“The rushing anxiety feeling I get before I get on a roller coaster is what I look forward to,” sophomore Ella Segev said. “The anticipation of the drops, the wind in my hair, all combined with excitement and nerves is the best feeling you can get there.”
After finishing a grueling school year, all Palo Alto High School students require stress-free summer days full of fun. Taking a break from all the tests, homework, and early mornings and replacing them with roller coasters and laughter, is exactly what students are looking forward to. Lucky for us, we don’t have to drive far because you’ll find it in the heart of the Bay Area: Santa Clara.
Since 1976, Great America has been home to activities for guests of all ages, including thrills, family-friendly attractions, and live entertainment shows.
However, the beloved park won’t be here forever. Cedar Fair, the company that owns California’s Great America, announced its closure set for 2033. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that the place where we all once spent our summer days will be gone in less than a decade, even though the current students at Palo Alto High School will be long gone before that happens.
“I know me and a large majority of the Paly students won’t be around here in the next 10 years,” Segev said. “So until then, I’m just visiting there with my family and friends as much as I can during breaks and especially during summer vacation.”
Until then, guests can still create lifelong memories at the park.
“My favorite ride there is Railblazer, which is noticeable because it’s the only orange coaster in the park. There’s a huge drop, and the rest of the ride is fast and thrilling,” Segev said.
Great America also houses a section dedicated to children, titled Planet Snoopy. These junior-sized rides are perfect when visiting with smaller riders.
Additionally, Great America even has a water park. South Water Shores has a variety of water slides, a wave pool, a play structure, and so much more to keep guests cool in the heat. The summer season also includes a Fourth of July fireworks spectacular and a Mardi Gras-like experience Carnival.
Every year growing up, my family would drive to the Great America parking lot and sit in the trunk of our car so we could watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July. It was always something I looked forward to because it would mean seeing my cousins, aunts, and uncles, all together, and just having a great time. My favorite memory was when my cousins and I would bundled up in blankets eating Bomb Pops while watching the fireworks above us, with nothing but happiness and awe.
For the remainder of the year, Great America keeps guests entertained by hosting the Peanuts Celebration in the spring, Tricks and Treats, formally Halloween Haunt in the fall, and WinterFest in the winter. Each event has its themed foods, decorations, and festivities.
“Whether it’s your family or if you’re taking a couple of your friends, it’s just a good way to spend one of the many days that we have in the summer,” Segev said.
