History of Whizzer Roller Coaster | Great America

We look at the history of Whizzer roller coaster at both great America parks. This coaster has a 44 year history and it still stands at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL!
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[@mikeriley2766]

I first rode this coaster the opening season of Marriott's Great America in Santa Clara and it was my first "real" roller coaster, I was 11 at the time. The only coaster that I had been on prior to Willard's Whizzer was the Bobsled at Santa's Village in Scott's Valley, which was really not much more than a kiddie coaster. Turn of the Century was then my second real coaster. I had been to Marriott's many times between its opening in 1976 until I moved away from the area at the end of 1983. My first job was at Marriott's and I worked there from 1981 through 1983. I worked at the Hometown Grill and the Hot Shoppe, which were situated right next to this coaster, so I had lots of opportunity to watch it in operation. One of the perks of working for the park at that time was that I could enter the park for free, which I often did on days I was not working or when working the late shift, I would go and ride the rides before my shift. Willard's Whizzer was one of the rides that I rode quite often, along with the Demon and the Tidal Wave.

[@kf1412]

My daughter and I love this ride. Now that we are members we go almost every weekend and this is one we always go on!

[@luanty3011]

This was my first roller coaster when I was 5 years old. I road it with my dad. It was a great coaster for its time.

[@dak85016]

Yup, my first coaster. Love the clicking sounds going up to the top and the banking curves through the trees.

[@jenniferwellman5311]

This is literally the only rollercoaster I’ve ever ridden on, and ever will. It’s so tame.

[@rossalmazan962]

Correction: The Six Flags GA Whizzer is not the only speedracer left in the world. The Zambezi Zinger which actually predates both (Willard's) Whizzers and was originally at World's of Fun in Kansas City, was moved to a park in South America and still runs today. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGWWoGl8lrecsLc

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

GREAT HISTORY OF WHIZZER ROLLER COASTER - AT GREAT AMERICA !!!!

[@Wailwulf]

Was my favorite roller coaster at Great America, Santa Clara. After the accident though, it seemed like it had been also slowed down, therefore not as much fun.

[@ryan3030]

That beginning song brings back such great memories from SFGAm!

[@edgetaker]

Actually, there were 2 coasters when the parks opened: Willard's Whizzer and Turn of the Century, which was later reconfigured as The Demon.

[@sheagenix5320]

Awwww man I used to love this ride. I used to call it the wizard it was the only one I wasnt scared of I always wondered why it was taken away from us😔

[@nathanlopez5667]

It was removed because it had hairline fractures on the supports and track

[@oceanthresher6184]

It’s still there.

[@ysabelcastillo1880]

I think someone died as well

[@nathanlopez5667]

​@@ysabelcastillo1880they did 13 year old boy back in 1980

[@murfkursedaudio2336]

Was my first and still one of my favorites at the park. Not much beats hauling ass so close to the ground and trees!

[@jameshartkopf2843]

Do you know why they changed the style and took out the car lights? I think it would look so much better at night.

[@ThrillRidez]

James Hartkopf good question I will look into it

[@nathanlopez5667]

I think that was only at the Santa Clara Park the lights in the front of the trains

[@animalyze7120]

Been going to gurnee since age 5 in 1976 and I cannot recall ever seeing lights on our version, though I can't recall ever paying much attention the car fronts ;)

[@markguerrero7677]

That was a great roller coaster!!! I remember it as a child. Good video!

[@ThrillRidez]

It’s still there

[@animalyze7120]

My 1st Big Kid coaster at at age 5 after graduating from the Little Dipper at Kiddie Land in Maywood Pk Ill. Now the Little Dipper sits at Great America in Gurnee and along with Batman the ride all have become ACE landmarks. Whizzer is still one of the 1st we jump on as we get to the park 45 years later ;)

[@CoasterNick3157]

I see my footages :)

[@ThrillRidez]

Yes thanks for the POV

[@nathanlopez5667]

California's Great America is my home park I remember this coaster and the first time going on it back in 1987 and hearing about the accident that happened on it really frightened me the coaster closed after the 1988 season because of maintenance and hairline fractures in the structure it did not pass in 88 inspection the coaster was standing but not operating during the 89 season and was demolished at the end of the season the station remain standing for years I remember construction of gold Striker did not happen until 24 years after the coaster was removed

[@therealking6202]

Was praying for some punctuation to appear but it never did so I just kept reading I didn't take a breath I read every word in order without stopping because there was no punctuation to stop me ok I'm going to go now bye

[@JediTev]

I worked at Great America in 88 and I believe they found a 36" crack in the track, it closed a little after mid way through the season. I worked in Rides in County Fair 2!

[@nathanlopez5667]

@@JediTev correct it was a great ride but the park did a terrible job maintaining it heard the same thing almost happened with the demon

[@jojovaldez2766]

To be honest with you this rollercoaster was the Wild Card compared to Turn Of The Century then The Demon as a latter rollercoaster. They had to change a few parts then it would become The Demon by 1980. My grammar school took the 6th grade class to Marriott s Great America in June of 1980 since my class was about to graduate then move up to Middle School education The Demon rocks but I missed Turn Of The Century

[@remy17.82]

It's like listening to the substitute teacher read the lesson plan straight from wiki 😂. Do like the vids though

[@76fordjunky]

Was my first roller coaster I rode, and the first roller coaster I took my daughter on when she was old enough to ride

[@libertyjay5580]

I lost a shoe in the water while on the Whizzer at the CA location as a kid and spent the rest of the day with one bare foot….TOTALLY WORTH IT!

[@nathanlopez5667]

OMG how does that happen lol I do remember the coaster was surrounded by water

[@samplautz5586]

Somehow this tan 5 trains

[@TimDavisThaTycoon]

whats the name of the song in the beginning of the video?

[@ThrillRidez]

It’s on the whizzer pov on six flags youtube. It’s not our music.

[@patrickgreene2663]

The entertainer

[@connormagnuson6361]

The Entertainer by Scott Joplin

[@edog501]

Great Summary and In-depth video but you just seem unenthusiastic and a bit bored. A bit more reversal of the script would be helpful too.

[@ThrillRidez]

EDog 501 it’s a informational video. Sorry you feel that way.

[@michaelsmiley15]

One of the primary reasons that they tore whizzer out a great American California is they had installed a loop and it was only a few years prior to it closing to they install this loop added created significant problems because they loop was about 3 off center meaning it was at a slant with meaning you are entering it at a curve and exiting it at it opposit angle and it increased the danger for the ride exponentially it wasn't designed to have a loop in it Because of great America's liability insurance climbing because of their horrible safety record the decision was made to completely remove it because they couldn't afford to settle any more lawsuits

[@tomhenning2809]

i didnt know there was loop added

[@JediTev]

There was no loop added, I worked at GA CA in 88, they found a huge crack in the tracks. Thats why it closed.

[@nathanlopez5667]

@@tomhenning2809 there was never a loop the only coaster they added Loops to at the park was the demon

[@doritosauce6632]

There was no loop added to the ride

[@rossalmazan962]

you don't know what the eff you are talking about...don't comment unless you know what you're talking about. The Whizzer never had a loop...Turn of the Century was the original Arrow coaster that had it's two camel back hills replaced by two loops and a tunnel and became the Demon.