Photo TR: Gilroy Gardens 4/13/13

I just went to Gilroy Gardens, my first visit to the park for the 2013 season. I've always liked this park for it's gorgeous landscaping, high density of trees, abundance of shade, and a rather cool collection of rides. Now then, where to start...

 

South County Backroads: This is my favorite mini car ride. It takes you through some nice theming, gas stations, marts, and you get to TAKE THE TUNNEL! Not to mention it navigates through it's own beautiful garden and a few water features as well. You can choose two tracks, 1920s and 1950s, referring to the car styles. If there was one thing I would criticize the ride for, it would be its capacity. It had the longest wait the day I went at around 15 minutes. Thankfully it wasn't too crowded the day I went, so it wasn't that big of a problem for me.

 

Timber Twister: This Zierer Tivoli is very fun! Not only do you get to go "THROUGH THE TREES!", but in the back seat there is a really good pop of airtime on the first drop, and in the front you are launched up the next hill.

 

Quicksilver Express: The park's star attraction and the only mine train ever made by Morgan. It uses the terrain perfectly, and there are a few parts of the track completely hidden from view that, if you don't know exactly what is hidden, will surprise you. The sheer amount of foliage surrounding the ride makes it challenging to get good photos of it, though I think the shots I got are pretty good. Go for the back car, as it offers some good pops of air in the second half. Oh, and watch out for those raccoons, they are up to no good!

 

Mushroom Swing: This chairswing ride feels slightly faster to me than most others I've ridden, I don't know it that's because it actually runs faster or it's because of the close proximity of the trees (which with my long legs, I can actually touch).

 

Banana Split: One of the better swinging ships I've been on, definitely better than Santa Cruz's.

 

Sky Trail Monorail: Ah, the "lap bar" monorail. It gives you a nice view of the back of the park, Monarch Garden, and Quicksilver.

 

Garlic Twirl: I like this flat, but spinning the garlic bulb is insanely hard without the help of group. Even without insane spinning, I still found myself doing some funky backwards/forwards movement.

 

...and one more notable attraction, one of Elissa's favorites...

 

Rainbow Garden Boat Ride: Yes, it's one of those evil "spinning boat rides"! Like South County Backroads, this ride is also low capacity, and as such had a longer wait than just about everything else in the park. Great for torturing anybody who doesn't like spinning!

 

All right, that's all I have to say about the most notable attractions there. I spent a wonderful day in the gardens, perfect weather, and crowds that weren't too light or too insane. The park is very clean and even over half a decade since Cedar Fair purchased it, it still does NOT look like a typical Cedar Fair park. I challenge you to look at all the photos coming up, and then say to yourself ten thousand times: "Gilroy Gardens is owned by Cedar Fair". Trust me, you will not see many trash cans show up in the photos.

 

UPDATE

 

Timber Twister Offride Footage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX0qBANI07g

 

Quicksilver Express Offride Footage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asx5b5VTfOg

 

Mushroom Swing Offride

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY2VS2SSljU

 

Sky Trail "Lap Bar" Monorail POV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71CRRfn0faY

 

Pinnacles Rock Maze POV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSP47bkRu2s

All right, we've arrived, crowds are light, and the weather is perfect! Time to do some rides...

Hi train!

Here's one for the ACErs to drool at...

...and another.

Banana Boat...wait, this ride is not a brand of sunscreen!

Tubs-o-fun. These look easy to spin, but you have to be a wee tyke to ride them.

Not to be confused with a certain kiddie coaster at Knott's

This sign is not lying. His tail has airtime!

I'll take the scenic route, thank you.

Nature! Beauty!

This rattler train came into being long before Iron Rattler's train (the latter looks much cooler)...and it's LONG!

Rattlesnake butt!

Brake fin porn for you brake fin fanatics.

The first drop looks a bit steeper than other Zierer Tivolis, that could explain the back seat airtime.

NERD SHOT!!!

The exit path gets EXTREMELY close to the track!

Ah, here are the park's mascots. On the left is Gilbert, and on the right is his younger sister Royelle. She is a new character for the 2013 season.

The world's most intense flat ride: Artichoke Dip!

OMFG!!! THE INSANE LATERALS!!! 10000 GS!!! EXTREME EJECTOR AIRTIME!!! INSANE SPEEDS!!!

It smells over here...some may like it and some may not!

Here is the park's Jeff Johnson credit.

Time to get high on shrooms!

KICK THE TREES!!!

Elissa's favorite ride.

Here's one ride you do not want to miss while visiting!

1950s style...

...or 1920s!

TAKE THE TUNNEL!!!

Now here's a part of the park you may miss if you don't pay attention.

Claudia's Garden is home to Claudia's Carousel. Only kids can ride on the horses, while adults can still sit in the chariots.

Here's Illion's Supreme Carousel for comparison.

Claudia's garden also many little secret spots to snap a good pic from!

Now this maze is insane!

The moment you step through those walls, you'll be lost for the rest of time.

TAKE THE TUNNEL!!!

I mean, just LOOK at it!

Hmmm...they could use this space here...

Train tracks...

Dan, is this an acceptable amount of wetness?

Dan, is this an acceptable amount of wetness?

Dan, is this an acceptable amount of wetness?

Dan, is this an acceptable amount of wetness?

Dan, is this an acceptable amount of wetness?

All right, time for lunch.

OM NOM NOM NOM!!!

AKA "Lap Bar Monorail".

Lap Bar Monorail...THROUGH THE TREES!!!

NERD SHOT!!!

Sexy curves!

Last but far from least...

An excellent mine train, much of Quicksilver Express's layout is hidden from view.

OMFG!!! IT'S A LIFT HILL!!! *goes through 500 boxes of tissues*

There are three "layers" of track in this pic. Can you see all of them?

See the explosives? Well, the culprits...

...are these 'coons!

Brake caliper porn.

Transfer porn.

The ride REALLY needs a repaint!

Here's one of the famous circus trees. I call this one "Metagross".

This stump is 1/14,000,000,000th the age of Jeff Johnson

314, 315, 316...

Time to leave the park now, one last artsy shot.

Until next time Gilroy Gardens! Hope you enjoyed the photos.

Edited April 14, 2013 by Blue Fire Guy

Awesome report and photos! I (or we) all need to go here as a group. I can only imagine the fun to be had on the Garlic ride.

Great report!

 

The best part, for me, on Quicksilver Express is the second drop. Lots of airtime and "natural" headchoppers (i.e. trees)! It does need a new coat of paint badly.

 

I can't believe how long the train is on Timber Twister. By the time the entire train gets over the lift hill, the front of it is already long past the bottom of the first drop.

This park needs something new! I really enjoyed myself while I was there, but there's nothing compelling me to make a re-visit.

Does this park ever get busy?

Does this park ever get busy?

 

I don't know. Very few people were at the park when I visited in Mid July last year. It is a nice little park.

Does this park ever get busy?

 

Every time i've been to Gilroy Gardens / Bonfante Gardens, It's never been that crowded. Most rides are walk-ons. Only ride with a line usually is the cars.

Does this park ever get busy?

 

You would think it would be, considering the city of Gilroy doesn't have much going on.

I've been once where it was fairly busy. It was all families with small kids and they all seemed like locals. Every other visit it was almost dead. I think the only time they have a lot of people is during the Garlic Festival when large amounts of tourists visit Gilroy.

^Exactly. Unless the Garlic Festival is going on, there isn't much reason to visit Gilroy outside of the outlet mall there. Gilroy Gardens is a very nice place, and it would make a good add-on to a visit to Santa Cruz. There's a windy mountain road between the two cities.