Tidal Wave, Paramount's Great America !

Tidal Wave, the Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop roller coaster at Paramount's Great America, filmed off ride only. The first part of this video was filmed in 2002 when the Tidal Wave had been re-named Greased Lightnin' and was in it's final year of operation. The second part of the video was filmed in 1996 when it was still Tidal Wave.

[@armybeef68]

I'm so old I remember when the track was blue

[@Toast0808]

ME TOO. First rode this in 1979.

[@Raydio6]

Me too Wish they would have took this one out

[@libertyjay5580]

SAME!

[@libertyjay5580]

Remember the painted waves in the sides too?!

[@Megagamer-xr7ps]

Green

[@jeffbaublitz7543]

Takes me back. I remember riding this as a kid.. Thanks for posting!

[@appleboy007]

Dude, Thank you, thank you so much for sharing the video of such a nostalgic ride. A true classic. This ride terrified me as a child. So much in fact, that I didn't ride it until much later. One ride is all it took... I was hooked. In truth, Montazooma's Revenge is a much better version. Albeit, the Tide Wave will forever be burned into my memmore. I actually rode the SFGA version on the last week of it's existence at that location. Amazing. Thanks again man. Cheers.

[@jlady1595]

This was my fave as a kid. Would go on it 20 times in a row. Miss it

[@smmackey]

I loved the title wave 🌊

[@TheGrandeSmoke]

One of my favorites growing up.

[@Joypyf]

Loved the guy in the front seat was allowed to bring his drink on the ride 😂

[@zatchg1212]

Such a great old school ride. I loved this ride as a kid

[@smmackey]

That ride was fun!!

[@andreaarias8879]

I loved riding the Days of Thunder Ride (Race car simulator) and then going on the tidal wave after. There was never a line for the Tidal Wave and I could never understand why. it was a great ride!

[@nathanlopez5667]

Well when they put Days of Thunder in front of it in 1994 the building a lot of people had a hard time getting on our finding the entrance for the ride the whole route was changed

[@boobraschmidt2199]

That was a fun ride

[@loveamerica587]

Doesn't seem like much now lol but as a little kid in 1978 or '79 that roller coaster was great.

[@garrettbrooks6576]

Fun fact: the footers and station of this coaster still exist, 22 years after it was removed. Nothing at all has replaced its skinny plot, which begs the question, did it really have to go?

[@nikkivic201]

So this ride used to be right next to the home of AFX and right next to Vortex. I would have rode this if I was born back then!

[@iamweasel2112]

My favrorite ride there as a kid, I can still remember the whiplash you got when they put the brakes on for the final stop at the station, lol

[@AngryGumball]

I notice it barely makes it up the back spike (in comparison to Montezooma's Revenge down at Knott's, which uses the whole back spike). Wonder why Great America trimmed theirs so hard...

[@YurBoiCarson]

AngryGumball all the shuttle loops do that except Montezooma, they had to make the spike tighter because it was at the edge of the park, also Montezooma doesn’t have brakes when it’s going backwards like the others do

[@montezoomasrevengefanboy6477]

Can’t believe they removed this ride for nothing, no new coaster was ever put there, therefore why did they remove it

[@nathanlopez5667]

Yep nothing till this day just the remnants of the ride pretty sad every time I'm there I take photos of the old site hoping that one day something will replace it hopefully a launch coaster

[@montezoomasrevengefanboy6477]

We can only hope for the best

[@Pisces022588]

My mom loved this ride lol. I was always scared because it had a loop and no over shoulder restraints hahahah

[@psyclonesteve]

The first part of this video was filmed in 2002 when the Tidal Wave had been re-named Greased Lightnin' and was in it's final year of operation. The second part of the video was filmed in 1996 when it was still Tidal Wave.

[@psyclonesteve]

I'm beginning to loose track where it 's been. The only place I rode it was here ! :-)

[@MagnusTheGreat]

The remains of the ride are still there

[@smitty195]

Oh boy the memories....I was a Lead on this ride for two years. The employees who operated this ride also operated The Lobster. It was just a coin toss (not literally) as to who worked where. I would just ask, "Who wants to work where today?". And oftentimes a few people would work both rides in the same day in order to give lunch breaks and regular breaks to everyone. The Lobster was the ONLY ride in the park that was not computer automated----it was all manual operation and I loved it! It took time to master that ride. It's not hard to get it up and running, but it is hard to bring it to a gentle stop with the arm on the left lined up with the arm on the right. Oh how I miss these days. Minimum wage was $3.25/hour and we didn't complain. We knew that minimum wage was NOT meant to support a family, buy a new car, or live comfortably. This was strictly an entry level job that requires no education or background. Too many people these days want the minimum wage to support their family, and that is not how things work.

[@psyclonesteve]

Very interesting ! :-)

[@jess4metoo]

What happened to the Lobster? It was one of my favs. It was also called the Octopus at other venues.

[@andysmith6824]

Jess4metoo Yes, I have also seen it called the Octopus almost everywhere else. Both Beach Boardwalks in Ocean City, NJ and Ocean City, MD. Also I think on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Lobster at Great America (in Santa Clara, CA, not to be confused with the one in Gurney, IL) removed the Lobster and unfortunately they scrapped it There is something else in its place now but I forget what it is. I'll bet if you a Google search for "Great America Theme Park map", you'll probably get hundreds of hits. Just pick one that is readable, and see what's there now. Actually, I'm going to do that as well---right now. :)

[@nathanlopez5667]

+Andy Smith the lobster was taken out and replaced by the action FX theater in 1994

[@jess4metoo]

+Andy Smith you get around. I've never been to the east coast. But hopefully I'll make out there one day.

[@nakagoe7986]

what happen to tidal wave at six flags great america and change into what new safe ride?

[@thaakiidty]

Sucks that they apply the brakes before the rear spike. So glad Montezooma’s Revenge doesn’t operate like this one did.

[@bobbyheenan4061]

Yeah, Montezooma's seems to accelerate a lot faster too. Went on it 5 times yesterday at Knott's, first time riding it in over 30 years and I still LOVE it!

[@thaakiidty]

@@bobbyheenan4061 I’m about to get on it now!

[@bobbyheenan4061]

@@thaakiidty NICE!!!!

[@cynvision]

really early days. Shortest ride ever. You'd race back to the queue to get on again. :D Billed as modern and fast for the new weight drop launch. I was surprised to see a standing coaster in the last shots. That had to be a later era.

[@icelegacylol]

All that is left is the old station floor and the support concrete

[@slayday_]

I almost died on this as a kid lol

[@gpfp169]

More footage of Zoink riding roller coasters.

[@gwarnage]

Nice video. You have any more from great america?

[@212Elevators]

You didn't get any on-ride?

[@flashback0978]

Was the first part filmed on the 25th birthday of the coaster ?

[@andysmith6824]

Two questions, please: 1) At around 3:53 on this video, the ride takes off and there is a building immediately to its left. Just a few feet from the tracks. What the heck is that?? That building was not there when I was (and I assume that is a Great America shot and not a Gurnee shot?). And 2) It doesn't sound like they do a safety "spiel" any more. Just some guy who says, "Layer 1, Layer 2", and then they push the button for the "bob" to release and drop the weight motors. Does anyone know why they don't do a spiel, what Layer 1 or Layer 2 is, and why it takes so long for the ride to kick in before it takes off? When I worked there it was, "Welcome back, thank you for riding the Tidal Wave, exit to your right, down the stairs, and enjoy the rest of your day here at Great America. For those of you who are now boarding, if there are any loose article you'd like to leave behind, please place them to your right, past the yellow line. Please remember to keep your head firmly against the headrest throughout the entire ride." And then when it was time to go it would be the person up in the mini-booth (not at the control panel) doing all of those spiels, including, "Heads back! Goodbye!", and you press the button. Oh, and I also noticed that it looks like the person who works the front booth is also the person who walks the train, looking for belts fastened and lap bars down? If so, then that ride was operated by only 2 people??? Our minimum was three people, and it was the third who walked the train to check on those things, then walked back to protect the exit to make sure nobody came in while the train was out of the station. Can anyone provide more info on this? Thanks!

[@AngryGumball]

That building is the AFX theater (motion simulator attraction) which now currently houses the new Mass Effect New Earth attraction. Not sure if the video cut out the rest of the safety spiel, leaving you to only hear "Clear 1, Clear 2...Enjoy your ride." The whole "clear 1..." thing is still used today, acknowledging that the ride area is all clear for dispatch (no stray guests in the ride area, no loose items/other obstructions in the way).

[@AnakinMarcZaeger]

Just some further clarification as someone who used to work at this park during its Paramount days: The whole "clear 1, clear 2" thing is the ride operating acknowledging clearance to dispatch from the 2 other members of the ride crew. "Clear 1" is acknowledgement of the unload/exit operator (typically standing by, and monitoring, the ride exit), and "clear 2" acknowledges the "safety operator" (seen positioned on the exit platform to the front of the train), who additionally has their own dispatch button which enables its counterpart on the main ride control panel (positioned at the rear of the train). To my knowledge, unless procedures changed since I worked there, similar procedures are used at the vast majority of the rides at Great America.

[@YurBoiCarson]

It’s clear 1 and clear 2

[@austinbarnes4211]

Where is that park located?

[@NightBoy78]

RIP "Bob"

[@raterus]

Wow, look at those little restraints for a ride with two inversions. No way you'd see that on a modern ride!

[@D2Kprime]

Just how many 'Great America' theme parks are there? I know that _Marriott's_ Great America in Gurnee, IL became _Six Flags_ Great America, but there is a _Paramount_ Great America too?

[@tommycarr8111]

Only these two parks. Both started as Mariotts, both very similar. Of course, one was taken over by Paramount (and later Cedar Fair) and the other was taken over by Six Flags.

[@bromidedrag]

Yup, they were sister parks. Both had the Whizzer, Demon, Tidal Wave, etc. Unfortunately the one in Santa Clara got the short end of the stick after Marriotts left. Still a fun park, but I like how the one in Gurnee has kept a lot of the original rides.

[@nathanlopez5667]

@@bromidedrag yeah pretty much the last time the parts were the most alike was in 1988

[@AnakinMarcZaeger]

@@nathanlopez5667 Even then they weren't the same. Gurnee got the beginnings of the expansion past the Demon (in the form of Southern Cross, which was removed before the expansion came to fruition). Meanwhile, Santa Clara lost the Whizzer by the mid 80s. It was downhill from there... :(

[@nathanlopez5667]

@@AnakinMarcZaeger I actually think them losing the whizzer was the biggest loss now if they were to lose the demon all of their original coasters would be gone there would be nothing original well except some of the buildings and flat rides and from what I hear Cedar Fair wants to do away with arrow coasters at all their parks

[@andrewmarshall9309]

There are one or two others still to come from Great America, one being Stealth.

[@michaelleadingham9923]

How come it loses so much momentum when it goes backwards and it goes up hardly on the other upward track

[@themeparkpreview2888]

Because Tidal Wave used a weight drop launch system whereas most shuttle loops like Montezooma's Revenge used a faster flywheel launch system meaning that it would travel further up the spike. Tidal Wave also used the brakes to further slow the train as it ender the back spike.

[@YurBoiCarson]

Theme Park Preview and the spike is wider, Montezooma’s spike is tighter because it’s at the edge of the park

[@seanmick3093]

How tall was that inverted loop?

[@YurBoiCarson]

Sean Mick it’s not an inverted loop, it’s a vertical loop and I think it’s about 70 feet tall or at least the other shuttle loop in operation in America is that tall

[@michaeltaylor1603]

"MY" Shuttle Loop Type 2 (AstroWorld) now defunct, did NOT trim brake it backwards. It ran up 111 ft. back hill like a bat outta H---L!

[@FlumesIsLife]

I'm pretty sure this was at" six flags great america" I work there and I can see what looks to be the American Eagle in parts of the video, like at 3:54. You can also see sky whirl at 3:54 in the right corner.

[@YurBoiCarson]

Nick Barnabee no it was at Paramounts great America, that’s not American eagle that’s grizzly I’m pretty sure and I don’t know the others name

[@RaiderDan510]

is this repainted version in Santa Clara?

[@andysmith6824]

xxx Daniel xxx Repainted several times, but now IT IS GONE!!!!!! So bummed. My two favorite rides to work at the park, and they're both gone. You would not recognize GA any more if you went. It's nothing special any more. The food is also chain stores (like Subway Sandwiches, etc). There are hardly any food places left that are run by GA employees. I hate the new GA.

[@nathanlopez5667]

+Andy Smith yeah they got rid of a lot of their better rides I think the whizzer was the biggest loss though the park is almost unrecognizable now the Great America in Gurnee Illinois is much nicer it has much of its original themeing still And rides

[@nickbanas3102]

wasn't this originally at marriots great america?

[@YurBoiCarson]

Nicky B. They’re the same place but got different owners

[@ItsSiebay]

Funny how Paramount named and repainted this coaster after the other two in the Six Flags chain. Yeah, Kentucky Kingdom's came a year after, but still.

[@Joelwee1028]

SiebayRoo Six Flags bought this one from Paramount and used it to get the other shuttle loop up and running at Kentucky Kingdom. Even funnier is that the one at Kentucky Kingdom was relocated from Six Flags Great America - so it was essentially the two Great America shuttle loops combined into one.

[@FlumesIsLife]

At least part of it was, when it was called tidal wave

[@icelegacylol]

The supports are still there today but only cement ones

[@ItsSiebay]

It's like Paramount tried to make their parks comparable to Six Flags, and Cedar Fair made them more competently competitive to Six Flags.

[@sirMAXX77]

That's the Tidal Wave I remember. it was very short and I remember it being white.

[@psyclonesteve]

that's a real shame ! :(

[@vitalitytenyearz3362]

This is were is rail blazer is

[@hwalnut7202]

Robloxplaysthe Roblox Railblazer is going to where invertigo was, not tidal wave

[@nathanlopez5667]

this park is known for tearing out rollercoasters and rides with no replacement just cement footings of what used to be for example the Whizzer the tidal wave stealth triple play Invertigo and they're still evidence that the train used to be there paramount really screwed this park up Cedar Fair does a much better job slowly the park is starting to finally head in the right direction with gold striker

[@basictransportenthusiast4386]

Nathan Lopez Invertigo’s spot is now where railblazer stands. An all new RMC raptor

[@Ainsleythecoastergal]

Yeah... 😕

[@nathanlopez5667]

@@basictransportenthusiast4386 it was built near where invertigo was but not exactly on the same site

[@jamesgonzales6086]

This park still has a few classics from my childhood, that Sif Flags removed long ago...Enterprise, Swiss Twist, and the buckets sky ride...(these were the Magic Mountain nanes, not remembering what CGA calls them)

[@TheMuni777]

The Gurnee park still has a lot of the classic rides from the Marriott days.