Is California's Great America DOOMED?!

Sorry for not posting much lately (it's been very busy at school), but recently, people have been speculating a possible sale or closure of California's Great America (the park that removed Invertigo, which BTW has trains at Dorney Park, it's destination). Now, this article seems to nearly show the writing that is on the wall:

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/27583

Attendance at Cedar Fair’s amusement parks hit a record last year, and that meant record revenues of nearly a billion dollars. But investors still took a per-share loss of 57 cents, and the Sandusky-based company is still trying to finish the refinancing of its massive debt. WKSU’s M.L. Schultze has more on the release today of the company’s annual results.

Cedar Fair says nearly 23 million people visited its two-dozen amusement and water parks and hotels last year, a boost of nearly 8 percent over the year before. Cedar Fair credits aggressive marketing of season-passes, especially at its parks in the South and West.

And, it says, the good weather didn’t hurt.

Cedar Fair grew over the last decade a series of acquisitions that added to its original holding – Cedar Point – and to its debt.

But outgoing CEO Richard Kinzel says the company is stable now. And with the exception of a parkin Santa Clara, California, that it hopes to sell to the San Francisco 49ers, it anticipate no major deals.

“Other than that, we have no parks on the market and we’re not talking to any one about divesting any of our parks. We’re very pleased with all of them. They all contribute very handsomely to our bottom line.”

Whether Cedar Fair’s major investor agrees remains to be seen. The hedge fund – Q Investments – successfully pushed to oust Kinzel and is pushing for another special board meeting to get its own representatives on Cedar Fair’s board.

Great America is the Santa Clara park. After reading that, I'm now thinking... could this park be the next Kentucky Kingdom or Geauga Lake (I really hope not, but it seems inevitable!!)?

This post is to state what will probably happen to the rides in the park. Of course, with Invertigo all but confirmed for Dorney Park, that park can be ruled out of all options (unless it is a small flat ride, but still).

So, with that said, here is my post:

Flight Deck (B&M Invert): Options (unless you count Kings Dominion with Volcano): Valleyfair, Kings Island, and Kings Dominion. Kings Dominion just got I305, so that can be ruled out. Recently, Kings Island is rumored for something behind Racer for 2012 (teasers have been going on recently), but I don't think they would hype it up only to disappoint fans with a used coaster for 2012. Valleyfair seems like the most likely choice, as it has been rumored to get an Invert for a while now. Flight Deck could make a great fit there. My best guess is that it will go up by Thunder Canyon (river rapids) and Excalibur (and the entrance can squeeze by the Thunder Canyon).

Vortex (B&M Stand-Up): Options: Dorney Park, Kings Island, Knott's Berry Farm, Michigan's Adventure, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun. Dorney Park can automatically be ruled out (like I said, Invertigo is all but confirmed) so that leaves you with 5. Like I said, Kings Island is rumored for an expansion, and I doubt it will include a used coaster. Valleyfair seems possible, but I'm leaning towards Flight Deck for this park. The remainder seems really likely, but Knott's Berry Farm is in the same competing area as SFMM, which has a much better stand-up, Riddler's Revenge (I love this ride). The two most likely options are Michigan's Adventure and Worlds of Fun. MIA could use a stand-up, though there is one very similar in SFGAm: Iron Wolf. So I'm not really sure. Now, Worlds of Fun might have had a Stand-Up already, but so did SFGAdv, and we all know what they are getting (Chang/Green Lantern). That said, Worlds of Fun looks to be the winner on this one, as Vortex can make a great fit there, as the only stand-up in that state, and new trains and refurbishment can work too (I always heard it was very rough, especially for a B&M). Maybe they can put it between Tivoli Music Hall and Worlds of Fun Ave.

Psycho Mouse (Arrow Mad Mouse): Options: Cedar Point, Kings Island, Knott's Berry Farm, and Worlds of Fun. Any of these seem likely, but I'd honestly say Knott's Berry Farm. Knott's tried getting rid of Screamin' Swing for Demon Drop (funny, Screamin' Swing was to be sent to Great America... ironic). For some reason, I still sense that they are thinking of getting rid of it (I hope not, because those look fun)... or at least moving it to a different space (I would hope for this. Maybe by Sky Cabin). That space seems perfect for Psycho Mouse, and the park (along with an awesome Intimidator 305-type ride or B&M Hypercoaster) needs a Wild Mouse.

Xtreme Skyflier: Options: Dorney Park and Knott's Berry Farm. Knott's Berry Farm seems most likely for this one, as Dorney Park is getting Invertigo (yeah, I said it). They can build it adjacent to Pony Express, Screamin' Swing (which should be moved by Sky Cabin to make room for Psycho Mouse), and Ghost Town.

Planet Snoopy/Kidzville rides with Taxi Jam: Let's think for a moment: which Cedar Fair park is the only park without a Planet Snoopy or anything Snoopy-related, kiddie area wise (yes, I'm looking at you Knott's Berry Farm and Camp Snoopy)? Yep, that's Michigan's Adventure. Maybe behind Grand Rapids with an entrance between Grand Rapids and Adventure Falls, across from Thunderhawk.

Carousel Columbia: Initially, I thought they would sell it, but after looking at Worlds of Fun getting Geauga Lake's carousel, I can see Kings Island getting it, putting it in part of the old King Kobra site.

Tiki Twirl: Say, this looks to be a perfect gift for Worlds of Fun, putting it in the Africa section, by Boomerang or Prowler's entrance.

Firefall: This can go to Carowinds in the field by Intimidator.

Drop Tower: Michigan's Adventure is the only Cedar Fair park without a drop tower, but I hear there is a 200 ft. height restriction, so IDK. You never know though.

Delirium: My gut tells me this will end up at Kings Dominion taking up some of Hypersonic's old space, or replacing Beserker (they tried removing it once).

Now for some doomed rides:

Grizzly (wooden coaster): Woodies are hard to relocate (other than Starliner), and this ride receives some bad reputation, so I can't see anyone wanting it (ugh, it looks fun).

Demon (Arrow Corkscrew): It is very old, and old Arrows just don't seem relocatable these days (Big Bad Wolf, Great American Scream Machine, Double Loop, Python, etc.). =(

Woodstock's Express: (Intamin Family Coaster) Now I thought this could be relocated (it was once, according to RCDB), but after watching a POV, it looks like a terrain coaster. Since terrain rides are hard to relocate, I can't see this surviving.

Logger's Run: Cedar Fair is starting to remove log flumes (though some better ones (*cough*Shoot the Rapids*cough*) are being made). A few examples are Cedar Point's log flume (removed in 2005 for Maverick in 2007), Valleyfair's log flume (removed in 2008 for the Breaker's Bay wave pool in 2009), and Carowinds's log flume (obviously removed in 2008 for Intimidator in 2010). I can't see CF saving this ride.

Whitewater Falls: Okay, maybe this ride has a chance of being sold to someone else (like Geauga Lake's), but I can't see CF saving this either.

So these are my thoughts. Again, I would prefer if Cedar Fair keeps the park, but with the nearby neighbors and the 49ers stadium, I can't see it.