Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor explained

Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor
Location:89 Six Flags Drive
Queensbury, New York
Coordinates:43.351°N -73.6901°W
Owner:Six Flags
Opening Date:1954
Previous Names:Storytown USA (1954–1982), The Great Escape Fun Park (1983–1994), The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom (1995–2022)
Season:May through October
Rides:
  • 35 (excluding water park)
  • 45 (including water park)
  • 3 (upcharge)
Coasters:5
Water Rides:10
Slogan:New York’s Most Thrilling Theme Park

Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor is an amusement and water park owned and operated by Six Flags. It is located approximately north of Albany, in Queensbury, New York.[1]

History

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] 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 1988 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 38000square feet 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 80feet tower and plunging into a 10feet deep pool. This also featured a fire diver.

Other milestones include:

Rides and attractions

Themed areas

Roller coasters

NameAreaclass= PictureManufacturerTypeYear openedNotes
BobcatFest AreaThe Gravity GroupFamily wooden coaster2024The Bobcat replaced the former Alpine Bobsled.
Canyon BlasterGhost TownArrow DevelopmentMine train2003Previously located at Opryland USA from 1972 until the park's closure in 1997.
The CometFest AreaPhiladelphia Toboggan CompanyDouble-out and back wooden coaster1994Previously located at Crystal Beach Park from 1948 until the park's closure in 1989.
FlashbackHot Rod USAVekomaBoomerang1997The first Boomerang to be installed at a Six Flags park. Formerly called Boomerang: Coast to Coaster.
Frankie's Mine TrainTimbertownZamperlaFamily Gravity Coaster2005Known as Road Runner Express from 2005 to 2010.
Steamin' DemonGhost TownArrow DevelopmentCorkscrew coaster1984Previously located at Pontchartrain Beach under the name Ragin' Cajun. A virtual reality experience was offered on the ride in 2017.

Family rides

NameAreaManufacturerModelYear openedNotes
Alice in WonderlandFest AreaWalk-through attraction1967
Balloon RaceFest AreaBalloon Race1989Located in Storytown prior to 2013.
BlizzardFest AreaEli Bridge Indoor Scrambler1971Originally called Chipper's Magical Mystery Tour. Operated outdoors from 2005 to 2013.
Cannonball ExpressFest AreaMusic Express1985
Desperado PlungeGhost TownArrow DevelopmentLog flume1979Relocated from Busch Gardens Los Angeles after it closed in 1979.[10] [11]
Grand CarouselStorytownChanceCarousel1989Features both horses and fantastic creatures.
Marshal's StampedeGhost TownMac DuceBumper cars1985Located in Fest Area prior to 2013.
Raging RiverFest AreaRiver rapids1986
Screamin' EaglesFest AreaLarson InternationalFlying Scooters2013
Sky RideFest AreaUniversal Design Ltd.Chairlift1960s
Storytown TrainStorytown/TimbertownChanceC.P. Huntington1956
Swan BoatsStorytownAdventureglassSwan Paddleboats1950sClosed for refurbishment in 2023.
Thunder AlleyStorytownArrow DevelopmentTurnpike cars1970s

Thrill rides

NameAreaManufacturerModelYear openedNotes
Adirondack OutlawGhost TownFuntimeVomatron2021
CondorGhost TownCondor1990
Dare Devil DiveFest AreaSkycoaster, Inc.Skycoaster2001Upcharge attraction. Formerly called Skycoaster.
Extreme SupernovaFest AreaDiscovery2014
Go-CartsFest AreaUpcharge attraction.
PandemoniumFest AreaFreestyle2018
Greezed Lightnin'Hot Rod USALarson International22m Giant Loop2016
SasquatchHot Rod USAS&S PowerTurbo Drop / Space Shot2009Includes 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

NameAreaManufacturerTypeYear openedNotes
ConvoyFest AreaZamperlaConvoy1987Miniature trucks driven on a guided path.
Oakley's Honey SwingsTimbertownZamperlaFlying swings2005Known as Taz Twister from 2005 to 2010.
Hootie's TreehouseTimbertownZamperlaMiniature drop tower2005Known as Tweety Treehouse from 2005 to 2010.
Ranger Randy's RailwayTimbertownZamperlaMiniature train2005Known as Elmer Fudd Scenic Railway from 2005 to 2010.
Rocky's Ranger PlanesTimbertownZamperlaRevolving planes2005Known as Bugs Bunny Ranger Pilots from 2005 to 2010. Relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure.
Sheldon's SpeedwayTimbertownZamperlaRace car loop2005Known as Speedy Gonzales Camptown Racers from 2005 to 2010. Relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure.
Spruce's Wilderness Bus ToursTimbertownZamperlaPendulum2005Known as Daffy Duck Wilderness Bus Tour from 2005 to 2010.

Hurricane Harbor

NameOpenedDescription
Typhoon Twister1995A pair of enclosed water slides that guests ride in small inflatable boats. Previously called Black Cobra.
Adventure River19951050feet long, 28inches 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 Island1997A treehouse featuring spraying water, 5 body slides, and a 500usgal 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 Bay1997500000usgal, 25000square feet wave pool with six wave patterns. Located in Lower Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Lumberjack Splash.
Buccaneer Beach2015Pirate-themed water fountains, pools and body slides for children. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Noah's Sprayground.
Bamboo Shoots1995Three thrilling water slides including (Twister Falls, Banshee Plunge & Blue Typhoon). Previously called Kingdom Cascades
Tornado2007A 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 Kahuna2008A 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 Adventures2008A 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 Freefalls2012This 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 Pipelines2017Thrilling body slide complex.
Bucket Blasters2019Zamperla Watermania - Spinning flat ride where riders are equipped with water blasters.
Shipwreck Cove2019Activity pool with interactive water sprays, geysers, and fountains.

Special events

After 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". 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

RideYear openedYear closedPictureDescription
99 Trains2006Children's train ride
Alpine Bobsled19982023Intamin bobsled roller coaster. Removed in 2023 for the addition of Bobcat.
AstroWheel19691992Chance AstroWheel. Replaced by Flying Trapeze
Balloon Ferris Wheel1980s2014
Bucky's Shore Patrol20052014Horizontally-revolving boat ride. It was known as Yosemite Sam Shore Patrol from 2005 to 2010
Carousel19651989Classic Carousel that was originally at Freedomland U.S.A. in The Bronx and purchased by Storytown when Freedomland closed.
Cinderella Coach1954While the coach is no longer pulled by live horses, it is still available for stationary pictures with Cinderella
Cinema 180Unknownlate 1990sTheatre later converted to an arcade then used as storage. Removed for the addition of Screamin' Eagles
Danny the Dragon19651996Motorized 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 RideUnknown2009Kiddie Dragon ride
Flying Bobs19931998Matterhorn style ride. Replaced by Boomerang
Flying Trapeze19932022A 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 Railroad19572002Arrow Development train. Removed in 2002 for the addition of Canyon Blaster
Giant Wheel19892019A Chance Rides 90feet tall Ferris wheel. It was retired as part of the Six Flag's 15 rides removal cost-cutting initiative.
Jungle Land USA19652004African-themed land. With animatronics animals Re-themed to Looney Tunes National Park in 2005 and later to Timbertown in 2011
Kidzopolis20082018Originally 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 Kars20082018Car 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 Kups20082018Teacups 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.
MotorcyclesUnknown2009Kiddie motorcycle ride
Nightmare19992006Indoor roller coaster located in Ghost Town. The building still stands and is used as a haunted house during Fright Fest
Noah's ArkUnknown2009Kiddie Pirate Ship
OctopusUnknownearly 90sClassic Octopus ride
Petting Zoo19542010Classic petting zoo
Pirate Ship19952013Huss Pirate Ship
Rainbow19872007Huss Rainbow- dismantled in 2007
Rotor19832001Rotor ride
Screamer (Ranger)19821986Huss Ranger. Rethemed and modified into Rainbow ride
Sea Dragon19801994Pirate Ship style ride. Replaced by Boomerang
Skylab19862000Huss Skylab
Splish Splash Zone20082018A 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)UnknownUnknown
Storytown Railroad1956UnknownThe original engine is defunct. However, the station is used for the current train.
Tip Top UnknownUnknown
Tornado19672002Dark 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)
Trabant19692010Chance Trabant
Tumble Weed19791988Chance Sky Diver, Replaced by Condor

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Recreational Opportunities (Map) . Department of Community Development, town of Queensbury . 2009-05-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101128162448/http://queensbury.net/GIS/rec_ops.pdf . 2010-11-28.
  2. Book: Hirsch, Rose Ann . Kiddie Parks of the Adirondacks . 2006 . Arcadia Publishing . 0-7385-4470-1.
  3. Web site: Great Escape to debut new Storytown features . Jones . Blake . Post Star . August 10, 2010 .
  4. News: MacDonald. Brady. Six Flags amusement parks prepare for thematic makeovers. 27 November 2010. LA Times. 25 November 2010.
  5. Web site: Kids Rides. The Great Escape.
  6. Web site: All Attractions. The Great Escape.
  7. Web site: Great Escape.
  8. News: Great Escape not opening in 2020. September 12, 2020. Kathleen Moore. Queensbury. The Post-Star.
  9. News: Bobcat wooden coaster coming to Great Escape. . The Post Star. August 30, 2023. August 30, 2023.
  10. Book: Futrell, Jim . Amusement Parks of New York . . 2006 . 0811732622.
  11. Web site: 7 October 2009 . Sabrina's Brochure Spotlight: The Great Escape 1984 . 19 November 2022 . NewsPlusNotes.
  12. Web site: Great Escape cancels Holiday in the Park 2010 . Donnelly . Scott . Post Star . August 10, 2010 .
  13. Web site: Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor . 2023-05-16 . Facebook . Six Flags . 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..