the loading and unloading process so that wait times are more bearable. Other than that, everything else is good. I do hope someone or even the City of Santa Clara can sweep in and save Great America for future generations. If we lose Great America, we lose a community gathering spot for picnics, attractions, waterpark fun, concerts and so much more.

I been on this ride a couple of times, but not the ride I must need to ride every time I go to the…read morepark. It used to be called Survivor the ride, but since Cedar Fair bought them out it is called tiki twirl. The line can get really long, but the longest we have waited is 30 minutes. The nice thing is they have a cart to put in your belongings and you drop it off. Then at the end of the ride you exit the other side and pick up your things. Ride experience, not too bad considering, I do not like rides that go in circles as it makes me dizzy. It is overall fun and a good 3 minute ride. You get use the motion after awhile.

It's more fun than it looks like it would be. Just enough of a thrill but nothing too scary. Wear…read morea hair tie if you have longer hair.

Boomerang bay in the summer time is nice for everyone to cool down. You get to enjoy 2 parks for…read morethe price of 1. They have plenty of lifeguards working to ensure safety, but be sure to come early to secure shady seats. These seats fly off the shelf like hotcakes. They have a wave pool, waterslides, a lazy river, a water playground and food areas. You are able to book cabanas. Problem is that you need to book the cabana in advance especially for weekends because they get booked up fast. Looking forward to this summer!!!

Fun, staycation spot local to Bay Area folks…read more I like to come here with my kids. It's super safe. There are lifeguards everywhere. I have no trouble letting my kids just kind of run around and Rome especially in the waddle pool area. There are lots of beach chairs for parents to lie on all the kids do their damage. It is tucked away in a corner, a great America that just makes it feel like it's it's a little world. Love that lazy river. Season pass makes this place well worth it. Recommend for parents with young kids.

Oh, this roller coaster…read more This roller coaster great America must be the oldest roller coaster in the area or something. I personally cannot probably go on it anymore because whenever I do I get a huge headache. It really shakes it's not good at all and I just have a hard time having any fun on it whatsoever. If you're into that old wooden roller coaster field and go right ahead. Recommend skipping.

The Grizzly rides heavy like I'm sure you can imagine a huge Grizzly running down a wooden track…read morebeing that this really isn't a bear in the forest it is simply one of the awesome wooden coasters out there that will never disappoint anyone as it's just fun! Fun fun fun fact seriously try to sit with all adults as if you ride with kids even if they are behind you both share the same lap bar so if one closes it on you it's really right even for me! There are a few seat belts and the one that attaches to the bar to make it just that much tighter on you so don't forget about that little thing because you know you want it on! Once you've been strapped down to the car you try going and that's when you realize this whole becoming restrained part was totally worth it as you find yourself riding heavy down this radical wooden coaster like I said it rides heavy but you don't feel it as the whole ride is very smooth and just awesome coaster ride in it's own way which makes me kinda forget that I've been strapped down to the car the whole review through! One thing I've noticed at the park over the several few Grizzly rides is that the time of the ride opening seems to be later after the park is already open for a busy minute so plan accordingly! Overall awesome coaster for anyone but like I said don't ride with the kids if you don't have to!

One of the must-rides for a rollercoaster lover like me! I still remember riding this ride at my…read morehigh school senior night, and the boy who had a crush on me was holding my hand for the entire ride and ended up needing to throw up after the ride was over. Many years later, I've brought two different boyfriends here. I personally always have fun on this ride!

It's a smooth rollercoaster but I feel so sorry for the man next to me who had to listen to me…read morescream, subsequently faint and then scream again. This ride is so fun though. It reminds me a lot of silver bullet in knotts berry farm. The line moved quickly today too.

It's still here. I couldn't believe it. A ridiculously silly romp through the Mass effect universe…read morecirca Mass effect 3, made all the better by the high school girls improv style performance in the front of a projector screen.

Loved the special effects and the whole experience led by the captain…read more The only downside is , it felt so short. Waited for like 45min in line and felt like a 2 minute show.

This place is awesome! I go t to meet a nice guy who raced me which I had no idea that we were! The…read moreworkers are nice and friendly!

Racing was legit fun. But service, food and "experience" was seriously lacking for $100 a person…read more Our group of 20 was recently in and got the Taco bar as they had no other options for folks with gluten sensitivity. The food was straight up bad. I've never laughed when the meal was presented before but a disposal hotel pan of chicken, beans, corn tortillas and 5 cups of sautéed vegetables for $2k and 2 races is insane with no water or cups. You had to go the bar for bottle drinks. Also the bar was straight up not staffed for multiple occasions there was a bell put out and I assumed it was for service, hit the bell, waited for 5 min, no one came. If you're coming to race, bring your own food/drink and this could be a good time. Other than that, absolutely skip it. Yikes.

The classic mouse type coasters usually I'm not really a fan of these types of rides but this one…read moreis by far the best one I've ever ridden on! This mouse coaster is one of 4 mouse coasters ever built by Arrow Development this coaster is soo well built that it was more expensive that most of your typical mouse coasters so not that many of them ever got created making this one ride very unique! This is by far the best of the mouse coasters I have ever ridden as it's smooth and not so jerky like most other models are it's also a neat little design as it feels like it has more drops and just an all around tighter track layout then other companies models! This ride really is a gem in Great America as it's super fun and perfect for all ages just make sure you get to it kinda early because the line gets very long on busy days as everyone wants to enjoy this Arrow classic!

This line is somewhat long for the most part as it appeals to more the kids and built by Arrow. I…read morereally do not like this ride as it is not smooth and really jerky and shakes you up and down and then when it turns it jerks you side to side which is an uncomfortable ride. Definitely a ride that needs to go away for sure as Arrow is defunct and parts are hard to come by. It is in the back of the park.

This was fun the first time. But I might be getting old because now my neck hurts…read more The demon! 2 loops in a row and then two twirls in a row. Can you survive the demon?

A fun family outing on a nice, sunny day. Train ride tickets are $5 each and the train ride itself…read moretakes you on a loop through the Vasona County Park. Very relaxing ride that takes about 10 minutes. All seats are uncovered so make sure to bring your hat or sunscreen. Right next to the train is an antique carousel, tickets are also $5 per person. The ride lasts relatively longer than the average carousel ride so I feel like you get your money's worth. Billy Jones Railroad is located within a larger park so there are several playgrounds and lots of open, grassy picnic areas or picnic tables to enjoy some lunch or snacks outside.

Came here on a Saturday morning around 11am. Tickets for train and carousel is $5 per person and…read morefree for kids 2 and under. The train ride is less than 10 minutes with no cover so we brought our hats. It's a quick ride and you pass by the parking lot and a park. My girls enjoyed it. After we played by the nearby park. There is a bathroom close to the train ticket booth and lots of tables to enjoy a snack or even lunch. They were just starting the grill to cook the food for lunch but our girls were hungry so we left to get food elsewhere.