The Grizzly, a classic wooden roller coaster at California's Great America in Santa Clara, was manufactured by Kings Island Construction and opened in 1986. The ride was designed by the legendary Curtis D. Summers, who was responsible for several iconic "out and back" wooden coasters of that era. The design was actually based on the blueprints of the "Wildcat" coaster that once stood at Cincinnati’s Coney Island, but modified to fit the California park's landscape. In 2026, the Grizzly is often discussed for its "tame" but nostalgic ride experience; unlike modern hybrid coasters, it uses traditional wooden tracks and steel wheels to provide a classic, slightly rougher "woodie" feel. While it has undergone various track refurbishments by Great America's maintenance teams over the decades, the core structural engineering remains the work of Summers, whose philosophy prioritized positive G-forces and a scenic, sprawling layout over extreme speed or inversions.
The Grizzly roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC).
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Important Note: There is also a roller coaster named Grizzly at California’s Great America in Santa Clara, California. That one was built by Miler Coaster Company and opened in 1986.
Since you didn’t specify the park, the more famous and widely referenced “Grizzly” is the one at Kings Dominion, built by PTC.