Bay Area Residents Avoid Long Road Trips and Enjoy Local Fun This Summer at California's Great America

California's Great America is now open daily for summer and with gas prices continuing to be on the rise, the 100-acre combination theme and water park is the perfect summer getaway for Bay Area families. California's Great America is Northern California's best choice for family fun and adventure and offers guests a wide-variety of exciting entertainment options this summer including:

New! FireFall

Taking guests head-over-heels is FireFall, an extreme thrill ride that sends 40 brave riders to a height of sixty-feet and subjects them to a series of high-speed inversions. If that's not enough, while spinning, flipping and turning, this already unique three-minute ride experience is enhanced with in-your-face fire and water special effects. FireFall is now open and promises to be the hottest ticket for thrill seekers in 2008!

New! "Endless Summer on Ice" Show

Adding to its already stellar entertainment program, California's Great America will be offering yet another opportunity for park goers to beat the heat this summer with the debut of "Endless Summer on Ice." Taking place in the newly-named "Great America Theater," the 30-minute ice spectacular will feature an ensemble of professional ice skaters, lavish sets, dazzling costumes and an upbeat soundtrack that's sure to have guests dancing in their seats. "Endless Summer on Ice" takes the stage May 31.

New! Extended Summer Hours

With so much to see and do, California's Great America will now offer extended operating hours staying open as late as 10 p.m. the majority of the summer. Extended operating hours will give park goers the opportunity to enjoy the park even later, giving them even more time to experience many of the new attractions awaiting them this season.

Now Open! Boomerang Bay Beach Club

Beat the heat and head out to Boomerang Bay Beach Club at California's Great America! The Australian-themed Boomerang Bay Beach Club offers more than 13-acres of water park fun and excitement and includes a 355,000 gallon wave pool, heated lagoon, lazy river, 13 water slides and exclusive, poolside cabanas (limited number of cabanas, nominal fee applies). California's Great America continues to be the state's only combination theme and water park.

Opens June 14! The Misfit of Magic

The Misfit of Magic, international comedic magician Ed Alonzo, 2-time winner of the 'Stage Magician of the Year' and best know as Max on "Saved by the Bell" makes his return to California's Great America's Showtime Theatre this summer. Ed's amazing illusions are hilarious, mesmerizing and fun for all ages. Don't miss seeing this show -- there's no one like Ed!

California's Great America is now open daily for summer operation through August 25. The park opens daily at 10 a.m. Closing times vary. Visit http://www.cagreatamerica.com to view our complete 2008 operating calendar.

Guests looking to enjoy a full season of family fun at California's Great America can now choose from three different season pass options. All season passes now include free parking at California's Great America. For more information regarding the park's season pass program, call 408-988-1776 or order online via the park's website at http://www.cagreatamerica.com. California's Great America is conveniently located just 50 miles south of San Francisco and 6 miles north of San Jose on Great America Pkwy. between highways 101 and 237 in Santa Clara, Calif.

California's Great America is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. In addition to California's Great America, Cedar Fair owns and operates 10 other amusement parks, five outdoor water parks, one indoor water park resort and six hotels. Cedar Fair also owns and operates Star Trek: The Experience, an interactive adventure located in Las Vegas, and operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, Calif. under a management contract.

For more information, visit http://www.cagreatamerica.com or call 408-988-1776.