Negative-G Six Flags Great America 2000 A Farewell To The Sky Whirl

Six Flags Great America
Gurnee, Illinois
2000
A Farewell To The Sky Whirl
Page One

The Sky Whirl at Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

The Sky Whirl was one of the few three arm Ferris wheels in existence. After the 2000 season Six Flag's Great America decided to remove this classic family ride for a roller coaster.

The Sky Whirl at Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

Now I'm not one to complain about one of my favorite parks building a coaster but I mourn the loss of this special ride. In the next few pages I'll show some pictures and share some memories of this beloved ride.

The Sky Whirl at Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

The Sky Whirl opened with the park in 1976 and was one of only four rides of it's kind. There was another Sky Whirl at the identical Great America in California and there's one in Japan and one in Kuwait.

The Sky Whirl at Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

For twenty-four years the Sky Whirl was a ride where you could sit down with some friends to talk or you could sit down with your girlfriend or boyfriend for a romantic rendezvous.

The Sky Whirl at Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois

Basically the way the Sky Whirl worked is that while one arm is down on the ground loading passengers the two other arms would be in the air slowly spinning around.