Great America Opens for 48th Season
Since opening in April, Great America has been lucky to have good weather most weekends, which has seen the park fill-up with visitors who didn’t have to brave usually cold midwest temperatures. With prom and gradutation season in full-swing, you can expect large crowds out this weekend for the Memorial Day Holiday. Photo by Jcoydenreports.
This week, one of the Chicago/Milwaukee area’s greatest attractions for entertainment will be fully opened for the season. Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois is set to open its gates to visitors for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Already benefitting for unseasonably warm temperatures this spring that has attracted throngs of visitors, this weekend is expected to continue the same pattern. Daily operations start Tuesday, May 21st with the full selection of rides looking to open within a couple of weeks. The park has consitently been one of the top destination places in the midwest for decades as it begins its 48th year of operation.
New this year will be the thrill ride Sky Striker. A 17-story pendulum that will take riders 172 feet into the air, and swinging them through the sky at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. Construction started on the new attraction in March and it will be located in the County Fair section of the 300-acre park. This will be the Great America’s first new thrill ride since Maxx Force debuted in 2019. Like every other new ride the park introduces, the buzz in the press has already started.
“From heart-pounding roller coasters to immersive experiences, Six Flags is dedicated to delivering unmatched thrills and excitement year after year,” said Six Flags Great America Park President, John Krajnak. “With the addition of Sky Striker, the park’s first new ride in five years, we feel it’s the perfect complement to our record-breaking lineup of roller coasters and thrill attractions.”
With the iconic American Eagle serving as the background, Great America’s new thrill ride Sky Striker is currently being constructed and will open soon. Photo by Jcoydenreports.
Six Flags is Currently Hiring
Six Flags Great America is currently hiring for the 2024 Season. Team Members receive in-park discounts, rewards and recognitions, exclusive Team Member events, and more. Applicants can apply online at sixflags.com/greatamerica/jobs. There is also some transportation options offered for workers who live in Chicago and need to commute to Gurnee.
In addition to Sky Striker, Great America is also offering a few new immersive experiences for guests. The Windy City Sports Bar & Grill, is a newly reimagined dining concept in Southwest Territory meant to attract adult guests and, Great Summer Nights, an all-new event showcasing live music, to go along with an immersive nightly parade with fireworks.
Visit sixflags.com/greatamerica for a complete list of operating hours and more information about tickets, rides, shows and special events.