Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor is an amusement and water park owned and operated by Six Flags. It is located approximately 60 miles (97 km) north of Albany, in Queensbury, New York.[1]
| Previously known as Storytown USA (1954–1982), The Great Escape Fun Park (1983–1994), The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom (1995–2022) | |
 | |
| Location | 89 Six Flags Drive Queensbury, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°21′04″N 73°41′24″W / 43.350991°N 73.690112°W |
| Opened | 1954 |
| Owner | Six Flags |
| Slogan | New York’s Most Thrilling Theme Park |
| Operating season | May through October |
| Area | 351 acres (142 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total |
|
| Roller coasters | 6 |
| Water rides | 10 |
| Website | www |
History
edit
The Great Escape was opened in 1954 as Storytown USA, a Mother Goose themed amusement park by businessman Charles Wood who bought the land with his wife for $75,000.[2]: 47 In 1957, realizing that the park was geared only toward small children, the park opened its Ghost Town area, the first of many themed areas opened in the park's history.
For publicity, the park placed bumper stickers on every car in the parking lot. This practice stopped a few years later due to complaints and employees switched to attaching cardboard versions with wire. This was when a car bumper was separate from the body and one could get all the way around it with wire. In 1983, the park officially changed its name from Storytown USA to The Great Escape.
In 1984, The Great Escape opened the Steamin' Demon, the first of its eventual seven roller coasters. The showpiece attraction at The Great Escape is the Comet. Re-opened at The Great Escape in 1994, this roller coaster already had a 41-year history as The Comet at Crystal Beach (an amusement park near Niagara Falls, Ontario). It was saved shortly after the park closed down forever after the 1989 season. Charley Wood, the owner of Great Escape Fun Park and Fantasy Island in Grand Island, New York, successfully bid for The Comet and it sat in storage for a few years in Fantasy Island before making its way to the park in Queensbury, NY and reopening in 1994. Roller coaster enthusiasts recognize it as one of the best wooden roller coasters in North America.
In 1996, Charles Wood sold the park to Premier Parks who would later go on to purchase the Six Flags company. Unlike many parks during that time, Great Escape was not rebranded or flagged as a Six Flags park.
In February 2006, The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark opened up with positive reviews and sold-out weekends throughout the first month. This major addition includes a 38,000 square feet (3,500 m2) waterpark exclusively for lodge guests. This is New York State's first indoor waterpark.
The park debuted several new features for the 2006 season. These included character greetings from the likes of the whole Justice League.
For the 2007 season, The Great Escape re-themed their dive show to a pirate-themed show, branded their pizza restaurant a Papa John's, and brought back the Superstars and Legends: Elvis! Show (which featured throughout the summer not only Elvis, but also Buddy Holly, and Billy Joel) to JollyTree Theatre.
In addition to typical amusement park rides, the Great Escape offered a variety of unique shows, most notable of which was a high dive show featuring a team of divers scaling an 80 feet (24 m) tower and plunging into a 10 feet (3.0 m) deep pool. This also featured a fire diver.
Other milestones include:
- 1954 — Charles Wood opens Storytown USA.
- 1957 — Ghost Town section of the park is opened.[2]: 61
- 1960 — Jungleland section of the park is opened.[2]: 69
- 1971 — First roller coaster introduced, The Italian Coaster
- 1995 — Great Escape opens its water park, Splashwater Kingdom.
- 1996 — Acquisition by Premier Parks, which later bought and changed its name to Six Flags.
- 2005 — Debut of Looney Tunes National Park: a Looney Tunes themed children's area which included eight new children's rides, including Road Runner Express, the park's seventh roller coaster and a re-themed restaurant as well as a cartoon walk-through. Replaces the old Jungleland area. Accompanying Looney Tunes National Park are the Looney Tunes characters. The Flash Pass system is introduced.
- 2008 — Wiggles World Children's Theme Area is introduced.
- 2009 — The park hosted the first Holiday in the Park (Christmas event) during the weekends in November and December.
- 2010 — Old theme elements from the park's Storytown USA era, including PoPo the Purple Cow and a rebuilt Cinderella's castle, were restored and placed back into the park.[3] In late 2010, Six Flags began the process of removing licensed theming from attractions. The Great Escape would terminate their license with The Wiggles, with Wiggles' World being rethemed to KIDZOPOLIS starting in the 2011 season. The Great Escape also terminated their licenses with both Looney Tunes and DC Comics despite Six Flags having the rights to use the characters in their parks. Looney Tunes National Park was rethemed to Timbertown and the Flash Pass system was renamed to Go Fast Pass, all in time for the 2011 season.[4][5][6][7]
- 2016 — Greezed Lightnin' opens across from Thunder Alley & Flashback. The area gets renamed Hot Rod USA.
- 2020 — On September 11, 2020, the park announced on its social media channels that it would remain closed for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All season passes and tickets were carried over to the 2021 season.[8]
- 2024 - The park announced the addition of Bobcat for the 2024 season, a Gravity Group family wooden roller coaster.[9]
Rides and attractions
editThemed areas
edit- Fest Area – Bavarian themed.
- Ghost Town – Old West themed.
- Storytown – Storybook themed.
- Hot Rod USA – Race car themed. Opened in 2016 with Greezed Lightnin'.
- Timbertown – A children's area, previously themed as Jungleland prior to 2005, and as Looney Tunes National Park from 2005 to 2010. As Jungleland, the area featured an animal show and a walking tour of jungle-like conditions adorned with animatronic animals along with a wood and rope bridge. In 2016, some elements of Jungleland were returned to the area.
- Hurricane Harbor – Formerly called Splashwater Kingdom, a water park section located at the back of the park. There is no additional charge to visit Hurricane Harbor.
Roller coasters
edit| Name | Area | Picture | Manufacturer | Type | Year opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat | Fest Area | 
|
The Gravity Group | Family wooden coaster | 2024 | The Bobcat replaced the former Alpine Bobsled.[9] |
| Canyon Blaster | Ghost Town | 
|
Arrow Development | Mine train | 2003 | Previously located at Opryland USA from 1972 until the park's closure in 1997. |
| The Comet | Fest Area | 
|
Philadelphia Toboggan Company | Double-out and back wooden coaster | 1994 | Previously located at Crystal Beach Park from 1948 until the park's closure in 1989. |
| Flashback | Hot Rod USA | 
|
Vekoma | Boomerang | 1997 | The first Boomerang to be installed at a Six Flags park. Formerly called Boomerang: Coast to Coaster. |
| Frankie's Mine Train | Timbertown | 
|
Zamperla | Family Gravity Coaster | 2005 | Known as Road Runner Express from 2005 to 2010. |
| Steamin' Demon | Ghost Town | 
|
Arrow Development | Corkscrew coaster | 1984 | Previously located at Pontchartrain Beach under the name Ragin' Cajun. A virtual reality experience was offered on the ride in 2017. |
Family rides
edit| Name | Area | Manufacturer | Model | Year opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice in Wonderland | Fest Area | Walk-through attraction | 1967 | ||
| Balloon Race | Fest Area | Zamperla | Balloon Race | 1989 | Located in Storytown prior to 2013. |
| Blizzard | Fest Area | Eli Bridge | Indoor Scrambler | 1971 | Originally called Chipper's Magical Mystery Tour. Operated outdoors from 2005 to 2013. |
| Cannonball Express | Fest Area | Mack Rides | Music Express | 1985 | |
| Desperado Plunge | Ghost Town | Arrow Development | Log flume | 1979 | Relocated from Busch Gardens Los Angeles after it closed in 1979.[10][11] |
| Grand Carousel | Storytown | Chance | Carousel | 1989 | Features both horses and fantastic creatures. |
| Marshal's Stampede | Ghost Town | Mac Duce | Bumper cars | 1985 | Located in Fest Area prior to 2013. |
| Raging River | Fest Area | Intamin | River rapids | 1986 | |
| Screamin' Eagles | Fest Area | Larson International | Flying Scooters | 2013 | |
| Sky Ride | Fest Area | Universal Design Ltd. | Chairlift | 1960s | |
| Storytown Train | Storytown/Timbertown | Chance | C.P. Huntington | 1956 | |
| Swan Boats | Storytown | Adventureglass | Swan Paddleboats | 1950s | Closed for refurbishment in 2023. |
| Thunder Alley | Storytown | Arrow Development | Turnpike cars | 1970s |
Thrill rides
edit| Name | Area | Manufacturer | Model | Year opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adirondack Outlaw | Ghost Town | Funtime | Vomatron | 2021 | |
| Condor | Ghost Town | Huss | Condor | 1990 | |
| Dare Devil Dive | Fest Area | Skycoaster, Inc. | Skycoaster | 2001 | Upcharge attraction. Formerly called Skycoaster. |
| Extreme Supernova | Fest Area | Zamperla | Discovery | 2014 | |
| Go-Carts | Fest Area | Upcharge attraction. | |||
| Pandemonium | Fest Area | Chance Rides | Freestyle | 2018 | |
| Greezed Lightnin' | Hot Rod USA | Larson International | 22m Giant Loop | 2016 | |
| Sasquatch | Hot Rod USA | S&S Power | Turbo Drop / Space Shot | 2009 | Includes a drop tower and a launch tower; each has its own queue. The ride was previously named Bayou Blaster and Sonic Slam when the ride was located at Six Flags New Orleans, which closed due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In 2017, Drop of Doom VR was temporarily added to the attraction. |
Children's rides
edit| Name | Area | Manufacturer | Type | Year opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convoy | Fest Area | Zamperla | Convoy | 1987 | Miniature trucks driven on a guided path. |
| Oakley's Honey Swings | Timbertown | Zamperla | Flying swings | 2005 | Known as Taz Twister from 2005 to 2010. |
| Hootie's Treehouse | Timbertown | Zamperla | Miniature drop tower | 2005 | Known as Tweety Treehouse from 2005 to 2010. |
| Ranger Randy's Railway | Timbertown | Zamperla | Miniature train | 2005 | Known as Elmer Fudd Scenic Railway from 2005 to 2010. |
| Rocky's Ranger Planes | Timbertown | Zamperla | Revolving planes | 2005 | Known as Bugs Bunny Ranger Pilots from 2005 to 2010. Relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure. |
| Sheldon's Speedway | Timbertown | Zamperla | Race car loop | 2005 | Known as Speedy Gonzales Camptown Racers from 2005 to 2010. Relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure. |
| Spruce's Wilderness Bus Tours | Timbertown | Zamperla | Pendulum | 2005 | Known as Daffy Duck Wilderness Bus Tour from 2005 to 2010. |
Hurricane Harbor
edit
| Name | Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Typhoon Twister | 1995 | A pair of enclosed water slides that guests ride in small inflatable boats. Previously called Black Cobra. |
| Adventure River | 1995 | 1,050 ft (320 m) long, 28 in (0.71 m) deep river. Riders may travel in tubes or swim freely. Features waterfalls, geysers, strong current and continuous waves. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Capt'n Hook's Adventure River from 1995 to 2018. |
| Splashwater Island | 1997 | A treehouse featuring spraying water, 5 body slides, and a 500 US gal (1,900 L) water bucket that drenches the area every 8 minutes. Located in Lower Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Paul Bunyan's Bucket Brigade from 1997 to 2018. |
| Hurricane Bay | 1997 | 500,000 US gal (1,900 kL), 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) wave pool with six wave patterns. Located in Lower Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Lumberjack Splash. |
| Buccaneer Beach | 2015 | Pirate-themed water fountains, pools and body slides for children. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Noah's Sprayground. |
| Bamboo Shoots | 1995 | Three thrilling water slides including (Twister Falls, Banshee Plunge & Blue Typhoon). Previously called Kingdom Cascades |
| Tornado | 2007 | A ProSlide Tornado that takes riders through a short section of an enclosed slide before coming out at the top of a giant funnel where riders slide back and forth before gently landing in a splash pool. Installed in 2007. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. |
| Big Kahuna | 2008 | A specially designed tube bowl made by ProSlide. Similar to the standard CannonBOWL but a slightly smaller size. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Mega Wedgie. |
| Island Air Adventures | 2008 | A rotating plane ride, formerly known as Big Red Planes (2008 to 2010) and ZoomJets (2011 to 2018) in the former Wiggles World and Kidzopolis respectively. The ride operates with the water park operations. |
| Alpine Freefalls | 2012 | This slide complex features a Wahoo Racer (a ProSlide KrakenRacer) and a Paradise Plunge (a trapdoor released ProSlide speed slide). Located in Lower Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Twisted Racer and Cliffhanger. |
| Bonzai Pipelines | 2017 | Thrilling body slide complex. |
| Bucket Blasters | 2019 | Zamperla Watermania - Spinning flat ride where riders are equipped with water blasters. |
| Shipwreck Cove | 2019 | Activity pool with interactive water sprays, geysers, and fountains. |
Special events
editAfter Labor Day Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor has two special events, Oktoberfest and Fright Fest, before closing for the winter. Oktoberfest is held during the weekends in September, while Fright Fest is held Fridays thru Sundays in October.
Oktoberfest is marginally a celebration of German heritage but is expanded to include ethnic foods, various beer games, ethnic music and dancing and other activities. (In the past, vendors were included, but none since 2006).
Fright Fest has the entire park decorated for Halloween, while many of the usual shows are changed over to Halloween events as well including trick or treating among the miniature houses in Ghost-town and 4 elaborate haunted houses, which are located near the North-woods Picnic Grove and in the Ghost Town.
In 2009, The Great Escape experimented with a late-season festival named "Holiday in the Park" to compensate the ecenomic slowdown of the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. It included live entertainment and holiday-themed shows, lights adorning the park and a sledding hill making it the winter equivalent of the Fright Fest autumn event. Though Six Flags called the 2009 event successful, it also claimed a "business decision" was the reason behind the cancellation of the "Holiday in the Park" for the 2010 season.[12]
Defunct rides and attractions
edit| Ride | Year opened | Year closed | Picture | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 Trains | 2006 | Children's train ride | ||
| Alpine Bobsled | 1998 | 2023 | 
|
Intamin bobsled roller coaster. Removed in 2023 for the addition of Bobcat. |
| AstroWheel | 1969 | 1992 | Chance AstroWheel. Replaced by Flying Trapeze | |
| Balloon Ferris Wheel | 1980s | 2014 | ||
| Bucky's Shore Patrol | 2005 | 2014 | Horizontally-revolving boat ride. It was known as Yosemite Sam Shore Patrol from 2005 to 2010 | |
| Carousel | 1965 | 1989 | Classic Carousel that was originally at Freedomland U.S.A. in The Bronx and purchased by Storytown when Freedomland closed. | |
| Cinderella Coach | 1954 | While the coach is no longer pulled by live horses, it is still available for stationary pictures with Cinderella | ||
| Cinema 180 | Unknown | late 1990s | Theatre later converted to an arcade then used as storage. Removed for the addition of Screamin' Eagles | |
| Danny the Dragon | 1965 | 1996 | Motorized scenic ride with cars shaped as a dragon's body. Built by Arrow Development and purchased from Freedomland U.S.A. in The Bronx when the park closed after the 1964 season. Replaced by Flashback | |
| Dragon Ride | Unknown | 2009 | Kiddie Dragon ride | |
| Flying Bobs | 1993 | 1998 | Matterhorn style ride. Replaced by Boomerang | |
| Flying Trapeze | 1993 | 2022 | A Yo-Yo wave swinger ride by Chance Rides. In a reply to a comment on a Facebook post, the park announced that the ride had been retired before the 2023 season.[13] | |
| Ghost Town Railroad | 1957 | 2002 | Arrow Development train. Removed in 2002 for the addition of Canyon Blaster | |
| Giant Wheel | 1989 | 2019 | A Chance Rides 90-foot (27 m) tall Ferris wheel. It was retired as part of the Six Flag's 15 rides removal cost-cutting initiative. | |
| Jungle Land USA | 1965 | 2004 |  |
African-themed land. With animatronics animals Re-themed to Looney Tunes National Park in 2005 and later to Timbertown in 2011 |
| Kidzopolis | 2008 | 2018 | Originally themed as Wiggles World from 2008 to 2010. Rebranded to Kidzopolis in 2011. It closed in October 2018 to make way for the Hurricane Harbor water park expansion. | |
| Krazy Kars | 2008 | 2018 | Car ride. Was originally named Big Red Cars from 2008 to 2010. Renamed in 2011. It closed in October 2018 with the rest of Kidzopolis to make way for the Hurricane Harbor water park expansion. | |
| Krazy Kups | 2008 | 2018 | Teacups ride. Was originally named Dorothy's Rosy Red Tea Cups from 2008 to 2010. Renamed in 2011. It closed in October 2018 with the rest of Kidzopolis to make way for the Hurricane Harbor water park expansion. | |
| Motorcycles | Unknown | 2009 | Kiddie motorcycle ride | |
| Nightmare | 1999 | 2006 | Indoor roller coaster located in Ghost Town. The building still stands and is used as a haunted house during Fright Fest | |
| Noah's Ark | Unknown | 2009 | Kiddie Pirate Ship | |
| Octopus | Unknown | early 90s | Classic Octopus ride | |
| Petting Zoo | 1954 | 2010 | Classic petting zoo | |
| Pirate Ship | 1995 | 2013 | Huss Pirate Ship | |
| Rainbow | 1987 | 2007 | 
|
Huss Rainbow- dismantled in 2007 |
| Rotor | 1983 | 2001 | Rotor ride | |
| Screamer (Ranger) | 1982 | 1986 | Huss Ranger. Rethemed and modified into Rainbow ride | |
| Sea Dragon | 1980 | 1994 | Pirate Ship style ride. Replaced by Boomerang | |
| Skylab | 1986 | 2000 | Huss Skylab | |
| Splish Splash Zone | 2008 | 2018 | A water play area. Was originally named S.S. Feathersword's Playship from 2008 to 2010. Renamed in 2011. It closed in October 2018 with the rest of Kidzopolis to make way for the Hurricane Harbor water park expansion. | |
| Starship Kaleidoscope (Tea Cups) | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Storytown Railroad | 1956 | Unknown | The original engine is defunct. However, the station is used for the current train. | |
| Tip Top | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Tornado | 1967 | 2002 | Dark ride that brought riders through the eye of a tornado in the west. Originally created for Freedomland U.S.A. in The Bronx. Removed after the 1962 season and sent to Kennywood Park before it settled at Storytown. Removed at the end of the 2002 season for Canyon Blaster. (Flipper Version) | |
| Trabant | 1969 | 2010 | Chance Trabant | |
| Tumble Weed | 1979 | 1988 | Chance Sky Diver, Replaced by Condor |
References
edit- ^ "Recreational Opportunities (Map)" (PDF). Department of Community Development, town of Queensbury. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ^ a b c Hirsch, Rose Ann (2006). Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-4470-1.
- ^ Jones, Blake. "Great Escape to debut new Storytown features". Post Star. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
- ^ MacDonald, Brady (25 November 2010). "Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers". LA Times. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ "Kids Rides". The Great Escape.
- ^ "All Attractions". The Great Escape.
- ^ "Great Escape".
- ^ Kathleen Moore (September 12, 2020). "Great Escape not opening in 2020". The Post-Star. Queensbury.
- ^ a b "Bobcat wooden coaster coming to Great Escape". The Post Star. August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- ^ Futrell, Jim (2006). Amusement Parks of New York. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811732622.
- ^ "Sabrina's Brochure Spotlight: The Great Escape 1984". NewsPlusNotes. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Donnelly, Scott. "Great Escape cancels Holiday in the Park 2010". Post Star. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
- ^ "Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor". Facebook. Six Flags. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
After a very long run, [...] Flying Trapeze has been retired. We greatly value the history and tradition of this original ride, but it had reached the end of its cherished and useful lifecycle.
External links
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