Great America to get cool new coaster.
Get ready for the RailBlazer, the new ride coming to Santa Clara theme park
California’s Great America celebrated National Roller Coaster Day in a major way on Wednesday, announcing a groundbreaking new steel coaster set to open at the Santa Clara park in spring 2018.
It’s called RailBlazer — and amusement park fans have reportedly never seen anything like it before.
What makes it unusual is that riders sit single-file on the coaster — with no one to the right or left — and basically straddle one rail. This allows for a greater range of quick, abrupt movements than traditional two-track coasters, which usually carry two (or more) passengers per row.
And did we mention the 90-degree drop? That should result in some screams heard around the park.
The coaster — the 15th in the park’s history — is the first of its kind, a “prototype,” says Great America Vice President/General Manager Raul Rehnborg. It’s going to give the park “a whole ’nother” experience for its guests, he says.
The ride stands 100 feet tall and will whisk riders along 1,800 feet of track at speeds of up to 52 miles per hour. Its selling points include a 180-degree stall (watch out for your hats!) and a “zero-gravity roll.” The coaster’s theme is State Route 1 (SR 1), the highway that runs along most of the coast of California.
RailBlazer was introduced during Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, which was highlighted by a computer-generated video showing what it will be like to ride the coaster. The video was shown from the perspective of someone riding in the front of the coaster, generating big smiles from the crowd — and maybe a gasp or two — when it got around to that 90-foot drop.
Those on hand for the groundbreaking included Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor, representatives of the American Coaster Enthusiasts organization and media members, plus Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy (who got to help with the groundbreaking — that lucky beagle).
“We are excited for California’s Great America’s new developments and appreciate (owner/operator) Cedar Fair’s vested interest in our community,” Gillmor said to the assembled crowd.
RailBlazer is the first major step in what is the park’s new development project, endorsed by the city of Santa Clara.
“We are excited that California’s Great America will be able to move forward with their new plan, which includes coasters 2.5 times larger than currently exist, expanded water park, an entertainment district in front of the park to entertain visitors 365 days a year,” Gillmor said.
Gillmor sees what’s happening at the park as having major implications on the economy.
“Visitors to the park and its new entertainment district will fill our hotels and nearby restaurants, generating a surge of transient occupancy tax and sales tax for the city’s general fund,” she said. “Visitors to the area will be able to shop locally and enjoy local entertainment venues to benefit our local and regional economy.”