Great America: Past to Present - The Demon

[@CaliforniasGreatAmericaWeekly]

Update 2021: The park has now opened after its extended closure due to the pandemic. Over this closure a number of improvements were made at the park that otherwise would have not been done. One of these improvements was the first tunnel out of the station has received some lighting (rope lights in Red, Blue and Green) and a bell sound effect. The tunnel after the vertical loops had its grid of red lights restored and it looks fantastic! Furthermore, the waterfall was seen operating! Very welcome changes and shows that the park is still giving some love to the demon!

[@bodiejairo2140]

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[@miloreginald2048]

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[@bodiejairo2140]

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[@bodiejairo2140]

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[@miloreginald2048]

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[@djs2356]

I was at opening day of the Demon in Gurnee. The Marriott brothers were there, ALONG WITH A PRIEST, to exorcise the Demon. After the ritualistic (mock) exorcism in the station, the train was dispatched. During the first 2 loops, fireworks (especially the aerial bombs) were shot. Afterwards we met the Marriott brothers (I think Bill & Dick) and they seemed quite approachable and glad to be there.

[@jojovaldez2766]

They should ve called that ride The Devil then if Damian Karras and Father Merrin were there Take Regan for a ride

[@js2clevr]

The Whizzer was my first coaster and The Demon was my first looping coaster. So many years ago now. What great memories.

[@olagguj]

Same here.

[@libertyjay5580]

Same!

[@jack-gn4yl]

same!!!

[@anthonycappello6176]

I live near the other great America, and the feeling is amazing on the demon. When I found out the other Great America had a demon, I came here. Excellent work!

[@CaliforniasGreatAmericaWeekly]

Thank you! I’d love to check out SFGAm’s Demon sometime because it still has some of the original effects like lighting in the tunnel and all black track, and of course the rock work near the loops!

[@BenneLuke]

@@CaliforniasGreatAmericaWeekly Just this summer, all the original effects were restored, minus any water. Including the long-lost effect of a demonic laugh as you enter the corkscrew tunnel! See here:kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4StfHecnJJrq9k

[@EarthySmerky]

I love sfgam

[@EarthySmerky]

I really don’t like cgam

[@EarthySmerky]

And demon is my favorite ride

[@kamsavart]

I grew up going to Mariott's Great America back in the early to mid 80's and remember how special it was visiting the park when I was a kid. The Demon was the premiere ride and I do remember all the effects working, and I completely forgot about the blood water effect. It was so scary to look at but exciting to ride and I was barely tall enough to ride. What great times.

[@tete75]

Loved the video!! The Demon was my first looping coaster many many years ago lol!!

[@tigerrocks503chase8]

Same (though I’m talking about the sister coaster here in Illinois). But it does not matter, they are both the same coasters.

[@imsuchagp121]

Ya me two

[@jbragg35]

Mine too lol

[@Aidan13547]

Me too

[@triple7marc]

Fantastic work!! Demon may be getting old but it will always be one of my favorite roller coasters at CGA. Well done on this video; it was expertly made and was super interesting to watch!!

[@CaliforniasGreatAmericaWeekly]

Thank you so much, Demon is such a classic rollercoaster and I still hold the (now pretty unpopular opinion) that it has the best looking track at the park.

[@gabrieltrejo2533]

@@CaliforniasGreatAmericaWeekly I agree! I've always loved the old Arrow tracks. It made me think of a steel spine that the trains rode on. So cool looking and classic.

[@supercobraz2788]

The demon at California's Great America is one of my most favorite roller coasters and one of my most favorite Arrow Dynamic roller coasters in the world top number one

[@Strangenstein]

I’m old enough to remember riding this when it was The Turn of the Century. Those two bunny hills were so much better than the loops they added. Amazing airtime! One other thought: I’ve ridden TTOTC and later as The Demon hundreds of times at the Gurnee location, and after watching this video it seems like the first drop at the Gurnee location is steeper. Maybe it’s just the optics?

[@cxIinnguyen]

Smooth wouldn't be the word that I would use for the demon

[@Agegamingchannel]

Same at six flags great America

[@mikeriley2766]

The Demon to this day is still one of my favorite roller coasters. I lived in the Santa Clara area when Marriott's first opened and visited the park frequently. I have ridden "Turn of the Centry" many hundreds of times before it was converted to the Demon, and yes, those airtime hills were incredible! As The Demon, I have over 1000 rides on this coaster. I worked at Marriott's Great America as a teenager for a few years, and one of the perks was being able to enter the park for free, which I did any day I was not at school or working and I would ride either The Demon or the Tidal Wave for hours! Great memories!

[@bassettsj]

Great work! Thanks for sharing. Really wish they did re-ignited again this year.

[@cleawox]

The steam at the beginning, tunnel lights, and blood waterfall really helped make the ride. It's a shame they didn't keep them all.

[@jasonkrause6778]

This was My First Coaster, rode it in 1993 My 8th Grade trip I'll never forget the first drop followed by a vertical loop the Ride is a Legend and a Landmark

[@Cineburk]

Fantastic video. I grew up in Los Altos in the 70s and 80s and that brings back a lot of memories!

[@lyndafeyerabend9092]

I loved riding the title wave, that was my first coater, the demons was my very first roller coaster, I was around 15 yrs old, I had bought a t shirt that says " I survived the demond" I still ride coasters, when I get the stomach to ride it, lol the first drop aways scare me, but I love the loops and corkscrews, my daughter also goes on them, she's braver than me lol

[@jojovaldez2766]

I m a sucker for rollercoasters Steel or wooden rollercoasters My favorite rollercoaster has been Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz

[@buckmerdoc8860]

I was 6 years old on my first trip to GA. My oldest brother and our exchange student took me on the turn of the cemtury... I can still hear, "No it doesnt go upside down". I was 9, when i finally went on the demon and tidal wave

[@yayarearaidernation510]

Demon, edge, revolution and orleans orbit were my favs. Great memories at great America

[@celebrityrog]

The removal of the rock formations, the bleh of the tunnel (like couldnt they put something there, a heartline roll or something, and the turning off of the waterfall (either with clear or red blood water) really kills the ride. Its no longer Demon its just a coaster.

[@storieswelltoldllc1350]

Santa Clara park opened in 1976 during the bicentennial. Coaster was named, "Turn of the Century".

[@josephlepkowski2383]

I rode the Demon first when it was brand new at Great America in Gurnee and the water was blood red . After big brew ha ha shorty after they changed it. Those original tunnel effects were awesome..

[@bruceaskew2107]

i remember the water red 💯

[@vivaanchopra]

Lights and effects finally came back!

[@jbragg35]

The Demon is literally the first INVERTED coaster I ever been on back in the day,the Matterhorn at Disney was my first coaster.

[@randywest2591]

The Demon at California's Great America & The Demon at Six Flags Great America is the same coaster.

[@jojovaldez2766]

The 1st ride featured in this video was The Corkscrew at Knott s Berry Farm. I rode it a long time ago

[@storieswelltoldllc1350]

Do you have any shots of the Dolphin show "Wonders of the Wild". I was the emcee following the departure of Mr. Kevin Walsh who moved to Marine World. I was Theater Supervisor and hosted some 540 shows that year.

[@Kayyleeeeee]

The demon was my first looping ride :)

[@DJKiske2]

If the ride ever becomes too unbearable, I would love to see a refurbishment/update by Chance Morgan.

[@animalyze7120]

Living in Chicago Marriots Great America was an annual event 2-3 times each season starting in 1976. Useless but interesting trivia: The turn of the century coaster was in 2 theme parks in the Chicago area at the same time. One was at Marriots and the 2nd was at Old Chicago indoor Mall and Amusement park in Bolingbrook Ill, only there it was called the Chicago Loop and featured 1 less Air time hill due to space. Both were Arrow coasters same ride basically though I don't know what ever became of the one at Old Chicago when it was closed down. I do miss the Ivy tunnel at the park as it was a welcome shade area on hot days back when the Parks still cared. The Demon we found fun but lack luster as it was the same ride minus the Zero G hills that made your stomach drop and loops were pretty boring even then, but it still became a favorite to most of us. As tired as it is the Demon still holds many memories though its become much rougher of the neck and ears from head slamming due to it's age most of the smoothness is gone. The old Girl needs a makeover badly but she'll be missed if they ever decide to retire her.

[@showbizwisconsin8350]

SFGA's Demon will always be better then CGA's Demon

[@ryanmai7888]

It’s the exact same layout but whatever.

[@starflowers1017]

It literally the same

[@golf_clap_]

Showbiz Wisconsin you people have nothing but shitty weather cheese and fat women

[@joshuac9174]

@@golf_clap_ What? no and 2 we still have almost all the effects including the full theme song

[@jbponzi1]

The Demon holds a very special place in my roller coaster heart. She was my first. Even before that first ride in 1980, I loved roller coasters. They just were a bit intimidating because of their size. The elementary school I went to sat right across the street from the old Dandelion Park amusement park here in Milwaukee. During recess on occasion I would talk to the maintenance man who lived right behind out school (it was a much different time), asking many questions about the park and what he did to keep everything running, including the wood coaster Tail Spin (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXXcnX2jiLt8nZI). Sadly I was too afraid to ride this coaster. Back to The Demon, I kinda had no choice but to ride. That was okay. For when the train rolled back in to the station I couldn't get back in the queue fast enough. I was hooked. All thanks to The Demon.

[@Strangenstein]

The Demon was also my youngest daughter's first big coaster. She was six and I rode with her. She was completely silent through the ride, then when it came to a stop near the station she let out a big scream. We still laugh about that.

[@missghostlady]

This is a great video and the ride is now 44 years old like the park. Thanks for your positive comments.

[@marcocampos2332]

8:51 love this shot of demon

[@DreamscapeSYN]

Is there any audio of the Reignited song?

[@bradfordwetmore]

Thanks for all of the history, especially why the light tunnels and water features no longer work. Had not heard that before. :( I did miss the big airtime hills at first, but have to admit the loops were so awesome at the time!

[@Strangenstein]

The loops were cool for a season, but I'd LOVE to see them replaced with the original airtime hills. I doubt Six Flags would ever put the money into it to go back to what it was, but I can dream.

[@bubba19912]

Does anybody even know what happened to top gun a.k.a. flight deck

[@itbe]

I had no idea about Arrow being in Mountain View, and that the coaster was built RIGHT THERE, just a few miles away! That makes it a significant historical landmark for the SF Bay Area, and it must be preserved as both coaster and regional history! They brought the blood back for Halloween...for one year?? That is STILL the number one comment you hear from people about The Demon. "I wish they'd bring the blood back!" Do it!! OMG REIGNITE!!!

[@animalyze7120]

As a side note the Original theme song was actually a bit more spooky, then by the following summer they had "Pop'd" it out a bit but always went back to the Original spooky version by September, the new version just doesn't do it any justice but as we all love it all the song versions had a bit of Corny-ness to them ;) Most Marriot Parks got the Demon btw, though I'm not sure if all of them did.

[@grtgamer6807]

Me from gurnee still going on the demon with the original demon sound in queue with lightbulbs working and rock work on the loops like ha

[@Aidan13547]

I’m pretty sure they are bringing back the lights in the tunnel this year

[@nathanlopez5667]

Really wished they would have kept the Whizzer and the tidal wave then that would have been there 3 Originals I'm not counting the gulf coaster also a bit of the information is not accurate the rails were painted orange sometime in the 86 or 87 season when Kings Entertainment ran the park and The Rock structures around the loop we're taken out after the 1995 season

[@tigerrocks503chase8]

Whizzer is still at Six Flags Great America.

[@nathanlopez5667]

@@tigerrocks503chase8 it sure is and it is a ace coaster landmark

[@decuevas244]

I was writing I couldn't go because people were horrendous was in 98 before you said it.

[@williamdavies8151]

But no more lights or blood pools. bummer!

[@grantweilandt9077]

Is the one in gurnee or in California

[@tigerrocks503chase8]

This talks about both, but this video focuses more on CGAs

[@coastercrafter1productions300]

California plus CGA opened first before SFGAm by a few months

[@randywest2591]

R.I.P. Turn of the Century Roller Coaster EST. 1976-1979 at Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara, California USA 🇺🇸 & Gurnee, Illinois USA 🇺🇸 & Demon EST. 1980-Now is a California's Great America & Six Flags Great America.

[@rielanpasag1470]

I live right next to CGA I love demon but it gets jerky. That’s my fav of at CGA first was loggers R.I.P. now demon took the spot

[@johnverbin9139]

ive never had more adrenaline than when i rode the vortex i was in sixth grade and i decided to ride it alone

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

GREAT GREAT AMERICA : PAST TO PRESENT - THE DEMON RIDE !!!!

[@kryptaknight01]

Update, Cedar Fair doesn't care anymore, they sold the park. Let's hope they log more videos. Bc, in ten years the park will close.

[@schlesinger29]

Oh how sad the park is closing forever now

[@boop8127]

That corkscrew is f’in painful

[@bruceaskew2107]

damn i miss roller coasters 😔

[@askjeevescosby2928]

Sad this park is closing.

[@timothyduffy9068]

Okay, somebody already fucked up when they took away my first coaster, the tidal wave. Let's prevent that for my first multi looped, corkscrew coaster, the demon, by slapping a historical landmark plaque on it. That way, the messege will be clear, don't fuck with the demon. The demon is family. Good luck.

[@behindthespotlight7983]

The first time I went to Marriot’s Great America I was too small to ride the Turn of the Century (Demon’s predecessor; where the double corkscrew was born)🤦🏼‍♂️ If you ❤️MGA history, there’s a great site called greatamericaparks.com Tons of opening day employees share their memories. There are chat forums for a lot of detailed celebrations of the park’s almost five decades of nuances. I personally do not know of a park that looks so different than it did when we were kids in the 1980’s. On Google Earth it’s almost impossible to orient oneself even if (like me) you spent dozens of summer days there.

[@jojovaldez2766]

Its ok that they converted Turn Of The Century to The Demon but I was hoping there were POV videos of the original ride T O T C Turn Of The Century to allow my folks to see videos of it

[@boop8127]

Turn of the century

[@decuevas244]

I went from 80s until 2005. It used to be so un getting to know people in the long lines. I remember the restaurant with fried chicken. I had season passes for decades but then around 98 99 the crowd changed. It became stressful in line as people have changed. Society was amazing but now it's horrendous. End times just like Bible says. Yep people ruining it.

[@rosieplays4593]

Im from Illinois. That demon is kinda better. No offense. I know people got stuck upside down. Please don’t hate. I’m just stating my opinion.

[@mz.necie1976]

Yasss....our six flags great America is BETTER here in Illinois🙌FR

[@rosieplays4593]

miss necie Hunt yeah lol. I went on Superman for my first time. It’s the best. Thought I was gonna die on Batman lol

[@bruceaskew2107]

@@mz.necie1976 big ass factz

[@blankman3935]

0:12 knott's berry farm

[@chuchgonzalez]

Lol I went on this ride but at a different amusement park

[@Evan.]

The demon at sfgam is better

[@bruceaskew2107]

Factz

[@michaelgreenslade7260]

Cedar Fair ----How much does a pump cost $5,000 Get off that dime.

[@randywest5149]

It's Soul Cool Amusement Park Roller Coaster in Bay Area California USA 🇺🇲 and Northern California USA 🇺🇲 it's The Demon EST. 1976 at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California USA 🇺🇲 it's Soul Cool Arrow Looper Roller Coaster in Northern California USA 🇺🇲 and Bay Area California USA 🇺🇲 it's Soul Cool Amusement Park in Northern California USA 🇺🇲 and Bay Area California USA 🇺🇲 it's California's Great America in Santa Clara, California USA 🇺🇲 Since 1976.

[@boop8127]

The song is the whitest thing ever!!!!