Gold Striker

Gold Striker
Gold Striker is a wooden coaster currently under construction at Celebration Plaza in California's Great America. The ride, when opened, will be the tallest and fastest wooden coaster in North California.

Ride history
California's Great America tried to build Gold Striker in 2009, but issues with the ride cancelled the project. A permit was sent in for the coaster in early 2012, saying that if built, the ride would be located in the northern section of the park. Two months after the permit was sent, it was approved. On May 2, 2012, a permit was filed to begin construction on the ride. The permit also stated no attractions at the park would need to be removed to make way for Gold Striker. The first pieces of the ride arrived in late July at the park. On July 25, 2012, the company filed a permit for the name ''Gold Striker. California's Great America announced Gold Striker ''on August 29, 2012.

Ride synopsis
The ride turns right and leaves the station, and then makes another right. Then, the ride turns left onto the 108-foot tall lift hill. After the train reaches the top of the lift, the ride drops 50 degrees to the right, followed by another drop. The ride reaches its top speed of 54 miles per hour. The coaster's first drop, after the lift, is planned to wrap around the park's signature attraction Star Tower. The trains turns left into a bunny hop element, passing by the coaster's station and lift hill. It then makes a turn to the right and then an overbanked turn at 80 degrees. After the turn, the train passes back into another turn being another 80-degree turn facing Celebration Plaza, the section of the park where Gold Striker is located. Passing again back under the track, the train goes through its final turn until reaching the ride's brake system.