California's Great America! Updates May 2024. American Cafe is open!!

[@toniduffy4684]

Wine festival, June 8

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Omg.... I totally forgot about that.... 🤡

[@felishadiaz7227]

Thank you for making this video! My husband and I had our first date at Great America 26 years ago

[@Eldons_Excursions]

26 years!? Congratulations guys!! That's awesome! I'm glad I shared the park with you. I'll be back again in the future 😁

[@EvanJoelle]

Thanks so much for watching and recording man! So happy we could brighten your day 😄

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Thank you! It was a great show you guys put on! Lots of energy and fun laughs.

[@kipyo]

Planning to revisit California's Great America soon. Thanks for the informative video!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

No problem!! Glad I can help! 😊

[@armybeef68]

5:26 Rip Roaring Rapids did, at one time, and it used to cost 25 cents back in 1988. Oh, that's the ride that looks like an inner tube. (That one you'll have to look up also)

[@armybeef68]

RIP Great America...You will NEVER be forgotten.

[@dustinjackson1201]

Awesome video, Eldon! Thanks for showing us so much of the park! That’s it, I’m planning my first trip to CGA for early August. Hope to see you in the park!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Haha glad to share it with you man! Yeah, plan a trip. You may catch me in the park!

[@bitinback]

Your excursions are fantastic! Keep the great videos coming! 👍 Yes to knotts!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Thank you! Sounds like I'm going to knotts! I'm excited to take you all along! 😁

[@Derekepikasian123]

Great vid I’m going there this summer Ty fro the update

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Nice! You're going to have a good time.

[@misterA2Z]

Yes, do Knott’s! Also love seeing this park, it was the park I grew up with back when it was still Paramount. Glad to see how much Cedar Fair has taken care of and improved this park plus how much they seem to be making future investments in the park.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Heck yeah!! They've been killing it over here. Really bringing back this park. I can't wait to see where this park goes in the future! Man, paramount days.... I do miss them.

[@TrulyTheresa]

Heeey Eldon! Love the confidence and you seem so much happier these days❤️ So awesome to see you smiling so much more! And yes, most definitely go to Knott’s Berry Farm😁

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Thanks!! Yes, I'm definitely feeling better going out and having fun vlogging with you all. Going out and just doing what I love and bringing you all with me is the best part! Knotts it is!! 😁

[@TrulyTheresa]

@@Eldons_Excursions I’m so excited for this trip! For sure it’s going to be such a fun filled excursion and a great start for the summer season😁 Thanks for taking us along to all your adventures❤️

[@zeebles]

I grew up going to Great America so it’s cool to hear it might not close!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

That's what the new rumor is, and I'm here for it!

[@CCcastro336]

Another cool video. Love the band 😊

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Right! They did a very good job. I was very impressed!

[@stefaniecrowder1305]

What a great band. I’m glad you got on some rides especially flight deck that’s the best ride ever! And that fountain at night.. OMG so beautiful at night with the lights ❤ that view never gets old. Great video as always Eldon, thank you. And I vote YES to Knott’s Berry Farm 😁😁

[@Eldons_Excursions]

No no no, thank you!! Lol thanks for joining me. That band was a lot of fun lol really know how to put on a show! Yes, this fountain... oh man 😍😍 Sounds like you'll be joining me at knotts! 😁

[@stefaniecrowder1305]

Looking forward to it. Sounds like it’s going to be a fun and exciting trip! 😁

[@armybeef68]

6:07 RIP Barney O's....1989 You will NEVER be forgotten. (I ran under those wood beams many a time trying to get a guest's car going again) (Not to mention the water fights we used to have....LOL)

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@armybeef68 haha that's awesome. Sounds like you loved working there.

[@ariannamorgado5369]

Thanks for the update! I’m going tomorrow with some friends and can’t wait! 🎠🎢⛲️

[@Eldons_Excursions]

No problem 😊

[@zacharyyamashita8554]

Orbit is looking better than ever with it's LED Lights.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

It really is!! They've been taking really good care of it!

[@CaptainPhoton64]

thanks for the fun Eldon

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Of course!

[@ct6852]

Aww good memories of this place. Remember when it was Paramount's Great America. Then they started shipping off some of their best rides, which was a bummer. Classics are still there, though. Is it closing down for good soon?

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@ct6852 Honestly, from my own personal beliefs and from what I hear from staff, the park isn't going anywhere. Out of Cedar Fairs 2 northern California parks, Great America is for sure the premiere park and the most updated. So it does not make sense to close it. 2026 marks the parks 50th anniversary. I have a feeling more money is definitely going into the park by then.

[@ct6852]

@@Eldons_Excursions If they could get some of the Silicon Valley money invested they could really make it something special. Hell I'm not rich by any means, but I would donate to keep it open.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@ct6852 That would be nice! Best way to donate to the park is to give it a visit and buy a few things. It goes a long way. They have a lot of cool merchandise!

[@Fam-G-Thrills]

Yes Knotts for sure! First time here, just subbed. I'm in NorCal and never been to California Great America. I must go now. Went to Universal HHN last year and loved it! You should do a Knotts Scary farm and HHN special this Fall too!!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Hey! Thanks for subbing! Yes, CGA is a must in the Bay Area. They put on some really good events! I'll be for sure doing a knotts Scary Farm and HHN this year. I went last year and it was hecka fun!

[@ballprofan]

Looks like you had an amazing time at California's Great America on Memorial Day. I vote YES for a video of Knotts Berry Farm, if you're able to fit it into your trip. Can't wait to see your clips of Magic Mountain and Disneyland too!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Thanks!! Knotts it is then lol yes, great america was a lot of fun. I'm never disappointed with this park. Always a great time 😁 I'm excited, this is going to be a fun trip!

[@armybeef68]

5:59 That's an original they brought back.

[@alfonsosanchez7137]

Hi, yes go!!!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Well sounds like I'll be taking you all with me to knotts! 👍

[@GuyFullerton1]

Nice riding Flight Deck with you!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Thanks man! Same to you! 🤙

[@ASi-tq1gb]

Eldon! please stop by Knott's also can't wait for the Disney/magic mountain/ universal content! hope to see you trying all the fun food and snacks while ur there

[@ASi-tq1gb]

also lets talk about that band! definitely gonna be a hopspot during the summer

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Oh for sure! I'm almost more excited about the food then the parks themselves haha

[@Eldons_Excursions]

That band was great! Way better than I anticipated.

[@TristenChenLife]

ORBIT!! My favorite!!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Knew you'd like to see it

[@TristenChenLife]

@@Eldons_Excursions thanks! It’s a fun ride. I remember my first time riding Orbit was with my dad. We were both quite terrified, but then I got on the ride and I thought it was a piece of cake. And I loved it.

[@iJMultiplication]

Yes! Go to Knotts Berry Farm and don’t forget to try the fried chicken at Mrs Knotts Restaurant. Sooo good. You should also try taking a self tour of the Queen Mary in Long Beach!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Yes!! Queen is definitely on my list one day. That ship has so much history. Mrs knotts dinner is definitely on the schedule! I can't wait! 😁

[@Ragdoll104]

Go to Knotts! I need to take the kids back to Great America. Also, I didn't skip and it was a great show. 😊

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Haha good! You watched it 😁 Sounds like I'm going to knotts and I'm excited! 😁 Yes! Take them! The park misses them 😉

[@Ragdoll104]

@Eldons_Excursions we went to great america for the first time last summer and they loved it. We need to do it again, I am just not looking forward to riding the demon 15 times . My little guy loved that ride but it's a little jerky.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@Ragdoll104 🤣 haha 15 times lol yeah, it reminds me of matterhorn at Disneyland.

[@Ragdoll104]

​@Eldons_Excursions season passes to CGA have been purchased. You're a bad influence 😉 BTW the ones I got include Gilroy Gardens so we will be visiting Gilroy as well. Thanks for your content. You're the reason we went to Discovery Kingdom in the first place. Saw your videos and they helped me to make my decision. 😊

[@Eldons_Excursions]

​@@Ragdoll104 I'm down here, where you guys at?? Lol

[@elcompa_danii482]

Great video man! The band was a vibe and La Bamba is a classic. I was at CGA a week ago and I agree with what you said, way better than six flags. But you should definitely check out Knotts but idk if camp snoopy is fully open yet. Anyways, take care man!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Thanks!! I love the comment. Yeaaaah, they played very well!! I was surprised how good they played! Yes, I love my six flags, but they still have some work to do for sure. I checked today. Looks like I'll just be doing a construction update while I'm there lol

[@armybeef68]

2:51 And that's when I first started working there, in 1987, and the place was packed, wall to wall people. Sad to see what it turned into.

[@DragonBreath]

Was just there Fri and Sat and looked over the fence to the left of Orbit and from what I saw it appears that Rapids may not ever open? It looked completely abandoned and dilapidated. It really bummed me out. What do you think? Will it be able to come back from that?

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Oh yeah, it'll definitely come back. They're doing some refurbishment. Cutting back trees and other foliage. They have to completely drain it so nothing gets in the water and into the pumps.

[@darklette803]

And you should cover Ghost Toen Alive at Knotts. It's such a fun experience! Also running will be Summer nights! Food time!!!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Haha yes! Food will definitely be a must. Ghost town alive sounds fun! I'll check it out!

[@AngryGumball]

Fountain is new, popped up a couple weeks ago. As for Knott's, go if you want to see stuff under construction but as of right now, hearing that they won't have the new Camp Snoopy stuff up until late June or into July. Next time you're in the park, there is another show that happens in Hometown, a barbershop quartet known as Hometown Harmony. They're also a very fun group that sounds great! Saw 50s Jukebox Live for the first time yesterday and it's definitely a fantastic show!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

I had a feeling that was new! Lol it's a neat addition to the area. Well as far as the construction, I guess I could give a construction update while I'm down there lol I'll definitely have to check out that show. Jukebox Live was very entertaining!

[@demonoid7469]

The park WAS going to go away...but it sure does not seem like it at all these last 2 years with all the money being put into new rides, refurbs and improvements around the park. I heard after decades of the city treating the park badly...when it was going to leave they actually looked into it and it generates money and some tourism for the city and the current Mayor does not want it to close...just for warehouses... I am going to try and make it out there for Carnival...if falls in a weird time between our annual June Lake trip in July and another trip I have at the end of July-August.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Exactly! The mayor really wants this park to stay, as do all of us lol don't leave us with six flags... pleeeeease. It's like being stuck with the parent who doesn't love you 😆 I hope you make it up here, man! It's a lot of fun and good food!

[@codymcallister7931]

Yes go to Knotts Berry Farm! Eldon

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@codymcallister7931 I went right after this. I definitely plan on returning again 😁

[@RicardoMARTINEZ-d9j]

Grown up at Great America and my daughters worked there . Sad to see the low attendance and that it’s going away

[@Eldons_Excursions]

I think they may renew the lease. A lot of chatter says they are staying 🤞

[@armybeef68]

@@Eldons_Excursions No, they're just holding out for the price they want. If they get it, it's all going away. I'm actually thinking they're looking for a billion dollars, but when it doesn't come close, and they see the writing on the wall, they'll let it go for half that.

[@ct6852]

The 49ers being so close didn't help attendance?

[@armybeef68]

10:32 And you know what's funny, is ten years to you is a long long long long time ago, but to us in our 50's, we worked there when we were 18, and we remember it just like it was yesterday, and we miss 18 every single day. When you hit your 40's and 50's you'll know exactly what we're talking about. In other words, we remember it when it was Marriott's Great America and Bugs Bunny was a character you'd see walking around.

[@armybeef68]

7:30 I miss The Edge...when you would put a penny on your knee and watch it float in the air as you dropped. (Oh, and turn your head or it would hit you in the face when you got to the bottom)

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@armybeef68 haha wow, that actually sounds fun lol

[@Craze64712]

When you go to Magic Mountain, see if you can check out their hurricane harbor as well. I have been hearing rumors of a possible new water slide coming there sometime in the next few years because their mat racer slide closed for good pretty recently. Check around the back of the park near their tornado slide to see if there is any construction. (Also can't wait for the Gilroy Gardens video).

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Sounds good!! Thanks for the recommendation. I've never been to their Hurricane Harbor, so it'll all be new to me. I have a feeling my six flags video may be a long one lol 😅

[@whimsicalambientisaac5683]

knott's!!! you gotta do food reviews there too

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Knotts it is!! Oh for sure! They have so many good food choices.

[@CCcastro336]

Knotts you should go. Been going since I was little

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Okay, sounds good to me!! Gilroy Gardens video is coming out next CC! 😁

[@CCcastro336]

@@Eldons_Excursions awesome 😎

[@blazinjay85]

I live only 2 miles from there. Have been there many times since the early 90's. The fireworks shows were way better when Paramount owned the park. Was also there during my 4th grade field trip when they were filming scenes for Beverly Hills Cop 3 there.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@blazinjay85 whaaat, that's awesome! This park is pretty special.

[@blazinjay85]

@Eldons_Excursions yea have been there thousands of times growing up and brings a lot of memories. I sure do miss the Stealth roller-coaster.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@blazinjay85 That one was fun! I miss it as well. But, we still have flight deck! 😁

[@blazinjay85]

@Eldons_Excursions true but I'm hearing that the park may be closing if so hoping to get one last chance before it closes

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@blazinjay85 I know some insiders and let's just say it's going to be around for a long time 😉

[@armybeef68]

I guess I'm not allowed to say, 9:23 Excuse me while I get this cry out. Man, that was tough, i was hoping I'd never see it like that. I stopped your video at that point, not sure I want to see the rest. You see, i had heard they were going to tear it down before they did, i had the chance to go see it before it went away, but I didn't, intentionally, because I can close my eyes and literally still see it in my mind, I want to remember it the way it was, not what they turned it into. That's why I never went back to the park after 1997, it had changed for the worse even back then, they took out the train, they took out a couple of the bridges, it was no longer the same, and it kept getting worse after that.

[@michellecomptonjones]

Swing dance music awesome

[@mayvang8317]

We were there last eerk. Its not the same anymore. Half the rides were closed and hardly any peoole.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@mayvang8317 oh no! Must be something off. I'll have to come back and check it out. Thanks!

[@DisabledNomads]

Park is closed the entire month of November except for 2 days at the end of the month. Were they really doing refurbishments or were they dismantling the rides to sell them off? is this park dead?

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@DisabledNomads They definitely did some refurbishment. I just posted a new video on the park.

[@DisabledNomads]

@@Eldons_Excursions Thanks. I'll check it out. When I go to buy tickets for November or December, it's showing the park closed every day of those 2 months. Is it usual for it to be open only on the weekends during Sept and Oct and closed during Nov/Dec?

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@DisabledNomads yeah, hard to staff the park during those times. Winterfest is very popular in Nov/Dec. Gotta check that out

[@adventuresinsplashmountain6]

Oh yes please do Knotts!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Sounds good!! Knotts it is!

[@Isa-my8qd]

I’m going on June 1st

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Too knotts??

[@armybeef68]

8:35 Ah yes, Bill & Bob, the party animals of the entire park.

[@TristenChenLife]

GR8 SK8 is the one kid ride in planet Snoopy that is basically the skateboard ride where you go forward and backward and it’s very fun. Once it reopens, you need to try it out.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Ohhh, that's right! I haven't been back there in awhile. Maybe once it opens, I'll try it out.

[@TristenChenLife]

@@Eldons_Excursions yes it’s a really good ride. i’m curious to know what’s your favorite flat ride there?

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@TristenChenLife flat ride? Ooo, that's a hard one. They have a few good ones

[@TristenChenLife]

@@Eldons_Excursions my favorite has to be Orbit. Second place is Drop Tower.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@TristenChenLife drop tower! Yess, that's a good one

[@boohere2]

The thing is that California's Great America is supposed is set to close at 2033. We are SEVERAL years away from that. It's not even close. So of course they have to keep the rides maintained and bring in new stuff. 2033 is long ways away. I used to go there as a kid, up until the teenage years. I haven't gone back since though. There are a few attractions that I know they don't got any more. Such as the Nickelodeon water park area in Great American itself. Then there was that live action theater. They used to have Days of Thunder and then James Bond side in it. Those 2 were classics!! Your chair would move as the film was going.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

You are way over due for a visit. Time to return lol. Days of thunder!? Damn, that must have been fun!

[@boohere2]

@@Eldons_Excursions yes sir sure am! Days of Thunder yup. That was such a cool ride.

[@Cueya]

I'ma be at great America when you're down at southern Cali

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Hey, we both will be in cedar fair parks! Lol

[@Cueya]

@@Eldons_Excursions 💪🏻💪🏻

[@nathanlopez5667]

This park is going to be saved I see Discovery Kingdom closing instead and the rides being sent to California's Great America some of them

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@nathanlopez5667 That could very well be a possibility 🤔

[@kotchapakmaneechote2062]

Since Six Flags & Cedar Fair merged, I hope something changed with this park to not close down, like when Six Flags almost closed down Magic Mountain since 2006.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@kotchapakmaneechote2062 Exactly!! I really hope they work things out and keep this park around

[@nicholasdraper5864]

Knotts!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Sweet! Sounds good to me!

[@zacharyyamashita8554]

Can't say I'm happy about Discovery Kingdom giving up on the Flash Vertical Velocity and all the other numerous closed rides at Discovery Kingdom vs Great America trying to keep everything refurbished and running. I say scrap Kong and give Boomerang a huge refurbishment with the updated Vekoma vest restraint trains. Sucks that Flash could now be doomed for the chopping Block.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Yeah, I definitely agree. I think it's because great america just has newer rides, and they also have their issues, but they don't keep them down as long. Hopefully this will change for six flags with this merger.

[@stickmtn209]

Knotts!!!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Knotts it is!!

[@darklette803]

Hey Eldon, what day are you going to be at Disneyland??

[@Eldons_Excursions]

I'm thinking the 4th and 7th in the morning time

[@darklette803]

Ah ok. Going on the 5th and 6th was hoping to meet up! Maybe we can meet up sometime at CGA.

[@armybeef68]

3:46 EXACTLY! They're shooting themselves in the foot intentionally, they took out my ride, probably the most popular in the entire park to put in South Bay Shores, it NEVER gets hot enough to put in a water park, in fact, we used to freeze sitting at the Chute or 2nd lift, and we used to have these heavy wool jackets, and we'd stand up there shivering. When they did that, I said, it will never work. Sad that my prediction will soon come true.

[@michellecomptonjones]

19:08 that dude is good

[@codymcallister7931]

California's Great America is not going anywhere and Go Carts were supposed to be taken out by end 2018 season for a B&M Hyper was supposed to open at CGA in 2020.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@codymcallister7931 I completely agree! The park is staying 🙌

[@michellecomptonjones]

Knotts Farm please

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Sounds good!

[@windy_williams]

Eldon Ring!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

🤣🤣🤣

[@J_Sosjourneys]

Hey Eldon! Go to Knott’s no matter what! That’s how you’ll get more new subscribers 😊 people will find you while researching Knott’s ❤

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Hey Jennifer!! Uhg, I need to go live soon!! I just gotta find the time and place. You know we'll be going live in So Cal! 😁 Btw, I LOVE the comment!! You got it, Jen! We're going to knotts baby!!!

[@J_Sosjourneys]

@@Eldons_Excursions dude! Seriously we have so much fun going live just at your place 😂 If you go live at Disney, I will live vicariously thru you 😊. I’ll be in downtown Disney in August for my birthday 🎉

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@jennifers293 in August?? Hmm, maybe I'll have to go down there. Haha okay! You can live through me lol we always have fun in our So Cal live chats lol maybe at my grandma's I'll figure out a time to go live. I just gotta setup an area.

[@J_Sosjourneys]

@@Eldons_Excursions yes! August 9-11th. I wanted to do the D23 but couldn’t afford the tickets lol so it’ll just be hanging out and eating good food ❤

[@armybeef68]

4:13 Maggie Brown's STILL LOOKING EXACTLY THE SAME.....FOR DECADES. I don't get it, change the entire park, but leave a restaurant the same. I just don't get it.

[@Cueya]

Go to Knott's

[@schlesinger29]

I’m not going anymore there closing

[@Eldons_Excursions]

They're not closing 🤷‍♂️

[@schlesinger29]

@@Eldons_Excursions they are closing by 2033

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@@schlesinger29 A lot can change by then. Plus, this park is northern California's best theme park. They wouldn't close this over Discovery kingdom.

[@SolderofJESUSCRISTO]

Bay area in the House!!! Can go wrong with Great American in Santa Clara. San Jose in the mofo house bro

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@PanchoVillaGang heck yeah!! I love this park

[@SolderofJESUSCRISTO]

@@Eldons_Excursions sad but they will be closing in it couple more years.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@PanchoVillaGang I have a strong hunch that it'll be still open in another 10 years

[@armybeef68]

10:14 "We have no clue what's going on with the park, we're just a bunch of minimum wage workers, they don't tell us anything"

[@TOONMAN200]

The wife and I were season pass holders for many years. Not anymore since they stopped the indoor theater shows, entertainment is terrible. They removed a lot of the family rides. Cut back on the entertainment on their special events, we will probably never go back to Great America, because they will never bring back the good old days. Sad that it cost a lot of money to give the people and entertaining day, so get their money, and send them home disappointed.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@TOONMAN200 they have put on some really good events though. I think that's where their entertainment money has gone.

[@TOONMAN200]

@@Eldons_Excursions You have to remember attendance is been down. They are trying to boost attendance by having different events, we used to go to those events, but the also cut back on those.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@TOONMAN200 yeah, I'm trying to help bring some of that attendance back lol I've had a few people from out of state come because of the videos I shared. Hopefully that continues to grow. I really do love this park and hope it stays for a very long time.

[@TOONMAN200]

​@@Eldons_Excursions Yes I still have hope for the park, if they don't do something very quickly about the low attendance the park will go bankrupt.

[@armybeef68]

12:02 Eff youtube. You people can't even fathom what life was like before social media, your whole entire life is social media, you call us boomers, but one day you're going to be in your 60's and your 70's, and you can't even picture that far ahead. I say that because youtube came out the day we arrived on the FOB in Baghdad Iraq, Feb 14th 2005, to you that was a long time ago, in 30 years you'll say it feels like it was just yesterday.

[@Eldons_Excursions]

@armybeef68 In all honesty, thank you for your service man. I sincerely mean that.

[@toniduffy4684]

2026 is 50 anniversary

[@Eldons_Excursions]

Welp, I'm fired lol

[@PhilipKNguyen]

i grew up with this park and i live in san jose but this year i dont think i can trust it there until after the election.. the name means the same thing as that orange blonde manchild always say!!!

[@Eldons_Excursions]

The park has nothing to do with politics...

[@PhilipKNguyen]

@@Eldons_Excursions ya got me 🤣🤣🤣🤣🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@armybeef68]

4:37 Test Can't even say... G O T O M Y C H A N N E L L O L