SeeCalifornia.com

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.–The newest California roller coaster is set to ride high with high-speed twists, turns and drops of 103 feet at a 50-degree angle starting in 2013 when Great America’s Gold Striker wows the crowd.  Under construction at the Bay Area thrill theme park in Santa Clara, the ride is being constructed in Celebration Plaza.  As the 8th roller coaster in the park, it  stands tall at 108 feet at its highest point and will carry guests along 3,197 feet of track, reaching speeds up to 54 miles per hour.

Combining the best features of wooden roller coasters around the globe, Great Coasters International, Inc. is in charge of the project.  The 2 minute ride takes passengers in 2 trains, each holding 24 people. There are 6 cars per train, with each car holding 4 people. Are you following the math? They predict around  850 riders will experience Gold Striker in a single hour. Minimum height to ride is 48″.

If the Great America wooden roller coaster reminds you of other great rides with Western themes at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, perhaps it’s because both theme parks are owned and operated by the same corporation,  Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Like Knott’s Scary Farm, Great America also hosts a special holiday attraction called Halloween Haunt. It goes from Sept. 28 to Oct. 28, 2012. Tickets are $26-28. See: cagreatamerica.com