Great Escape Walk-thru

A tour of this historic park near Lake George, NY
A trip report can be found here:
www.karenandjay...

[@scottmorin693]

Grew up going to this park, my mom would take me every year. First roller coaster was the Steamin Demon. I remember when the Condor was the big new attraction, as well as the Comet being installed, Black Cobra (3 hour line!), and the water park! I still go to TGE once in a while, but have outgrown the place. Hoping to take my son here to ride the Comet this summer.

[@beccacalli9881]

Then to Martha's for ice cream

[@n3rdg4m3r]

Steamin demon was the first roller coaster I ever rode. I used to love spending summers at Great Escape. Gosh I remember the Comet and Boomerang being put in. Sooo many great childhood memories. I haven't been there in 10 years. Thank you for the walkthrough.

[@AlexLopez-rx8lw]

Used to live in Saratoga Springs, right down the road from Great Escape. Talk about a very family oriented park. Never was over crowded either. Even on busy days.

[@nyrangersfan6325]

I used to live in Clifton Park, which was about 20-30 minutes away from Lake George and the Great Escape. I agree completely with you. Also, I’m sure you loved having the Adirondack Phantoms in Glens Falls for that short stint. As a Rangers fan I used to go there with my dad for the, at the time, the CT Whale vs Adirondack Phantoms games.

[@AlexLopez-rx8lw]

@@nyrangersfan6325 I Loved the the Adirondack Phantoms!! However when my hometown of Binghamton won the Calder Cup, for a short time i was on their bandwagon. LoL!

[@Beatngu23]

I lived in Colonie NY growing up. I loved great escape! I loved Hoffman's playland aswell!

[@judithmccue6949]

Beautiful childhood memories from when it was Storytown U.S.A. and then The Great Escape. Beautiful memories of camping in the Ariondack Mountains. Luv luv Lake George, Warrensburg, Bolton Landing. Everything!!!!! Thank you for posting

[@beccalynn5593]

I went here when I was about 8 years old. So many memories flooding me seeing this

[@augustamadrin8652]

I'm so glad to see that it hasn't changed too much from when I used to go there all the time in late 80s-90s. It's a beautiful park!

[@kittychatalot]

I grew up going to the Great Escape every summer. Great memories.

[@ericfellner3524]

I'm going here in July on a bus trip. Reuniting with an old friend of mine, the Comet. I rode it the last day it operated at Crystal Beach in 1989. I can't believe it's been 30 years since I've ridden it. Health problems have kept me from riding big coasters, but I want to do it again. Really looking forward to my trip to Great Escape!!

[@Awsom3Mik3]

Did you end up going on it?

[@missyscallions9141]

Wow, this place sure has changed a lot since I was there in the 80’s!

[@levraijeonjungkook4341]

By far my favorite park I absolutely love the comet

[@godphoenix66x]

OMG I remember when "The Blizzard" was bright yellow on the outside and called The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour! I've had that song embedded in my mind for decades because of the ride LOL. The inside was dark and psychedelic. I loved it back in the day.

[@xtremeentertainmenttv9664]

this is a really underrated park, and so is six flags new England (my 2 home parks are SFGAd and SFNE, but my main home park is SFGAd)

[@bug-wr7tj]

Xtreme Rides TV same here! SFNE and the great escape are the closest parks to me and I believe they are very underrated also.

[@tealtube6688]

Mine is Six Flags Great Escape! Thats my home park but I've only been there once and im maybe going again in september

[@Growtopian19]

22:21 was my stand. I worked there over the summer, now at the lodge across the street. I actually kinda .miss it.

[@Siwajj38]

My mom worked at the cotton candy stand

[@mountzod]

I have loads of fond memories of The Great Escape; it holds a special place in my heart.

[@Hoosirdaddy]

i loved going ther as a kid now that im 36 years old and watching this vid i may go vist and do some rides i miss it was fun times i remember the westen show as a kid to bad its not ther anymore but fun

[@mitchellgarrah4028]

The dive show has been going on for over 35 years the theme changes each year or did. From pirate theme to Olympic theme over the years just to name a few and the small buildings came from art Monaco land of make believe who also did some work at the great escape as well

[@mikewilsey1553]

It has changed so much so many great memories there as a child growing up in the 80s and 90s, I miss New York and I miss. The great escape. why are so many rides not operational? I can't believe they took out the rainbow ride. I used to love that ride

[@scalp340]

Wow! I remember it a little differently because it was probably 25 years ago since I've been there, but thank you for the trip down memory lane!

[@jayducharme]

I loved the park back then (25 years ago). It’s a very different place now.

[@hedgehogcoasters7239]

Also, I've been on the timbertown trail during timbertown. It was just a simple walkthrough, but it had a few cool bridges

[@Catherapt0r]

This is suuuuper nostalgic! I used to go here as a kid all the time! The Canyon Blaster was my first rollercoaster :P

[@tealtube6688]

Lucky it was my second I went on the flashback first and then canyon blaster and me and my bff lost our group lol

[@eliasmertens9313]

Fun fact: Extreme Supernova was originally located at Luna Park where it was called Eclipse. It was removed in 2013 and replaced with Luna 360, a Zamperla Midi Discovery Revolution, basically the same thing as Eclipse but it did a full 360 loop. And Sasquatch was originally at Six Flags New Orleans/Jazzland where it was called Bayou Blast and Sonic Slam. It was of course removed after the hurricane.

[@hedgehogcoasters7239]

This is my home park. Even though I wish this was the first us theme park, knott's opened before hand, and I would consider it to be a theme park (in terms of cedar fair)

[@coasterpug2616]

Great walk-through as usual! I've long been curious about this park because of the Comet. It's a very pretty park, though it seems to have relatively few attractions for the amount of land it occupies, with a lot of walking in-between.

[@stevepotfora7461]

What a wonderful tour guide you are, Jay. Your knowledge and good nature along with your video skills make watching this tour a pleasure. The large grouping of small buildings you first come upon were not part of Storytown. They came over from the Land of Make Believe in 1979 after it closed due to flooding. The great Arto Monaco designed Santa's Workshop, Gaslight Village, Land of Make Believe and Storytown so those 15 small structures deserved a new home . Glad to see much of the charm remains here.

[@jayducharme]

Thank you for the information. I didn’t know that.

[@vegasdanielsperegon]

Who remembers when the Blizzard was The Magical Mystery Tour Ride?

[@frankhenrystruck2nd266]

Thank you for the history of the park. I live your videos. I watched your Dorney Park one also. It it was raining that day also.

[@playstationfan1902]

I like how you give the tours and give us history about the park, i esp liked the videos of you doing tours of my home parks (darien lake/fantasy island)

[@godphoenix66x]

That dive jump show has been going on a lot longer than 20 years. I saw that show going on as far back as 1980. Amazing nobody ever got hurt or worse. It's pretty high a dive.

[@joecosey1]

Awesome Jay!

[@myhastone6383]

I’m so exited to go this summer we have season passes!!

[@cbr600rrturbo]

When it was story town it was way cooler,I remember back in the 70s watching the animal trainer show the guy got clawed in the face by a tiger there was blood everywhere. Oh & a lady bought the caboose from story town & made it into a hotdog stand it's in Saratoga

[@gentleben1412]

I work as a volunteer at camp summerhill in 1995 we took the kids here many times

[@peatier7626]

really interesting that story land in new hampshire, opened the same year and had the same name as this park but had to change name after first year because both parks where story town

[@nicoleharris4192]

I vaguely remember Jungle land. I remember being terrified of the bridges. XD I do however wish they would reopen it. It would make for a nice break from the craziness of the park.

[@AverageChannelName]

I love great escape!

[@themeparknewengland7909]

i love your tours i am a big fan of yours i have yoyr book about mountain park its a great history book about the park the great escape looks very beautiful it reminds me of canobie lake a lill bit

[@jayducharme]

Thanks, Shawn! The parks do have many similarities, including lots of shade and a family-friendly atmosphere.

[@jayducharme]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the book. It's hard to believe Mountain Park has been closed for 30 years. But happily, the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

[@tiffaniegreen1816]

Very nice video!

[@brendaralston93]

Love the Comet!

[@lonewolfette]

The small buildings at the beginning of the video are perfect for kids... or petite adults. I love going in them every time. :)

[@wapudblues]

Haven’t been there in ten years. It looks a lot cleaner compared to when Six Flags ran it. A lot has changed, different rides has been replaced, more eateries has been installed, and it looks more family friendly. I’d loved to walk throughout the park again one of these days; put it on my bucket list before next summer. Everybody has grown up and no kids to enjoy the outing so it wouldn’t be the same going alone. But still I want to go for the memories.

[@justinkrivers]

six flags has owned and operated the park since 1998

[@stephenbarr5362]

Comet was my 100th coaster back in 2018

[@Jmmoffa]

It looks like it has changed a lot since I was last there around 30 years ago.

[@scottlipitz7157]

Time Stamp of different stuff would be awesome, but still a great video

[@celticqaidbear]

I can't believe how much this place changed. I remember when it was Storytown.

[@bookisheliza1427]

Ahh the memories

[@PatrickKendrick1988]

Thank you for this! I grew up at this park. Had season tickets from 2000-2007. I went one time in the fall of 2008 and sadly I haven't been back since (unfortunately, I just had to grow up and move away). I see a lot has changed! But also a lot is still the same... I'm very surprised to see the condor is still there. That was broken down half the time I was there in the early-mid 2000's. Is the rainbow ride gone? I was hoping to see more of the front of the park but I really can't complain. You did and amazing job here. And I had forgotten that they made the boomerang ketchup and mustard themed... Not their best work. What about the magical mystery tour? Last I knew that was moved outside near where the spinning balloon ride is now. It was "ice themed" and called "Blizzard" I believe. Alice in Wonderland looks INCREDIBLE with the new paint job! Thanks for walking through it... So many great memories at this park. I hope to get back there with my childhood friends for the nostalgia trip of a lifetime. Hopefully one day we can make it happen.

[@PatrickKendrick1988]

My apologies! My question about the blizzard has been answered later in the video! I thought it was about to end and I was clearly wrong. That's what I get for not being patient haha. So glad to see its been moved back inside! By far, the best thrill ride the park had back in the day. Being inside with the crazy colors and flashing strobe lights was absolutely incredible

[@PatrickKendrick1988]

Good lord... Just disregard any question I asked in my first post! Haha

[@jayducharme]

The Rainbow was replaced with the Sasquatch drop tower. If you poke around on my channel, there are several videos of the park from the 1990s, including the Tornado and Jungle Land. Charlie Wood was an amazing caretaker of that place, and I'm glad I got to experience it while he was still in charge.

[@PatrickKendrick1988]

Jay Ducharme thanks, I'll check them out! Tornado and jungle land were my favorites as a young kid... Sad to see that they're both gone. I remember a green dragon ride as well. I believe that was set up where Boomerang is now. The rotor and the pirate ship were classics as well. Do you know if they ever dismantled the old Nightmare warehouse? Also, a friend of mine who used to work there told me you can see a bunch of the old rides in a "boneyard" from the top of the mine coasters second lift hill. Check it out if you can!

[@Skizzy034]

Jay Ducharme The Tornado! OMG, I totally forgot about that. I'm gonna spend hours watching these videos lol!

[@psalm37v4]

I have been here a few times, and I can see that in 2017 (and probably 2018), the Great Mistake is still only operating some of the adult rides. They are really more of a kid's park nowadays, and the good rides tend to be closed when you go, often in a state of repair. They also give short rides: go around 2 to 4 times, then slow down and get off. Doesn't matter how short or long the lines are, they still rush you in and rush you out. Overpriced tickets and food make this (IMO) a Great Mistake to visit for older kids.

[@Skizzy034]

Was it early in the morning? I haven't been there since I was little in the early 90's and I remember there being A TON of people,especially on the Desperado Plunge. Enormous lines! Thanks for the video. This was awesome! Brings back soo many memories. I miss The Great Escape! I don't think I've been there since Six Flags took over. P.S. Jungle Land was awesome!

[@jayducharme]

Scott G. It wasn’t early in the morning; it was supposed to be a rainy day, so crowds were light.

[@SPCGlensFalls]

The building in the back you are referring to is used for Administrative purposes

[@Beatngu23]

16:22 I just died 💀🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@arfriedman4577]

I went here around 1973 with my family.

[@caribea6319]

Ummm, I don't think that is the "pumpkin coach", but, instead the English nursery rhyme... "Peter Peter pumpkin eater had a wife and couldn't keep her so he put her in a pumpkin shell and there he kept her very well"

[@jasonsaville2262]

I bet you also enjoy the Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. Have you ever checked out Kingda Ka???

[@jayducharme]

Yeah, I love GA. Hopefully we’ll be going there again this year.

[@joanleary]

This is awesome! Do you have a contact email? I have a photo of the walkway down by Comet that you discovered to be inaccessible. Would love to pass along

[@motojohnnymoe4799]

Thanks for the video, basically grew up at that place. I remember when it was just the great escape before six flags bought it. A lot of new stuff added.

[@alex032299]

I go here every summer with my camp Double H Ranch that was also founded by Charles r wood Cofounded by Paul Newman Except for 2020 hopefully go back in 2021 a great escape

[@naomigauruder3152]

Do an update now because it looks cool

[@lukeguest7748]

If you are passing through Alabama could you happen to do a walk through on the new theme park OWA?

[@jayducharme]

I would love to. There are lots of beautiful southern parks I want to visit.

[@duncangarrah968]

The small houses are from the Land of Make believe in Upper jay NY

[@kevinduane4348]

Do you have any videos from 1998 I worked there mostly on the magic carpet ride that went over the whole park and the classic cars

[@jayducharme]

There are several videos on my channel from the Charlie Wood era of Great Escape, including some Super 8 footage I took when the Comet first opened. There are also several clips from trips in mid-'90s. I really liked the park in its pre-Six-Flags era, and I miss a lot of the classic quirky rides that Wood had brought in.

[@kevinduane4348]

@@jayducharme yup it was magical when he owned it now it's too commercialized. I loved the quirky rides also. They took most of the good ones out or renamed them for some reason

[@JPelo-fd7lf]

Great video of the park. I read on a Mountain Park facebook group page that the cowboy in the Canyon Blaster area is from Mountain Park, but I have also seen pictures of an identical cowboy in Ghost Town from the Storytown USA era. Any thoughts on this?

[@jayducharme]

While there's a remote chance that's true, I doubt it. I can't now remember who bought the cowboy, but it wasn't Charlie Wood. Those cowboys were actually quite common; I've seen them in at least four different parks.

[@JPelo-fd7lf]

It probably is just the Great Escape's old cowboy and not Mountain Park's then. Thank you for the reply!

[@Thraxs7799]

Bud you didn’t mention Sky lab or Rock and Roll express. You forgot a great many honesty.

[@DrRobert909]

It looks like the rain stopped a lot of rides.

[@debbiearnonilorena2996]

You can go throw the water part to get to other side cause i use to work there let you know for next time

[@bryanzambrano6859]

40:49 I believe the "Hot Rod USA" ride vehicles were originally trains; I don't know how long that lasted though.

[@jayducharme]

Are you thinking of the Old 99 trains that use to be where Greezed Lightning is now?

[@muhammetarslan7217]

16:04 I'm coming lol :P

[@TheCycloneHunter]

Why the heck was everything closed? Was there something wrong with all of them?

[@TripBloggers]

Why does it look like so many rides weren’t open the day you made this video?

[@jayducharme]

It was really early in the morning.

[@christianholm3318]

when i was there was a person dressed up as a sasquacth

[@johncanaday9311]

I go like once a week during sumer

[@chaoticzomba-gameplayandmo225]

What a weird park.....

[@jamesfiaco4922]

Slightly after the Alice and Wonderland Fall into the whole experience! He said there is not much going on here, it is a wonderful distraction for kids. If something is a distraction then it is not physically mentally spiritually beneficial. Like those things that are entertainingly educational.

[@Lady_Kaylo]

you forgot some of the history like where the kidzone is use to be a big top and where that in my eyes stupid ride is up by hot rods use to be the rainbow ride which nearly ever ran but when it did it would take you up into the air in circles never upside down. sorry grew up in the park only lived like the town over was there alot even before the change of owners so I watched a lot of the changes happen at least until 2003 when I moved out of state

[@jamisondalsanto4189]

I work here!

[@michealsstepdad7688]

So sad to see it neglected

[@naomigauruder3152]

Awesome tour, but it is located in queensbury

[@katiekiffney5831]

I go ther all the time

[@matmckone24]

I’m going in a week

[@lorddoma6637]

Isn't Cinderella Disney owned? How they manage to have Cinderella without getting sued?

[@jayducharme]

Cinderella is an old folk tale. Disney owns their version of it.

[@mikep8375]

Hey Jay, Why doesn't Great Escape and LaRonde have Looney Tunes and DC Superhero themes like the other Six Flags parks? Great Video btw.

[@jayducharme]

Thanks. I think it has to do with the corporate branding. Notice that the parks aren't "Six Flags La Ronde" and "Six Flags Great Escape". They've maintained their original identity. Underneath their names is "a Six Flags theme park". Both of those parks were unique properties before Six Flags took over. Perhaps the new corporate owners are sensitive to that and want to capitalize on it. There are some strengths to having branded properties when the offerings are consistent, like McDonald's; you know what you'll get. But in the case of amusement parks, I think it helps to have unique offerings at each park in the chain.

[@dylandesimone6792]

Their License to DC Comics and Warner Bros is not valid at unbranded Six Flags parks. La Ronde has tried multiple times to become a Six Flags branded park, but every time they announce that, it just fades away and nothing ends up happening. I have heard there was an issue Montreal and that they wouldn't let them rebrand the park to a Six Flags park. That park is under heavy restrictions by Montreal, which explains why you dont see alot go on there. If they branded The Great Escape to be Six Flags Great Escape, then you would see Looney Tunes and DC Comics themed areas show up the next day. For some reason though, Six Flags has not done that, and Im pretty happy they decided to leave it an unbranded park.

[@PHENIXXCREATES]

great walkthrough as usual.. this park though looks pretty tame and doesn't seem like a park i'd waste money on.

[@eliasmertens9313]

I think it is worth your time and money. They have a pretty good water park with some decent slides and the Comet is a WONDERFUL wooden coaster. Pretty smooth and has lots of airtime.

[@PHENIXXCREATES]

Elias Mertens uggh I hate water parks though

[@eliasmertens9313]

So do I, but I actually kind of enjoyed the one at Great Escape.

[@Skizzy034]

I guess you can't really get the sense if it unless you grew up going to it as a child.

[@emineak1724]

SHADOWxPHENIX if u like roller coasters then u should go to six flags this theme park is just if u live by here then u should go

[@Aaronproductions]

Wow no music in this park?! (In most places) I know at sf New England everywhere you turn there's a speaker

[@bruhreally1935]

Aaron Productions there music but you need to turn the video all the way up to hear it , maybe the camera didn't pick it up that well

[@jayducharme]

Actually, when I edit the video I lower the background audio so that I don't have to shout over it.

[@naomigauruder3152]

There are speakers

[@jonathanwarner2450]

Why did he reverse the audio?

[@jayducharme]

KZbin content matching

[@happybirthdayshaniqua5006]

I have been here a least 30 times

[@naomigauruder3152]

Same

[@ryankirk7707]

Is the steamin demon rough or fairly smooth?

[@jayducharme]

Ryan Kirk Ron Toomer (the designer) once stated that coaster enthusiasts enjoy rough rides. So I wouldn’t say that Demon is smooth. But in the front, it’s tolerable.

[@christineh8996]

Smooth until the cork screws. My head really gets hurt on it. Love coasters but it’s a little rough

[@ricktheitalianrebel6687]

Whatever happened to the "Tornado" ride in ghostown?

[@jayducharme]

It was scrapped to make room for the mine train.

[@ricktheitalianrebel6687]

@@jayducharme Lame. The Tornado ride was one of a kind,

[@ricktheitalianrebel6687]

@@jayducharme Ghostown does not look as good as it did. It really looked like a western town back in the day. Now, it's too commercial. I really miss the Jungle too.

[@jayducharme]

@@ricktheitalianrebel6687 It was, and was historically important. But Charlie Wood cared about those things. Six Flags doesn't seem to (though the park did manage to save a bit of Storybook Land).

[@jayducharme]

@@ricktheitalianrebel6687 Me too. That's why I treasure places like Knoebels and Canobie that manage to retain their heritage while moving forward.

[@superpikachutyler4439]

31:09 you know theres satanic messages in backwards songs right

[@lorddoma6637]

Yeah crazy stuff

[@agentstrace3941]

I live in Queensbury

[@jacobpaul6483]

I went to that six flags

[@shaynemasello4615]

I just got back today

[@RennellReed]

Too bad they took out the Rainbow Ride.

[@katiekiffney5831]

And it is osome

[@debbiearnonilorena2996]

You did not go all the way in water park 😒

[@jessefarrington4870]

Wa5ch3f this because I'm going there again

[@brooklynscollection]

I use to go here as a kid and it has plummeted to shit. This park has become lame

[@MA-mk9rl]

Marry me

[@SuperTamig]

This is the lamest six flags on the planet...crappy coasters and rides it’s nothing like other six flags

[@ryankirk7707]

Tami Gorman not every park has to be Magic Mountain or Cedar Point, this is more of a family park, and less of a park for an enthusiast.

[@cassandra4238]

That's YOUR opinion. That's not fact. The park has been open for 64 years. Must be someone enjoys going there. And duh why would it be like other Six Flags?! As it's not even originally a Six Flags.