What was your favorite SFGAM season ever?

[cowboy1192]

I liked the 2001 season when V2 and VU opened...

[coaster_dude14]

Mines would have to be when they got Mardi Gras

[tp41190]

I really like the 2001 season along with the 2005 season.

I dont know why, but in 2005 the park had a good atmosphere. I think because it was a mix of the old and the new. Then since 2006 the park has lost that "new/old" atmoshpere. I think a big part of it was the music and the fact that Dejavu was running good. I dont know why but those two seasons stick out in my mind.

[FParker185]

Awesome topic

I'm going to have to go with either 1997 or 1998, it just seemed like the park was at it's peak, had a full compliment of rides, park was in awesome shape, was just all around nice. 99 was good with bull also but the park was just beginning it's downward slide under the Premeir regime. After that it was steadily downhill (at a rapid rate) til about 04 when Wintrode left, things imrpoved alot with Tim Black for the season then Ron Sevart was awesome also and the park really improved alot under him, but now the park is back in the pits and just about worse than ever.

[kumba830]

mine would have to be 2006... they made many great improvements that year

[Mr. SFGAm]

I'd have to say the 1999 season, partially because it was my first ever visit to the park. I didn't get to ride alot of the coasters that time because the park was so packed, but I do remember alot of the other rides. As tp41190 said, it was like the perfect mix between old and new. Sky Whirl, and Cajun Cliffhanger were there still, and Raging Bull was new. The park just seemed to be so alive.

[DejaVuGurl1203]

VERY hard decision to make.

2000 - My first trip to SFGAm, and on my second trip, I rode BTR and Whizzer and became a coaster enthusiast! But was still scared to ride more coasters, lol.
2001 - I rode every open coaster in the park, excluding Vu.
2006 was a good year...
So was 2007. Amazing.
And so far, this year is amazing too. I really can't tell you what my favorite season was. Maybe either 2006 or 2007. Amazing Vu rides

[tp41190]

I think the one reason why (any time before 2000) sticks out in my mine is because of this atmosphere that I had at the park.

Im going to try to paint an image in your mind...I really want to share this.

Its either early June or late September. Your drive down to the park was kind of bad and the it was raining with dark clouds. The whole ride you just watch the windshield wipers go back and forth. Then after about an hour or so you see 2 bright blinking lights. They stand out in the dark rainy sky...you know your close to Six Flags. You then pass the threw the tolls and you can start to see the coasters. You drive up to the park and your in the parking lot. The rain has stopped the there are still lots of dark clouds. It isnt too bad outside. But it is cold enough where you would have to wear pants and a sweatshirt. You are walking up to the park entrance and you hear and see Shockwave testing. The sound of the lift is very distinct. The loud echoing, clacking sound of the anti roll backs. Then the roar of the train making its course. You finally get into the park and you walk upon the Carousel. The music is enjoyable and you feel happy because you are in the park...finally.

Looking out in front of you see puddles of water from the rain and the sky reflecting off of the puddles. The rest of the day you are just a happy person riding rides all day with very light crowds. You then are on American Eagle. At the top of the lift hill you can see SkyWhirl, Raging Bull, and Giant Drop. Raging Bull has the dark orange glow in front of the dark cloudy sky. The track on Raging Bull also stands out vividly because there is just a black top parking lot behind it. This was before HH and it was just a black area. You then ride and it is starting to drizzle. You have to cover your face because the water is starting to hurt. You are coming back and then you pass the on ride photo camera. You might make a face or crazy pose for the camera. When you pass the camera you are almost blinded by a violent strobe. Then you pull into the station and hear the usual buzzing sound. You walk back into the tent and look for your on ride photo. All the TV are lit up and the tent is empty, echoing you voice and you walk out of it.

After an entire day of riding coasters it is about 8:00 pm. The sky has been dark and cloudy all day. You rode the water rides and watched Power Dive, Black Batman, The Light House by Clipper, while eating a meal. By now, it is just after sunset. The sky is still lit but it has a very hazy, dark blue light. You walk to American Eagle again to get a last ride before you go home. The lights are starting to come on and the park is almost empty. You ride the ride acting crazy knowing its the last ride. You then pass the on ride and again are blinded by the strobe. Then as you are going threw the final helix you start to see the dark blue, hazy sky again and you pull into the brakes. The neon lights in the brake run of eagle are on and the park is closed. People are usually saying stuff back and forth to each other...because one side won the race.



I really dont know why, but for some reason when ever I think of SFGAm I think of the dark blue, hazy sky with all the past rides from before 2000....along with the being in the park with little crowds and with the paths covered in puddle from the rain. I also remember the smell of the wet pavement. And every time I smell that currently it brings back memories.

[yamcha]

Mine comes down to two because those are the last to time ( up till now) that i went.

First The Batman Stunt show and Batman the the ride just opened up

the other is when Giant Drop first opened up.

I alway get flash backs to those days when i drive under eagle. I also rember standing next to Power dive trying to bribe my way on.

[cycamps]

I personally though 2005 was a great season.

[CoasterDude12-2]

It's too hard to choose a favorite, but some good years were:

1995- First year I got to go to SFGAm.
1997- First time I had been on all the rides
1999- First year Bull opened
2004- Mardi Gras
2005- Hurricane Harbor. This probably would be the best year, the year right before Shapiro.

[bork]

1999 was pretty good, when Raging Bull opened and they hadn't started to remove tons of rides. If a ride closed, it was replaced with something better.

But 1992 was a great year. Batman was the first of its kind in the world. It was the end of a streak with 4 new coasters in 5 years. Over 3 million people visited the park, ranking #12 in attendance (best year ever).

Honorable mention to 1989, as that was my first trip to Great America.

[rct2wizard360]

I agree with ben(?) on this one.

My favorite season of the park in general was pre-2000.
I completely agree when you picture the park after rain like that. That's how it ALWAYS was for me. I don't remember ONE sunny day when I was kid.
The park was just, I can't describe it. You'd walk around and it seemed like these coasters were huge monsters. You heard the anti-rollbacks and heard the screams. It really seemed like a dream. It was truley a getaway from everyday life.

My favorite season as an enthusiast was 2005. Most of the original possee was still around, before they all worked at the park. Hurricane Harbor just opened, and I remember having to park in the overflow lot coming in at noon one day, and still walking on to Deja Vu. This was mainly a season I having a good time, with loads of people.

Im hoping one day the park will once again be the pre-2000 days, but with the experience of 2005. Thats when I'll be completely happy with the park.

[tp41190]

^Yeah its me (Ben).

And now that you mention it, I dont think I was ever there on a sunny day until I was able to go often in 2004. But we went about once a year since 1993 and in 1999 we went 2 sometimes 3 times a year. And I dont recall a day where it was clear and sunny for most of the day. Being in County Fair when it is dark and rainy in probaly the most memorable for me. And another visit stands out where the sun was setting and it was very dark and cloudy. And DejaVu was running (2002) and the green track seemed to glow.

[tillenterprises]

You all must be pretty young here My favorite season was 1983- Marriott's was still in control, and therefore the theming, food, customer service and atmosphere was still excellent. The new ride that year was THE EDGE! Plus, the Eagle was still new, we still had the Tidal Wave and Sky Whirl, and the Demon was still relatively new (1980). Whatever year (1996?) they finally finished the Southwest Territory, an area that was planned by Marriott's since the 70's, but it took 20 years and a new owner to finally build it, was a good year too. It was nice to see this new area finally completed! Also the year Hurricane Harbor opened was good too.

[Coaster Justin]

I would have to say 2005 for A Few Reasons:

- Deja Vu had shown the Most Consistency (sp?) I had Ever Seen
- Food Prices were Reasonable
- Hurricane Harbor's Great Debut
- Good Shows from What I can Remember
- A Majority if not Everything always operating
- The Staff just Exploded with Efficientcy
- Prices Were Reasonable
- Lines were Low (With the Exception of Fright Fest)
- A 24% Increase in Attendance

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

2005 was definitely the best. It was my first year as a true enthusiast, and not only was the park fun that year, but I met so many great people and have so many memories from that year. We still talk about "the race to 100 on Vu" and our water fights to this day.

[ttd rox]

2005 when it was my first year riding the 54'' plus coasters and also the first time my friend went to SFGAm to ride them with me.

[demon boy]

Wow, nice to see an interesting topic up for once. Um, well, lets see. I"m going to do this on a few criteria......

Best RIDES year(s)- all of the 1990s and 2001.

Best upkeep year- 1999

Best FF year- either 1994 or 2005 (in 94 necro was camp hideaway and was scary as all hell)

Best upgrade year- 2005

Best family year- probably 2006

Best thrill year- 1999, lets face it, RB has been our best new coaster yet

Best ovearall season- to be honest, it would be none of these. It would be for me 1981, one of the last Marriott seasons. But as far as SF goes, most likely yes 2005

[cowboy1192]

I think the one reason why (any time before 2000) sticks out in my mine is because of this atmosphere that I had at the park.

Im going to try to paint an image in your mind...I really want to share this.

Its either early June or late September. Your drive down to the park was kind of bad and the it was raining with dark clouds. The whole ride you just watch the windshield wipers go back and forth. Then after about an hour or so you see 2 bright blinking lights. They stand out in the dark rainy sky...you know your close to Six Flags. You then pass the threw the tolls and you can start to see the coasters. You drive up to the park and your in the parking lot. The rain has stopped the there are still lots of dark clouds. It isnt too bad outside. But it is cold enough where you would have to wear pants and a sweatshirt. You are walking up to the park entrance and you hear and see Shockwave testing. The sound of the lift is very distinct. The loud echoing, clacking sound of the anti roll backs. Then the roar of the train making its course. You finally get into the park and you walk upon the Carousel. The music is enjoyable and you feel happy because you are in the park...finally.

Looking out in front of you see puddles of water from the rain and the sky reflecting off of the puddles. The rest of the day you are just a happy person riding rides all day with very light crowds. You then are on American Eagle. At the top of the lift hill you can see SkyWhirl, Raging Bull, and Giant Drop. Raging Bull has the dark orange glow in front of the dark cloudy sky. The track on Raging Bull also stands out vividly because there is just a black top parking lot behind it. This was before HH and it was just a black area. You then ride and it is starting to drizzle. You have to cover your face because the water is starting to hurt. You are coming back and then you pass the on ride photo camera. You might make a face or crazy pose for the camera. When you pass the camera you are almost blinded by a violent strobe. Then you pull into the station and hear the usual buzzing sound. You walk back into the tent and look for your on ride photo. All the TV are lit up and the tent is empty, echoing you voice and you walk out of it.

After an entire day of riding coasters it is about 8:00 pm. The sky has been dark and cloudy all day. You rode the water rides and watched Power Dive, Black Batman, The Light House by Clipper, while eating a meal. By now, it is just after sunset. The sky is still lit but it has a very hazy, dark blue light. You walk to American Eagle again to get a last ride before you go home. The lights are starting to come on and the park is almost empty. You ride the ride acting crazy knowing its the last ride. You then pass the on ride and again are blinded by the strobe. Then as you are going threw the final helix you start to see the dark blue, hazy sky again and you pull into the brakes. The neon lights in the brake run of eagle are on and the park is closed. People are usually saying stuff back and forth to each other...because one side won the race.



I really dont know why, but for some reason when ever I think of SFGAm I think of the dark blue, hazy sky with all the past rides from before 2000....along with the being in the park with little crowds and with the paths covered in puddle from the rain. I also remember the smell of the wet pavement. And every time I smell that currently it brings back memories.

just reading that sends chills down my spine...