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For half a century California's Great America has been the place South Bay teenagers spend the first warm Saturday of summer. It opened in 1976 on former pear orchards in north Santa Clara and grew into Northern California's biggest theme park, with roller coasters, a Peanuts-themed kids' area and a water park. It sits next to Levi's Stadium, about 12 miles from Palo Alto.
It is also a park on borrowed time. The land under it has been sold and its owner, Six Flags, has said it may close after 2027. This guide sets out exactly what has been confirmed, then covers rides, tickets, getting there from Palo Alto and how to plan a visit while you still can.
What is confirmed about the closure
The facts in order, as documented in late October 2026:
- 2022: Cedar Fair, then the owner, sold the 112 acres under the park to Prologis, a logistics real estate company, for $310 million. It leased the land back through June 30, 2028, with an option to extend for five more years to 2033. Cedar Fair said at the time it intended to close the park by 2033.
- July 2024: Cedar Fair and Six Flags completed their merger, so the park is now run by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
- May 2025: At an investor meeting, Six Flags' chief financial officer said the park ranked very low on margins and that its last year without a lease extension would be after the 2027 season.
- July 2025: The company said no final decision had been made and that it was still in the planning stages and working with stakeholders and the community.
- August 2026: A Six Flags spokesperson was reported by KTVU as confirming the park would operate in 2027, without committing to anything beyond that.
Put simply, 2027 is expected to happen and may be the last full season, but no final closing date has been officially announced. The park was selling a 2027 Gold Pass in October 2026, which points the same way. A "Save Great America" petition website went online in May 2026. We will update this page if Six Flags announces a date.
Fifty years of Great America
The Marriott Corporation opened Marriott's Great America on March 20, 1976. A near twin opened two months later north of Chicago, a park that still runs today as Six Flags Great America, which explains why the Santa Clara park adds "California's" to its name. Marriott sold the park to the City of Santa Clara in 1985. Kings Entertainment ran it and then bought it in 1989, Paramount Parks took over in 1992 and Cedar Fair bought it in 2006 and renamed it California's Great America in 2008.
The park did not open at all in 2020 because of the pandemic and reopened on May 22, 2021. The same year its water park was relaunched as South Bay Shores. In 2026 it marked its 50th season and added extra operating days through November 1.
Rides and areas
The park's own site lists more than 50 rides, while its media page says more than 60. The highlights:
- Gold Striker. A wooden roller coaster that has ranked among the best in the world in industry polls.
- RailBlazer. A single-rail coaster, the first of its kind when it opened.
- Planet Snoopy. Kid-sized rides themed to the Peanuts characters, the best area for preschoolers.
- South Bay Shores. A water park with drop slides, tube slides and a lagoon, included with admission on days it runs, mostly in summer.
Halloween fans should note that the park has not held its old Halloween haunt in recent seasons. The "Fright Fest" promoted on Six Flags' website in fall 2026 was at the Illinois park with the similar name, so check the URL before you buy anything. If coasters are the goal and Great America is closed, the Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz is the classic alternative.
Tickets, passes and operating days
Great America runs a seasonal calendar, typically from spring into fall, with many weekdays closed outside summer. The 2026 season ended on Sunday, November 1. The 2027 calendar was not yet posted in late October 2026, so check the park's official site before you plan a date.
Prices move constantly with sales. In late October 2026 the park advertised single-day tickets starting from $45 online, against a regular $85. Its 2027 Gold Pass was on sale for $85 (renewals $79) and covered the rest of the 2026 season plus all of 2027, free general parking and admission to Six Flags' West Coast parks, including Knott's Berry Farm. The park said that price would rise on November 2. If 2027 turns out to be the final season, a pass is the cheapest way to go several times. Buy only through the official site so you see the real terms.
A few rules have caught families out. In 2023 the park introduced a rule that guests under 16 must be with a chaperone aged 21 or older after 4 p.m., so check whether it still applies. Policies on outside food, bags and re-entry are on the park's FAQ page and are worth reading before you pack.
Getting there from Palo Alto
By car
Take US 101 south and exit at Great America Parkway. In normal traffic it takes 20 to 30 minutes. Parking costs extra unless your pass includes it, as the Gold Pass does. On 49ers game days and big concerts at Levi's Stadium next door, traffic and parking get much harder, so check the stadium's calendar before choosing a date. Visitors without their own car can compare rental cars for the day.
By Caltrain and light rail
Ride Caltrain south to Mountain View, then take the VTA light rail Orange Line east along Tasman Drive to Great America station. Our Mountain View station guide explains the transfer. The Santa Clara Great America train station also serves ACE and Capitol Corridor trains, which help visitors coming from the East Bay or Sacramento rather than from Palo Alto.
Tips and accessibility
- Arrive at opening. Lines for Gold Striker and RailBlazer grow through the afternoon.
- Dress for heat. Santa Clara is often several degrees warmer than Palo Alto in summer.
- Consider Fast Lane on busy days. The park sells it as an add-on for shorter waits.
- Avoid stadium event days. Tasman Drive and Great America Parkway jam before kickoff.
For guests with disabilities the park runs an Attraction Accessibility Program and accepts the IBCCES Accessibility Card. It offers Braille and large print guides, a downloadable Guest Accessibility Guide with ride requirements and wheelchair rentals you can book online. Read the guide before your visit, since some rides have transfer or height rules.
Food nearby and pairing it with other stops
The park sells food inside and offers day and season dining plans. Outside the gates the stadium district is mostly hotels and chain restaurants. For a better meal, drive about 15 minutes south to El Camino Real in Santa Clara, known for Korean restaurants and bakeries. If you want to stay near the park for an early start, compare hotels near Great America, many within walking distance.
Pairings within a short drive:
- Levi's Stadium and the Mission. Our Santa Clara day trip covers the stadium, its 49ers Museum and the university.
- Free and indoors. The Intel Museum is a few minutes away on weekdays.
- History. Mission Santa Clara, founded in 1777, is free to visit.
Teens looking for more ideas can browse our things to do with teens list. For a guided look at the valley's tech campuses, browse Silicon Valley tours.
Good to know
- The 2026 season ended November 1. The 2027 calendar was not yet posted.
- Six Flags has said 2027 could be the last season without a lease extension, but no closing date is set.
- The lease runs to June 30, 2028, with an option to extend to 2033.
- Light rail stops at Great America station on Tasman Drive.
Frequently asked questions
Is California's Great America closing?
Possibly, but no date has been set. Six Flags' finance chief said in May 2025 that the park's last year without a lease extension would be after the 2027 season. The company later said no final decision had been made. As of late October 2026 no final operating day had been announced.
Will Great America be open in 2027?
The park is selling 2027 Gold Passes and a Six Flags spokesperson was reported in August 2026 as confirming the park will operate in 2027. The 2027 calendar had not been posted in late October 2026, so check the park's site in early 2027.
When does Great America close for the 2026 season?
The 2026 season, the park's 50th, ran on select dates through Sunday, November 1, 2026. The park then closes for the winter.
How do you get to Great America from Palo Alto without a car?
Ride Caltrain south to Mountain View, then take the VTA light rail Orange Line east to Great America station on Tasman Drive. The park entrance is a short walk away. Allow about an hour each way.
Is the water park included with Great America tickets?
Yes. South Bay Shores, the water park inside California's Great America, is included with park admission on days it operates, generally in the warmest months.