Gold Striker "Topped Off"!

Today, Gold Striker has reached its highest point at 108 feet before it begins its descent wrapping the park's Star Tower. Great America posted an image from their Facebook (shown below), just showing how close the lift's peak will be to the Star Tower cabin.

Photo taken by California's Great America

Something interesting to note: the top of the lift appears to have some framework, looking like a mine shaft. It should create a nice head chopper effect for the back seat as it accelerates over the apex of the lift! Here's some other photos from down at ground level, one before the bent was put into place, and one as the bent is being placed.

Gold Striker Construction Update

California's Great America uploaded some new images to their Facebook showing off the latest progress on Gold Striker. A few notes:

• Lift is now connected from the base
• Speed hill after first drop and before first turnaround is now connected
• First drop continues to grow and wrap the Star Tower

Here's the photos they uploaded!

This shot shows that a lot has happened! To the left, the big wooden construction
wall has been dismantled and it looks like a concrete wall has gone up. I'm guessing some
iron fencing will be mounted on top of that to compete the height of the fence.

The lift now reaches the base, meeting the turnaround leaving the station. Also finally connected
is the speed hill/station flyby.

The bottom of the first drop continues to make its way around the star tower, slowly but surely.

This is a little taste of what we will see when in line for Star Tower.
Hopefully they'll do some landscaping inside this area as it looks much like a construction site
than anything else! CGA does seem to take pride in their landscaping so we shall see!

The midway turn peeks above the Carousel Souvenirs shop.

There's still quite a ways to go for the lift but it will get there!

Coming from the station flyby into a series of headchoppers

Looking back at the growing first drop

Coming out of the station, with flyby in foreground.

Another view coming out of the flyby

Coming into the flyby

Another view coming into the flyby

Soon it will reach its apex!

Permit applied for demolishion...UPDATE: Related to new Subway going in.

Taking a glance at the Santa Clara Permit Center just now, it looks like the park applied for a permit to demolish an unknown structure for future work. What could it be? What future work could be going on? Let the speculation begin.
The description reads this:

Status: Active Name: LUCRUM BUILDERS Address: Application Date: 1/17/2013 Description: Demo for future work. (See BLD2012-30518 for future work)

You can see the page and follow it here UPDATE: Upon further looking, the building being referred to is in reference to the new Subway that is to go in at the park.

More views of Gold Striker!

California's Great America added a handful of new photos offering more views of Gold Striker from behind the fence on their Facebook album today.

A familiar view, which should be growing soon.
Note the layers that have been done already.

Workers on the brake run. Also, the turn prior to the lift still has yet to go up.

But by the looks of it it could very well go up very soon!

Yes, we get to squeeze through this tiny space leading to the speed hill.
The turn leading back to the station is just above.

After a moment of airtime over the speed hill, another tight squeeze approaches.
This should change and grow pretty son as well.

Some more work on brake run and pre-lift turn around.
I never realized how uneven the terrain is back there
and this angle shows what they have to work with.

A final look up the lift section with the Star Tower.

Photos taken by California's Great America.

Some new changes, plus mystery project?

First off, happy new year! With this said, the Au13 Construction Watch has taken on a dramatically new look and is now California's Great America Insider (or CGA Insider for short). Gold Striker updates will continue to appear here, as well as you will now see general Great America park updates and future projects!

I just did my first visit in the park for the 2013 season and within a week's time not much has changed with Gold Striker construction. However there can never be too many shots of Gold Striker especially in it's current state!

Lift still has lots to be done.

Drop remains the same but still looks like it's going to be pretty forceful!

There was however some track work going on that day despite the poor weather
looming over the park.

Looking back at the drop as dark clouds approach.

I can only imagine what the full lift is going to look like.

Yup, they're still plugging away despite how ugly it looks out there'

A final look at Gold Striker for the night.

And in other news, numerous markings have appeared throughout CGA's parking lot. I'm not quite sure what is going on just yet other than maybe some serious parking lot overhaul and perhaps electrical work. Who knows, maybe the lot could be redone for future expansion or attraction...one can hope, right?

Possible rewire? Perhaps this is only going to be electrical work...

That's it for now! Stay tuned for more CGA news!