Manufacturer Monday: Great Coasters International.

By Anonymous -


This weeks Manufacturer Monday is for a Great  company!
Great Coasters International is known for their signature twisting wooden coaster designs. I have ridden Gwazi and Apocalypse, two GCII coasters, and both are great rides! Gwazi, while it was a little rough, was a huge wooden structure with a great, thrilling layout. Apocalypse was just pure fun! GCII also has some of the best wooden coaster trains on the market. The Millennium Flyers are extremely comfortable, and I cannot wait to try them out on Wildcat right here in New England next summer!


Thanks so much to Adam House from GCII for answering our Questions! 
We hope you enjoy the article!

Kentucky Rumbler. P.C. Tim Galvelis
  Q.    GCII is one of the top wooden coaster manufacturers around. What do you think makes your products so appealing?
   A.     With a GCII coaster, we always like to incorporate a few things.  The key features are the many directional changes.  Our Millennium and Flyer trains were specially designed to be able to maneuver our super twisted track layouts, and we always like to push the limits to what our trains can do.  
      The other thing we do that sets us apart is provide the smoothest ride you can get on a wood coaster.  Our designers, carpenters, and track crews are specially trained and highly skilled at what they do.  We want you to get off of our ride and not feel like you were on a rough, old school, wooden coaster; we want you to know you just rode a Great Coaster!


White Lightning P.C. Neil Bradbury


Q.    InvadR at Busch Gardens Williamsburg is using refurbished trains that were originally on Gwazi. Was that Busch Gardens idea or GCIIs?
 A.    This had actually originated as what Busch was going to do with the leftover equipment from Gwazi.  We had actually discussed the potential of GCII purchasing them back for refurbishment, but after several months of back and forth, Busch actually suggested the idea of using them for a new ride in Williamsburg.

Thunderbird P.C. Tim Galvelis
Q.   Is there a certain coaster that GCII is most proud of?
 A.    Really whatever coaster we are working on at the moment is our most proud creation.  Each ride we design and build is unique, and each holds a special place for us.
Troy P.C. Tim Galvelis

Q.   Who primarily designs GCII coasters?
 A.     Most of our ride designs are put together internally by GCII.  Occasionally, the customer gets fully involved with the project to be sure they are getting the exact coaster they want.  At the end of the day, we want the perfect ride for the customer as well as something fun and exciting that will keep guests coming back to ride.

Thunderbird P.C. Tim Galvelis


Q.   Who designs the look of Millennium Flyers? The park, GCII, or both?
 A.    Our Millennium Flyers were first designed when the company started back in 1996 by GCII.  There have been some minor changes over time, but they still remain a testament to the turn of the century Prior and Church trains.  If the Millennium Flyers take on a theme (like the BGW trains) then that decision is typically up to the park, with information from GCII in play (like attachment details, structural stability, etc.)


 OTC East Coaster  P.C Great Coasters Internation


Q.   What is the most insane project that GCII has been asked to build?
 A.    I would say our first coaster in China at OCT East.  Up until that point, it was our largest ride and just the sheer logistics and difference in culture from the US to China made it crazy.  Not to mention that the ride was literally built on the side of a mountain; this made it extra challenging.  


Ozark Wildcat P.C. Great Coasters International


Q.   If you could choose to reopen one of your defunct coasters, which would it be? Roar, Gwazi, or The Ozark Wildcat?
A.   To me, this is an easy one.  Without a doubt, it would have to be the Ozark Wildcat.  That ride was really a breakthrough in the twister coaster for GCII.  Looking back to old photos of the Cristal Beach Cyclone and Rye  Aeroplane, the Ozark Wildcat was a textbook example of a ride from the golden age of wooden coasters.

Thanks For Reading!

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