This weekend is the last chance to ride Gold Striker in 2026. California's Great America says on its website that it is "celebrating California's Great America's 50th season through Nov. 1," with newly added select dates. After Sunday, the Santa Clara park goes dark for the winter.

No Halloween Haunt this year

If you're looking for a scare, look somewhere else. Halloween Haunt debuted at the park in 2008, but according to Wikipedia's history of the park, Great America hasn't held an annual Halloween- or holiday-themed event since 2024. These closing dates are regular park days. Check the park's calendar for hours before you go.

Fifty years in Santa Clara

Marriott Corporation opened Marriott's Great America on a former pear orchard on March 20, 1976. Adult admission was $7.95. Its near-twin park, now Six Flags Great America, opened north of Chicago two months later. The city of Santa Clara bought the land in 1985. Kings Entertainment ran the park starting in 1989, then Paramount Parks bought it in 1992 and Cedar Fair in 2006. Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags in 2024.

Today the 112-acre park has more than 40 attractions, including nine roller coasters, the Peanuts-themed Planet Snoopy kids' area and the South Bay Shores water park. The park's website says water park entry is included with admission. Gold Striker has been ranked among the world's top wooden coasters by Amusement Today.

The lease question

In June 2022, Cedar Fair sold the land under the park to Prologis, a Bay Area logistics real estate company, for $310 million and leased it back. Under the deal, the lease runs through June 30, 2028, and can be extended five more years. At a May 2025 investor meeting, Six Flags CFO Brian Witherow said there were no current plans to extend the lease and that the "park's last year without that extension would be after the 2027 season." In a July 2025 statement, the company said no final decision had been made. Santa Clara has said the land is zoned for theme park use only. Fans have started a "Save Great America" petition.

So the park is expected to reopen in spring 2027. Whether it lasts beyond that hasn't been decided. Right now the park is pushing Gold Passes for the rest of this season and all of 2027, with a price increase on Nov. 2.

If you go

  • Check the park's Calendar & Hours page before you go, since operating days at the end of the season are select dates.
  • Since April 2023, guests under 16 need a chaperone 21 or older to stay in the park after 4 p.m.