Gurnee fun park to celebrate milestone birthday
Great America, the amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois, turns 40 in 2015, and plans are already underway to celebrate the occasion.
Discussions of the upcoming event were a cause for a small celebration themselves. Hank Salemi, president of Great America, hosted a small party on August 28 to discuss what people can look forward to, and what is not on the drawing board.
Although there will be no new roller coaster unveiled next year, Salemi said he was sure the park could provide a lot of excitement for visitors by sharing memories of the early years. In particular, the park is bringing back three of the rides for children that date back to its opening season of 1976. The three are the Red Baron Airplanes, Tots Livery Surrey Carriages, and the Lady Bugs.
In addition, Great America employees will wear nostalgic costumes, and a different thrill ride will be in the spotlight each week. According to Salemi, a different coaster will be the focus of a party, which means that visitors can look forward to 14 parties; one for each of the popular rides.
Great America might consider working with a banner printing company to create special items for each of the coasters, to be displayed the week of the party at that ride. Banners are sturdy and designed for outdoor use, so the park could save them for use in future.
Discussions of the upcoming event were a cause for a small celebration themselves. Hank Salemi, president of Great America, hosted a small party on August 28 to discuss what people can look forward to, and what is not on the drawing board.
Although there will be no new roller coaster unveiled next year, Salemi said he was sure the park could provide a lot of excitement for visitors by sharing memories of the early years. In particular, the park is bringing back three of the rides for children that date back to its opening season of 1976. The three are the Red Baron Airplanes, Tots Livery Surrey Carriages, and the Lady Bugs.
In addition, Great America employees will wear nostalgic costumes, and a different thrill ride will be in the spotlight each week. According to Salemi, a different coaster will be the focus of a party, which means that visitors can look forward to 14 parties; one for each of the popular rides.
Great America might consider working with a banner printing company to create special items for each of the coasters, to be displayed the week of the party at that ride. Banners are sturdy and designed for outdoor use, so the park could save them for use in future.