California’s Great America features over 50 rides, including roller coasters, thrill rides, and children’s attractions in Planet Snoopy. Because of how many rides there are, we have to start with some honorable mentions:
Honorable Mentions
Drop Tower (8/10)
This ride slowly rises 225 feet into the air, giving riders an incredible view of the park before dropping at 60 mph in a 22-story free fall that lasts only a few seconds. Personally, I think this is the scariest ride in the entire park. Nothing gives a bigger stomach-drop feeling than this ride.
However, there are some problems. It’s a really short ride compared to the wait time. Additionally, there’s just nothing special about the ride, it’s just an average drop tower.
Still, it’s a must try for thrill enthusiasts.
Demon (7/10)
Demon is an absolute classic. This steel coaster opened in 1976 and reaches speeds up to 50 mph. Its iconic tunnels, lighting effects, and laughing demon audio give it some of the best theming in the entire park. The coaster features a double loop and double corkscrew, which gives it the intensity roller coaster fans love.
Unfortunately, the ride is rough. Really rough. The track is super bumpy, and the seats are uncomfortable. Every time I get off the ride, I get dizzy, which is why it stays out of the top 3.
Patriot (6.5/10)
From afar, Patriot looks intense and impressive. With short efficient lines, you’d think it would be one of the best rides in the park. Although it’s extremely smooth, Patriot was originally designed as a stand-up coaster, and after it got converted into a floorless coaster, the ride experience feels both awkward and mild.
The ride itself is short, and honestly none of the elements are especially memorable. Still, it looks great from around the park, and it’s a solid starter coaster for people who are nervous about inversions.
The Top 3
Alright, now with that outta the way, we can get into the top three rides. All three of these rides are amazing in their own way, and honestly can be interchangeable depending on what type of coaster experience you like.
3. Flight Deck (9/10)
Flight Deck is one of the most intense rides in the entire park. This inverted coaster hangs riders below the track, making it feel like you’re flying through the air at insane speeds. The ride starts immediately with a sharp drop into aggressive twists, turns, and inversions that never slow down.
One really cool part of the ride is the line itself. While waiting, there are fighter jets and military-style props all around you that fit the whole flight theme perfectly. It makes the wait more entertaining than staring at somebody’s backpack for an hour like most amusement park lines.
The best part of the ride is how close it gets to the water and surrounding trees. At some points, it feels like you’re about to crash into something. The pacing is nearly perfect, and there’s basically no dead moment throughout the ride. The only reason it’s not ranked higher is because the G-forces are so intense it can give you a headache after rides.
2. RailBlazer (9.5/10)
RailBlazer is absolutely insane. This single rail coaster delivers one of the craziest ride experiences in the park, starting with its near vertical drop that immediately launches riders into airtime and violent direction changes. Every twist feels unexpected.
The smoothness of the track makes the speed feel even faster, and the ride somehow packs an unbelievable amount of intensity into such a short time period. Every second feels chaotic, and there’s really nothing else in the park that feels like it. RailBlazer was so popular when it opened that it won multiple industry awards and was immediately recognized as one of the best new roller coasters in the country.
The only reason I didn’t put RailBlazer number one is because of the insanely long lines, short ride duration, and uncomfortable lone seating. The wait can easily hit multiple hours even on regular weekdays, and after all that waiting, the ride is over insanely fast. The one-seater trains also make the line move painfully slowly, and the seat design honestly feels awkward after a while. Still, the actual ride experience is so unique and intense that it easily earns the number two spot.
1. Gold Striker (10/10)
For me, Gold Striker is the greatest ride in California’s Great America. Easily. This wooden coaster is fast, aggressive, loud, and feels completely out of control while still being smooth enough to re-ride over and over again. The second the train leaves the station, the coaster throws riders through nonstop airtime hills, sharp turns, and violent shaking that somehow adds to the experience instead of ruining it.
What makes Gold Striker special is the speed and energy throughout the entire ride. Unlike some coasters that slow down halfway through, this ride feels like it’s trying to launch you out of your seat until the very end. The wooden track also gives it that classic roller coaster feeling that newer rides can’t really replicate. Gold Striker actually gets faster throughout the day, because it has to ‘warm up’, so riding it at night makes it even crazier.
Gold Striker has also won multiple major roller coaster awards and is consistently ranked as one of the best wooden coasters in America. Even years after opening, coaster enthusiasts still travel across the country just to ride it.
Even with newer rides like RailBlazer getting more attention, Gold Striker still stands as the best overall experience in the park. It’s thrilling, re-rideable, and iconic.
Final Remarks
Even though the park is filled with amazing attractions, these three rides stand above the rest because of how memorable and unique they are. Flight Deck delivers nonstop intensity, RailBlazer offers one of the wildest experiences in the park, and Gold Striker combines speed, chaos, and classic wooden coaster energy into the perfect ride. For 50 years, Great America has been here for locals. Take advantage of the time we have left with this amazing park. Find a time to visit, and make sure you experience these coasters before they’re gone forever.
