Great America's Gold Striker Coaster Opens To Rave Reviews

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- California's Great America has opened Gold Striker, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California and the early reviews have been stellar.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130603/SF25089)

"Relentless," "Awesome," and "The best ever," are terms guests have used to describe the eighth coaster at California's Great America. Gold Striker provides the look and feel of the original wood coasters with a fast and smooth ride that represents the best of modern designs.

Inspired and designed with an Old West feel, Gold Striker stands 108 feet at its highest point with a first drop of 103 feet.  Riders will careen along 3,197 feet of track at speeds up to 53.7 miles per hour. 

Adding intrigue to Gold Striker is the 174-foot "mine shaft" tunnel that is enclosed by wood on both sides, corrugated metal on top and in-fill underneath the tracks, replicating a true gold mine feel. The "mine shaft" is the longest initial decent tunnel on any wooden roller coaster.

"Gold Striker provides the nostalgia of a wooden coaster, with the smooth ride of a steel coaster. Everyone who enjoys thrill rides will want to experience Gold Striker," California's Great America Vice President and General Manager Raul Rehnborg said. "Gold Striker reflects our commitment to providing guests with the best thrills and entertainment value in the region."

Gold Striker's name was chosen to recognize the pioneering and adventurous spirit of the California gold-seekers who rushed the area in 1849.     

Gold Striker is located in the Celebration Plaza area of California's Great America and wraps around the park's Star Tower attraction, providing a stunning visual as guests enter the park.

Gold Striker was custom designed and built for the topography of California's Great America by Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCI) of Sunbury, Pennsylvania.  Two trains accommodates 24 passengers each (four riders per car and six cars per train) with a capacity of 850 riders per hour.   Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride. 

CEDAR FAIR
California's Great America is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FUN."  In addition to California's Great America, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, four water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels.  Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.

www.cagreatamerica.com

SOURCE California's Great America