Santa Clara’s amusement park has big plans for summer 2020 — California’s Great America will debut the new South Bay Shores waterpark. Great America guests will be immersed in a completely transformed waterpark featuring seven new water attractions including four drop slides, two tube slides and a new lagoon area. There will also be new food and merchandise locations, upgraded cabanas and a sandy beach play area — all themed to reflect the excitement and fun of the Northern California coast and South Bay regions.
The facelift will nearly double the number of attractions to 18 total and add two additional dining options. It will also increase the waterpark’s acreage from about 10 acres to 15 acres.
New attractions coming to South Bay Shores include:
- Shark Reef Plunge will be part of the brand-new Pacific Surge slide complex. It will feature four six-story-tall body slides that will simultaneously send four guests — each in a separate enclosed launch chamber — on a nearly vertical free fall when the floor drops out from under them. The attraction boats a high-speed plunge into a series of flat loops and s-curves.
- Feeding Frenzy & The Barracuda will be located on the same Pacific Surge structure. Its two five-story tube slides can accommodate guests riding alone or with a friend and will send them winding through an enclosed tunnel before shooting them out and through intense drops and turns.
- The Tide Pool will be a new family lagoon with eight kid-sized water slides that line the perimeter of a zero-depth-entry pool will give children their own mini water thrills.
- Barefoot Beach is an all new sand play and beach area for South Bay Shores.
The new Pier 76 Cafe will cook up new offerings including fried shrimp and fresh fish tacos, plus park favorites including hand-breaded chicken tenders, sliders and waffle fries. There will be shaded outdoor seating.
Welcoming South Bay Shores will also bring a brand-new entrance, new family changing and showering areas, more lounge chairs, additional shade and landscaping with native plants. The waterpark’s existing slides and attractions will receive makeovers as well and will receive new names highlighting coastal theming of South Bay Shores.
South Bay Shores’ updated cabanas will get free Wi-Fi, charging stations, ceiling fans, TVs and dedicated food and beverage service.
“South Bay Shores represents the newest phase of a multi-year revitalization of California’s Great America, building on our nearly 50-year heritage of giving Bay Area residents even more reasons to call the park their favorite destination for fun,” said Manny Gonzalez, Vice President and General Manager of California’s Great America. “Along with the waterpark, recent investments such as the innovative RailBlazer roller coaster, new dining venues, and general park improvements are showing guests and the community that the park’s transformation is fully underway here in the South Bay.”
Construction on South Bay Shores is already in progress and will continue throughout the winter. Learn more about California’s Great America at www.cagreatamerica.com.
