Page 86 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

CALIFORNIA’S GREAT AMERICA
The all-new South Bay Shores water park opens in 2020
B Y L A U R A D E L R O S S O
»SWOOP, GLIDE,
SPLASH, PLAY!
California’s Great America
Visitor Information
cagreatamerica.com
FAMILIES LOVE Great America’s water
park, above; the thrill of the slide, below.
WHETHER IT’S GLIDING DOWN towering
water slides, splashing in lagoons or
lounging in poolside cabanas, there’s
more fun on tap in 2020 at California’s
Great America.
In early summer, the region’s biggest
amusement park is opening South Bay
Shores, a transformed water park. It
replaces Boomerang Bay, expanding Great
America’s water park with eight attractions
and double the play space.
lounge chairs where families can unwind
and watch kids having fun in the water.
Wild Slides & Tide Pools
The biggest addition is the six-story Pacific
Surge tower, where riders have the choice
of three wild slides: Shark Reef Plunge
that drops into a near-vertical free fall
then swooshes through loops and curves;
Feeding Frenzy, five-story tubes that whisk
riders through enclosed tunnels and twists
and turns before plummeting them into a
sunny pool; and the even more thrilling
Barracuda, a faster slide with an even
steeper plunge.
More tame is Tide Pool, a lagoon with
eight slides and shallow play area. It’s just
steps away from a sun deck with cabanas and
New Facilities & Spine-Tingling
Roller Coasters
South Bay Shores also features a new
entrance, changing and showering rooms
and two casual restaurants. Pier ’76 Cafe
dishes up fresh fish tacos and waffle fries and
Sand Bar serves food and adult beverages.
Each have shaded areas with tables.
The 100-acre California’s Great America,
part of Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., draws
thousands each year to Santa Clara. For
little ones there’s a carousel, live family-
oriented shows and a variety of rides, some
inspired by Peanuts characters.
Since its opening in 1976, it’s also been
known for the adrenaline rush of its spine-
tingling roller coasters.
The Patriot, a floorless coaster introduced in
2017, immediately drew big crowds willing to
ride up to 91-foot heights before plummeting
into a 360-degree loop. And, in 2018, RailBlazer
made its debut, wowing coaster lovers with its
breathtaking face-down, 90-degree drop and
twists through a zero gravity roll.
84 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA’S GREAT AMERICA