The Adventure Begins: The History of Six Flags Great Adventure, Episode 1

This is Part 1 of a 5 part documentary celebrating Six Flags Great Adventure's 50th Anniversary. This episode focuses on the park's origins and the first 10 years of its life, from its opening days, to its sale to Six Flags, the rapid expansion to keep up with the crowds, and the myriad of rides that came and went during that time.
HUGE thanks to GreatAdventureHistory.com and the late Harry Applegate who graciously gave me access to the site's content to make this documentary possible. Please check out their amazing website and KZbin channel for more information than you could ever ask for about Great Adventure.
/ @greatadventurehistory...
www.greatadven...
Episode 2: • Haunted By Tragedy: Th...
Episode 3: • The War on Lines: The ...
Episode 4: August 29th
Episode 5: September 5th
Psyclone Steve: Rolling Thunder - • Rolling Thunder, Six F...
JohnYChen: Astroworld 1973 - • Rare 1973 Six Flags As...
Six Flags Great Adventure: / @sixflagsgreatadventure
Fire Effect: • Fire Flames - Free Ove...
Music from the KZbin Audio Library in this video:
Eyes of Glory
Long Road
Music from inAudio/Infraction/Cold Cinema:
Heroes
Chasing Fire
Endgame
Mercury
Action

[@TigerRogersOfficial]

Love these long-form documentaries. Even if they don’t perform the way you hope, I’ll watch them every time

[@theventuracountyrailfan]

Same

[@theunknown0887]

They always do well when the 2hr full version comes out

[@AirtimeThrills]

that they do. but i have never had an individual episode do well (at least at first, some of them compile a good amount of views over time)

[@Thefury325]

⁠​⁠@@AirtimeThrillsyour magic mountain and kings island documentary did insanely well they are both 2 very popular videos, magic mountain racked up 1.4 million views making it your most popular video and kings island racked up 674k views making it your 4th most popular video.

[@Bfyobrian12]

I visited Great Adventure for the first time less than a week ago, and all I could think while in that park was “this place looks like a shell of itself, I’m sure it has a very rich history”

[@Derangedlefty]

I completely agree. This park is a mess

[@kingdelbert]

Just a fair warning for those unfamiliar, episode 2 will start off very rough. Telling the history of anything unfortunately means talking about the bad, and what happened 40 years ago was really bad. As I said at the 40 year mark on Facebook that while I would still encourage anyone wishing to go to Great Adventure to do so, it's important to remember that not everything is sunshine and lollipops.

[@macsignals]

When I renewed my state ride inspector license here in PA in 2022 I sat through a seminar about, go figure, fire safety. It was 2 hours and the first hour and 15 minutes was more or less going over that fire and why we now do what we do. With a little help from Action Park, Great Adventure kicked off regulating amusement rides around the country.

[@OriginalJoe]

Huge fan of your docs. It’s amazing to have 35 minutes of footage from the 1970s and early 80s. It’s not like people carried phones around in their pockets.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Yeah Harry and whoever else was helping him who put together Great Adventure History were visionaries when it came to documenting EVERYTHING about this place going back to 1974

[@tigerrocks503]

Thank you for honoring Harry, he was one of Great Adventures biggest fans of all time and it’s a shame he passed before the big 50th. I thank him for creating Great Adventure History.

[@Mr.Coaster1]

Great Adventure is my home park and the I’ve always wanted to learn more about its history and it’s so nice seeing you doing a documentary on it. Judging of your other documentaries this one is going to be amazing!

[@CoasterCam-k3x]

@@Mr.Coaster1 oops I just disliked your comment when I tried to click the read all button my bad lol. 😅

[@carminecdinoproductions]

Yeah!

[@mikegrove2433]

You'll like the website GreatAdventureHistory.com some of their images were used in this video.

[@thomasxl200]

So excited to go on this journey (let's call it, an adventure) with the park I've called home the entirety of my 30 years on this planet.

[@KoriDawn]

This is my home park. My sisters and I grew up in this park. In fact my sisters both worked there while I was born 24 days after its opening. I love that you have chosen to document Great Adventure. Have many stories to share which I hope to contribute as more episodes are added. I am DEFINITELY sharing these videos with my family. In fact, I would not be surprised if we ended up watching it together when all episodea have been uploaded.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Thanks for sharing, much appreciated

[@Splater765]

Finally, a documentary for a park I’ve actually BEEN TOO! Super excited!!

[@CatsAreKindaCool]

I’m still waiting for the great america one, which will probably be soon 😩

[@billclay9489]

ive been there in 198o and 1984

[@Novakiller]

I’ve loved all your Docs but been hoping for this one. Grew up with this place! I Was 4 in 74.

[@michael7054]

Great video! This park has a very interesting history! The 1984 fire will be interesting to hear about next episode. I really enjoyed watching this!

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

Not just the 1984 Haunted Castle Fire, but also the 1987 Lightning Loops incident that was almost the nail in the coffin for the park.

[@michael7054]

@@JCBro-yg8vd oh. I never heard about that one. Thanks.

[@johnnymacchicago]

I hope this documentary lifts the channel well past 90k!

[@ComPavel]

I’ve been going to great adventure since it opened in 1974 when I was eight years old. Looking forward to the next four chapters. I have incredible memories of this place. It’s come a long way since Runaway Train and Big Fury were the two big roller coasters in the park!

[@Coyotek4]

This video really hits home for me. SFGA was *the* park for my family back when I was a kid, and I have a lot of memories of a lot of the rides mentioned in this video. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, but 'Episode 1' will easily be my most near-and-dear. Many thanks!!!

[@Strongarm_11]

These long form documentaries are amazing, great job man! 👍

[@Matthew_Melara]

This is my home park, I’m excited for this documentary!!

[@brianmacdonald7297]

Wow, thanks so much for this. I loved seeing the old rainbow logo from my childhood.

[@DaanBruins]

This documentary is going to be one hell of a great adventure.

[@benwinegarner4797]

Your history documentaries are so good. Always some of your best work.

[@ThoosiesCorner]

Great Adventure is my home park so I'm glad to see this. Amazing video, Airtime Thrills

[@seriomarkj]

Love these documentaries...always cool to get the history of the parks we love so much

[@kellybaker6353]

These documentaries on the park histories are always so interesting. Thanks for doing these, because I always look forward to them.

[@heather1980]

What a great start to the documentary! I grew up at Great Adventure!

[@matthewstein73]

Thanks for making this. We love the park and it’s great that your passion for telling this story will keep its legacy and the memories of those responsible alive for years to come.

[@exploretherapy2421]

When I saw you posted this at work I could wait to get off live your doc about parks keep them coming

[@THEPOWERSLAM]

So happy my Home Park is getting the recognition & love it deserves. I always wanted to learn the full History of Great Adventure. I know you’ll do great with this project 💯🙌🏽

[@Paolo8772]

This is the only multi series doc on any amusement park I know Part 1 of more than any as I was there in 1977 (Log Flume, Runaway Mine Train and Lil' Screamer) and 1981 (Lightning Loops and Rolling Thunder) and didn't go back until 2022. Looking forward to the rest of it!

[@Melissa2087]

This is my home park... only live about 20 mins away. This was fantastic.

[@philipnauman838]

Very well done. Tons and tons of research. I appreciate it. Plus, I’ve always been a fan of your mellow style and goofy humor.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Mellow style and goofy humor should be on my gravestone

[@Mini_v4]

The documentaries and Buy or sell are by far my favourite series, But I still enjoy all of your videos TY FOR BRINGING THESE BACK THOUGH

[@SVeillance]

Loving this and can’t wait for future episodes. Hoping you do History of Dorney Park next. 🤩

[@melasnexperience]

Yay, a documentary series about my favorite nearby park!

[@CoasterCam-k3x]

Let’s gooooooooooooooooooo another documentary!!!!!

[@RideOfPablo]

oooooo i can’t wait for these episodes! these are amazing every time. KD next year 👀👀👀

[@Coyotek4]

Super Sidewinder is my personal 'Holy Grail' of flatrides ... I have vague memories of going on it when I was around 5 or 6, but that's all I have.

[@brianmacdonald7297]

I was 10 when I rode it, and my memories are much the same. Just a blur of orange and yellow, and questionable restraints. We thought it was a kiddie ride, given its location.

[@Coyotek4]

@@brianmacdonald7297 It was the belief that the ride was meant for kiddies that brought the ride to a premature end.

[@jerseyshorecoasters]

yes so excited for this series (especially since it’s my home park!) i love the long form documentaries!

[@edvaira6891]

Thanks for covering my childhood home park (I grew up in northern New Jersey before moving out to SoCal in the 90’s…my parents actually took me to the park the second weekend it was open in 1974 and it was perfect for five year old me….spent probably every summer there at least for ten years.

[@DangerHuub]

Yeeeeesssss another history-of-documentary. Probably my favorite of your video series. Probs to you, and all the time you put in them! Cheers!

[@ScottyMania313]

Yay, I'm so excited. I remember the Astroworld series and my personal favorite, the King's Island series. It sounds like they had some great shows. I wanna learn more about the Monkies fighting the Tigers show. Those darn tree rats deserve some harsh cat discipline. Also, Glen Frye of The Eagles is from Royal Oak, so yeah, double win.

[@pittpirate1818]

This was really well done and looking forward to the other chapters in the saga. Your cheesy 80's graphics makes it even better.

[@Mystiquemina]

Great work! I loved your Kings Island documentary. I know very little about Great Adventure, so this is enlightening. These detailed documentaries are delightful.

[@yankeeman311]

My home park! Your doc series tends to be my favorite set of videos in this channel. Gonna be following this... adventure... a bit closer than normal 😀

[@sf-dn8rh]

Love these series. Keep up the great work

[@ckbarry]

Thank so much for this. This was not my home park, as I grew up up in the Bay Area in CA. My home park was Marriott’s Great America, but wow, if this didn’t bring back memories. A lot of similar rides. The musical acts listed at 24:07 is such a throwback in the best possible way. Natalie Cole! And to see “Wolfman Jack” in print just took me right back in time. Thank you Edit: also, I remember The Trammps anid I recall the two “m”s in their name, but today, I’m left wondering why 🤔😂

[@Themeparkyle]

Les goooooooo tuff Vid airtime thrills, one of my most beloved parks

[@davidconlin7641]

This is dope to learn about the history of great adventure I grew up going there!!! Appreciate the effort u put into this video !!

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Here we go! This is about to be awesome. If you give half the effort you put into the Magic Mountain, and Kings Island ones, this will be really really good.

[@coasterconquest]

This is exciting!! Can’t wait the the other 4!

[@jasbas459]

I’ve been waiting for this! Thank you! 🙌🏼

[@billclay9489]

I was at great adventure in the early 70's but i was 4 so I dont remember it. I returned in 1980 and this is the park i based all amusement park on. Later in 1984 i got a seasons pass. Before I got there that year, My cousin who lived in Brownsmills,NJ was a frequent quest. The spark he mentioned at the end was the hunted caste fire, my cousin was there that day and was about to line up to go on it but his friend reminded him they were going to see the concert on the other side of the park. they got out out of line and went there. 30 minutes into the concert they saw large dark smoke and it was the fire from the haunted castle. my cousin could have been in there. Its crazy. Great adventure is one of if not the greatest park in america. thank you air time thrills for this doc. Cant wait to see the rest.

[@AirtimeThrills]

I dont know how many people were inside when it caught fire, but the ones who didn't make it out were all in one specific spot where they got trapped

[@amykarnehm3602]

I appreciate the time this takes and really appreciate your love for the history of these parks! Loved your KI history - now watching this one! 😁

[@Sonic-gy7kq]

Man these are great. I remember the Texas one and ooooo boy this is gonna be great. Once Great Adventure is done... Do Great America next!!!😁😁😁

[@joshyater3220]

I saw a notification show up for another one of these and I was so sad i had to wait till after work to watch it which is rare since i work at KI and love my job just wanted to say thank you and keep up the work will always watch your videos

[@ColdCheesesteak1]

So excited for a documentary about my home park!

[@MichaelMyers3000]

Ah, my home park. I even worked there for 12 years. Glad to see it get its story told

[@CoasterThrills1]

Airtime thrills putting in the work love to see it 😎

[@brianmacdonald7297]

I know I'm old, but I didn't really expect Part 1 to extend to my first few visits to the park. I wasn't a coaster fan when I was small, but just about every flat you mentioned made me think, "Rode that. Rode that. Rode...wow, I completely forgot about that one."

[@Spidermonkey260]

I absolutely adore these documentaries and all the work you put into them. This content rivals channels like defunctland and poseidon entertainment!

[@MidcourseDiscourse]

Was so excited for this, absolutely love these doc series’s!

[@TheJFish94]

Finaly, I've been waiting for this documentary! I was gonna' go this year, but those plains have been pushed back to either next year or 2026.

[@sadman68]

I love it when you do the documentaries. Hopefully you can do one on Marriott and the Great Americas.

[@AirtimeThrills]

That is the goal for 2026

[@ZontarDow]

I wish I'd known much of this before I went in 2019. Great documentary.

[@Thelightning1out]

Oh boy, here we go again, another documentary series.

[@fairlyamused]

Never been there but Iove these long form documentary videos

[@seanagulan9481]

Brilliant for 50th anniversary of GREAT ADVENTURE!

[@ClutterCyborg81]

2:50 Maxwells Wild Reserve sounds like an interesting name.

[@zachyboi3489]

So excited to watch this! I've been waiting for this to come out since this is home park

[@thisguy_w0n]

wow great series chris! thanks

[@sedonaredwrx4673]

Crazy to catch a vid right when it came out excited for this one just got into coasters 2 years ago and made me first visit here just a month ago.

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

I wish Great Adventure kept the miniature-filled area, it looked so amazing and I just wish Six Flags and Cedar Fair had more family-oriented activities. Not everyone can ride coasters, so having multiple things for EVERYONE would be amazing. On another note, I also wish Great Adventure was allowed to keep their original characters, before the Shirt Tales and Looney Tunes took over. Much like Astroworld, I feel like Great Adventure lost some of its original spirit when they removed the OG mascots.

[@Amusementnational]

Ay! Im glad ur making these series again! ❤

[@noowayKIMOSABI]

Love these !!

[@pipepicasso8112]

I really like these series.

[@Demetrisadventures]

Thank you for this!!!!

[@Lazzy420]

LFG I love great adventure... GO TEAM OPS!!

[@Starlit43]

This is going to be great!

[@osmaconotg5412]

new documentry series? Hell yah

[@racheljackson4428]

I was fascinated by the Astroworld Documentary.

[@Mr.SingleRider]

MY HOME PARK IS GETTING A DOCUMENTRY YASSSSSS

[@Billnyethecoasterguy]

Video idea: best moments on my worst coasters

[@lkeshow86]

Great video

[@deezulboy]

I get why you have to do it that way, but I just can't watch this kind of thing week to week I just want to sit down and watch the whole thing, so I will be setting a calendar reminder for 9/5 (Thanks for giving us actual release dates) Can't wait!

[@AirtimeThrills]

I get that, i think a lot of people feel that way hence why the full doc always performs great and these individual episodes dont

[@christoperbrown4081]

Thank u been waiting since u said u were working on a new one

[@andybraithwood7551]

My old home park❤

[@ContentinMesa]

This has to be the most visited six flags park even after the merger.

[@AirtimeThrills]

SFMM has more operating days. Would be curious if SFGAM outdraws GADV

[@travispettipiece2331]

Let's go first part of the documentary!!!!!!

[@Grimace6464]

This took me 4 breakfasts to finish this.

[@CesarHernandez-nh1wz]

Best park in the country!

[@plighting_engineerd]

Wow, yay, this is great! Also, unrelated question: where is the source for what you said at 17:10 of the full Magic Mountain documentary? (aka 16:55 of episode one). I've been searching high and low for anything about sunset magazine giving those awards, but I can't find it.

[@AirtimeThrills]

I found that in an LA Times article: The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · 13 Jul 1976, Tue - it just mentioned the 5-star rating from Sunset magazine's roller coaster report

[@coastercube838]

These documentary’s are my favorite KZbin video I’ve ever seen, keep them up with these parks. This one is probably my favorite of all so far, will part 2 be your next video or a few out from now?

[@AirtimeThrills]

I plan on posting these on Thursdays, with my recent vlogs on Mondays. I just barely was able to get Episode 1 done yesterday so I will have to be producing these as they are released

[@coastercube838]

@@AirtimeThrills sounds great!! Have you been on skyrush with the new restrains yet, I still don’t rank it high

[@VinceHere98]

8:22 “the judge would not budge” lol that rhymed

[@CoasterMT]

Lets go New Vid from Chris

[@IsleofPigsStudios]

Airtime Thrills: The Adventure Begins

[@QueenElizabeth-lh2ne]

Epic

[@WilliamCrew]

Very nice, even though I have never been to Six Flags Great Adventure. Hopefully, I will get there soon. My two homeparks, KD and BGW are also having there 50th anniversary next year as well. Hint hint

[@AirtimeThrills]

I know i have to choose one for next year. Prob will go with BGW

[@jaydenchrist6152]

Yes Finally

[@dindog22]

seems like a lot of parks got started in the early 70's

[@AirtimeThrills]

absolutely. one after another every year

[@commonwealthedison2640]

This documentary will not be complete without answering the question of how Six Flags decided to give this park Ka and El Toro in back to back years.

[@Troy-jc2ko]

@commonwealthedison2640 I thought that the owners of SF in the early 2000’s we’re trying to turn SFGAdv into a premium resort so they started giving the park better coasters. That plan was abandoned pretty quickly though.

[@AirtimeThrills]

they snuck that RIGHT under the nose of Mark Shapiro

[@Quickfire412]

damn that was an EPIC intro

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

You need to do this for The Myrtle Beach Pavilion the old one

[@CoasterMT]

Do one on six flags over Georgia pls