Sky Trek Tower

File:Great America - Chicago - USA.jpg

After the opening of Marriott's Great America in 1976, the Marriott Corporation decided to build an Intamin gyro tower model at the theme park as part of an expansion program for the 1977 season.{{Cite news |date=April 3, 1977 |title=Expanded Great America opens May 7 |pages=48 |work=The Rock Island Argus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109390670/expanded-great-america-opens-may-7/ |access-date=2022-11-12}} After fabrication in Germany, the attraction was carried by ship to the United States.{{Cite web |title=Sky Trek Tower |url=https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/attractions/sky-trek-tower |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Six Flags |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=May 4, 1977 |title=Clipped From The Rock Island Argus |pages=36 |work=The Rock Island Argus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112956935/the-rock-island-argus/ |access-date=2022-11-12}} With an expected opening of late-May 1977, the attraction's tip was built at a height of {{Convert|330|ft|m}} while the architectural height was {{Convert|285|ft|m}}.{{Cite news |date=May 2, 1977 |title=Up and away! The view is spectacular |pages=92 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109390545/sky-trek-tower-construction/ |access-date=2022-11-12}} After construction on the attraction, the ride officially opened to the public on June 28, 1977, as the tallest free-standing structure in Lake County, Illinois.{{Cite news |date=May 29, 2016 |title=At 40, Great America's still a thriller |pages=1–10 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112958675/at-40-great-americas-still-a-thriller/ |access-date=2022-11-12}} Additionally, it was the first attraction located at the park to require a variance above Gurnee, Illinois height variance of {{Convert|125|ft|m}}.{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1977 |title=Clipped From Chicago Tribune |pages=3 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112957101/chicago-tribune/ |access-date=2022-11-12}}{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Dan |date=June 22, 2015 |title=Great America: Sky Trek Tower didn't drop at high speed |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-six-flags-roller-coaster-0623-20150622-story.html |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Chicago Tribune}} A photograph of the construction of the attraction by Chicago Tribune photographer Luigi Mendocino won the Chicago Builders' Association's photography competition on December 13, 1977.{{Cite news |date=December 14, 1977 |title=Tribune lensman Mendocino lauded |pages=19 |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112958171/chicago-tribune/ |access-date=2022-11-12}}

Marriott Corporation would later open a ride of the same model called the "Sky Tower" for the 1979 season at the park's sister park of the same name, later renamed to California's Great America. The height of that attraction was shortened to {{Convert|200|ft|m}} due to the proximity of San Jose International Airport.{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2018 |title=Sky Trek Tower / Sky Tower |url=https://www.greatamericaparks.com/great-america-rides/sky-tower/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=GREATAMERICAparks.com |language=en-US}}

The attraction was repainted in 2009 by Baynum Painting from the original white color to blue with the words "Six Flags" on the side of the color.{{Cite web |title=Sky Trek Tower |url=https://baynumpainting.com/projects/2019/8/5/sky-tower |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Baynum Painting |language=en-US}} Since 2019, the ride was temporarily closed, and remained closed in the following years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ride's reopening was announced on WGN-TV, and reopened on May 27, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Leshock |first=Marcus |date=2023-05-25 |title=Sky Trek Tower reopening at Six Flags Great America |url=https://wgntv.com/podcasts/coastin-the-country/sky-trek-tower-reopening-at-six-flags-great-america/ |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=WGN-TV |language=en-US}}

The cabin rises up {{Convert|285|ft|m}} to the ride's architectural peak and back down. During the ride, facts about the history of Six Flags Great America are given and on clear days, gives views of the Chicago skyline.

On June 22, 2015, the cabin stopped abruptly, trapping riders for over two hours before they were released through an emergency staircase. The park clarified that the ride did not drop at high speeds.{{Cite web |title=Visitors Had To Climb Down Six Flags' 30-Story Sky Trek Tower After Breakdown |url=https://chicagoist.com/article/undefined |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=The Chicagoist}} A year later, on September 22, 2016, an employee was immobilized by a back ache while erecting an inflatable gorilla for the park's Halloween event Six Flags Fright Fest. He was rescued by the Gurnee Fire Department.{{Cite web |title=Six Flags employee rescued while erecting inflatable gorilla |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-great-america-tower-rescue-st-0923-20160922-story.html |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=September 22, 2016 }}

• Gyro tower

; Notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

; References

• [https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/attractions/sky-trek-tower Official website]

{{Six Flags Great America}}

Category:Six Flags Great America

Category:Towers completed in 1977