California's Great America Debuts New Food Offerings Ahead of Park Expansion

New Starbucks exterior © California's Great America

California's Great America has some big plans on the horizon for the next few seasons, and while this year is already seeing the opening of RailBlazer, a first of its kind roller coaster, it has also announced a very significant investment in its food and beverage offerings for 2018.

Four new establishments will open this year, along with some heavily renovated existing outlets.  To start there will be a new full service Starbucks in Hometown Square, near the Celebration Swings, where the park's candy shop formerly was.  It will feature all of Starbucks' famous beverage options, along with a food menu that ranges from snacks to sandwiches.  The Starbucks will have both indoor seating that looks out onto the park, along with a large outdoor patio.

 New Starbucks interior © California's Great America

Since Starbucks will take over the old candy shop, the theme park is opening the Orleans Candy Kitchen where the Trending Now store was.  It will feature a "station where guests will order specialty caramel apples, choose their personalized toppings and have the delectable favorites made right before their eyes."  Another highlight of the outlet will be hand made fudge in a wide variety of flavors and an extensive offering of Jelly Belly flavors.

Not a new outlet, but heavily renovated this year is Maggie Brown's Smokehouse & Fried Chicken, which was already upgraded in 2017.  For this year it will see modern ordering kiosks installed, along with "a giant rotisserie and smoker visible to guests, an expanded outdoor patio, and interior design renovations."

Sierra Creek Lodge © California's Great America

Located in what was the Joe Cool Cafe in Planet Snoopy, the all-new Sierra Creek Lodge will have a mountain lodge feel from top to bottom.  Between murals of wild animals on the walls and intricate exterior woodwork, the furnishings will portray the Sierra atmosphere.  Food offerings include "a Panini bar featuring fresh vegetables, lean meats and savory sauces. A new Coca-Cola Barrilitos™ station will feature agua fresca (juice and water blends) such as pear cucumber, mango lime, strawberry hibiscus, and pineapple. Kid favorites like chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and pizza will still be available."

Finally, the fourth new location will be the French Quarter Funnel Cake & Churro Factor, expanding the park's ability to create fresh funnel cakes significantly.  There will be a "myriad of flavor combinations" available to visitors as the treats are created right in front of them.  The churro selections will have such unique flavors as "Campout (s'mores), key lime pie, strawberry shortcake, creamsicle, cookies and cream, tropical (coconut, pineapple and rum flavor), macha (white chocolate and Bavarian cream), cotton candy, apple pie and many more flavors."

Elsewhere in the park, catering abilities will be improved with a new 500 person covered outdoor event space next to the existing 18,000 sq foot Great America Pavilion.  It will offer the same upscale catering available inside, but offer open-air views of the park and adjacent stadium.

Last but not least, the private Consulate chambers, offering a beautiful park view from the top of Orleans Place, is being updated with modern amenities for intimate private meetings. Hosting up to 50 attendees, the historic Consulate was originally constructed as an apartment for the Marriott family while the park and neighboring hotel were being built.