Great Escape
An amusement and water park resort in Queensbury, New York, featuring rides, Hurricane Harbor, live entertainment, and an on-site lodge.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Great Escape is an amusement and water park resort in Queensbury, New York. The property began in 1954 as Storytown USA, a Mother Goose-themed park established by Charles Wood and his wife. It gradually expanded beyond its original storybook concept by adding themed areas, family attractions, thrill rides, roller coasters, water attractions, and live shows. The park's development reflects several distinct phases in the North American regional-amusement-park industry: an early emphasis on children's storytelling environments, a later shift toward broader family entertainment, and subsequent integration into a larger operator's regional park portfolio. The first major expansion came in 1957 with the introduction of Ghost Town, an Old West-themed area intended to provide attractions for older children as well as younger visitors. Jungleland followed in 1960, broadening the park's themed-environment strategy. The park opened its first roller coaster in 1971 and later added major rides including Steamin' Demon in 1984 and The Comet in 1994. The Comet was relocated from Crystal Beach Park in Ontario after that park closed, giving Great Escape a historically significant wooden coaster and helping establish a stronger thrill-ride identity. Water-based entertainment became a central part of the resort in 1995, when the park introduced Splashwater Kingdom, later renamed Hurricane Harbor. The water park is included with general admission to the outdoor park. In 2006, the property added the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark, a separately significant resort component with an indoor water park reserved for lodge guests. This development expanded the business beyond day visits and made Great Escape a destination for overnight family travel in the Adirondack region. Charles Wood sold the park to Premier Parks in 1996. Premier Parks subsequently acquired Six Flags, but Great Escape retained its own name for many years rather than immediately adopting the Six Flags identity. Looney Tunes theming was introduced in 2005, followed by DC branding in 2006. Some of the original Mother Goose concepts were restored in 2010, reflecting an effort to combine the site's heritage with newer licensed and thrill-oriented attractions. The park also experimented with seasonal programming, including a one-season Holiday in the Park event in 2009. The property was closed for the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with tickets and season passes carried forward to 2021. In 2024, it added The Bobcat, a family wooden roller coaster. Great Escape was branded as Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor beginning in 2019, while continuing to operate as a regional amusement resort with themed areas such as Fest Area, Ghost Town, Storytown, Hot Rod USA, Timbertown, and Hurricane Harbor. In 2026, Six Flags announced the sale of Great Escape and several other parks to EPR Properties. The transaction was reported as completed on April 6, 2026. Six Flags was expected to continue operating the park under its name through the 2026 season, after which the Six Flags naming license was scheduled to expire and the property was expected to return to the Great Escape name under Enchanted Parks. The park's present and future operating arrangements should be treated as time-sensitive because the reported ownership, licensing, and management structure changes across the 2026-2027 transition.
History
Great Escape opened in 1954 as Storytown USA, a Mother Goose-themed amusement park founded by Charles Wood and his wife in Queensbury, New York. Wood acquired the land with his wife for $75,000. The original concept focused on storybook settings and attractions for children. In 1957, the park added Ghost Town, an Old West-themed area designed in part to attract older children. Jungleland was added in 1960, further expanding the site's use of themed zones. The park opened its first roller coaster in 1971. It later introduced Steamin' Demon in 1984 and added The Comet in 1994. The Comet had previously operated for decades at Crystal Beach Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. After Crystal Beach closed, Wood successfully bid for the ride; it was stored at Fantasy Island before being moved to Great Escape. The water park opened in 1995 under the name Splashwater Kingdom and was later renamed Hurricane Harbor. In 1996, Wood sold the park to Premier Parks. Premier Parks later acquired Six Flags, but Great Escape did not immediately receive the Six Flags name. Licensed Looney Tunes theming arrived in 2005 and DC theming followed in 2006. The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark opened in February 2006, adding a 38,000-square-foot indoor water park for lodge guests and creating an overnight resort component. The park hosted Holiday in the Park for one season in 2009. In 2010, elements of the original Mother Goose identity were brought back, and the former Jungleland children's area was subsequently associated with different names and themes, including Looney Tunes National Park and Timbertown. The park was rebranded as Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor in 2019. Great Escape did not operate during the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets and season passes were transferred to the 2021 season. The park continued to add and refresh attractions, including The Bobcat family wooden roller coaster in 2024. Its themed areas include Fest Area, Ghost Town, Storytown, Hot Rod USA, Timbertown, and Hurricane Harbor. In March 2026, Six Flags announced the planned sale of Great Escape to EPR Properties. The sale was reported as completed on April 6, 2026. Six Flags was expected to operate the park under the Six Flags name for the remainder of the 2026 season. The licensing arrangement was expected to end before the 2027 season, with a planned return to the Great Escape name under Enchanted Parks.
- 2026
Sale to EPR Properties is completed
[1]Following a March announcement, the reported sale of Great Escape to EPR Properties was completed on April 6, 2026.
- 2024
The Bobcat opens
[1]A family wooden roller coaster named The Bobcat was introduced.
- 2020
2020 season cancelled
[1]The park remained closed for the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2019
Six Flags branding is adopted
[1]The park began using the Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor name.
- 2006
Great Escape Lodge opens
[1]The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark opened with a 38,000-square-foot indoor water park for lodge guests.
- 1996
Sale to Premier Parks
[1]Charles Wood sold Great Escape to Premier Parks, which later acquired Six Flags.
- 1995
Splashwater Kingdom opens
[1]The park launched its water park, later renamed Hurricane Harbor.
- 1994
The Comet is installed
[1]The historic wooden roller coaster The Comet opened at Great Escape after being relocated from Crystal Beach Park.
- 1984
Steamin' Demon opens
[1]The park added the Steamin' Demon roller coaster.
- 1983
Park is renamed The Great Escape Fun Park
[1]Storytown USA adopted the Great Escape name.
Products and positioning
A regional family-entertainment resort combining a traditional amusement park, a separately themed water park, live shows, and on-site lodging in upstate New York.
Amusement park · 1954
Amusement park
The main outdoor park contains roller coasters, family rides, thrill rides, children's attractions, water rides, themed areas, and live entertainment. Its identity combines the site's original storybook heritage with later Western, automotive, licensed-character, and seasonal themes.
Water park · 1995
Hurricane Harbor
Hurricane Harbor is Great Escape's outdoor water park. It originated as Splashwater Kingdom in 1995 and is accessible with general admission to the dry park, making water attractions an integrated part of the overall visitor experience.
Resort lodging and indoor water park · 2006
Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark
The lodge opened in 2006 as an overnight resort extension of the park. Its indoor water park covers 38,000 square feet and is reserved for lodge guests, providing a separate attraction and lodging proposition outside the seasonal outdoor park.
Wooden roller coaster · 1994
The Comet
The Comet is a historic wooden roller coaster relocated from Crystal Beach Park in Ontario after that park closed. It opened at Great Escape in 1994 and became one of the property's notable signature rides.
Family wooden roller coaster · 2024
The Bobcat
The Bobcat is a family-oriented wooden roller coaster introduced in 2024, representing a newer generation of accessible coaster attractions at the park.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Holiday in the Park
United States
Great Escape hosted Holiday in the Park as a seasonal operating initiative for one season, extending the park's entertainment calendar beyond its usual operating period.
Outcome. The event was held for a single season.
Brand decisions
2026
Sale to EPR PropertiesM&ABackground
Six Flags announced a portfolio transaction involving Great Escape and several other parks.
Action taken
Ownership was transferred to EPR Properties, while Six Flags was expected to continue operating the park through the 2026 season.
Aftermath
The Six Flags naming license was expected to expire before the 2027 season, with a planned return to the Great Escape name under Enchanted Parks.
2019
Adopt Six Flags brandingStrategyBackground
Although controlled through the Six Flags corporate lineage since the Premier Parks acquisition, Great Escape had retained its own public identity for many years.
Action taken
The property was branded Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor.
Aftermath
The park operated under the Six Flags name while retaining its established Great Escape attractions and resort components.
1996
Sale to Premier ParksM&ABackground
Charles Wood sold the park after developing it as a regional amusement destination.
Action taken
Ownership transferred to Premier Parks.
Aftermath
Premier Parks later acquired Six Flags, bringing Great Escape into the broader Six Flags portfolio.
1995
Launch the water parkProduct launchBackground
The amusement park sought to broaden its product offering and increase the role of water-based attractions.
Action taken
Splashwater Kingdom was introduced and later became Hurricane Harbor.
Aftermath
Water attractions became a permanent component of the resort's offering.
1983
Adopt the Great Escape nameStrategyBackground
The original Storytown USA identity no longer represented the park's increasingly broad attraction mix.
Action taken
The park was renamed The Great Escape Fun Park.
Aftermath
The Great Escape name became the basis of the property's later identity.
Recent events
- 2026
Six Flags announces sale of Great Escape to EPR Properties[1]
M&A
Six Flags announced that Great Escape, together with several other parks, would be sold to EPR Properties. The reported transaction was completed on April 6, 2026, with Six Flags continuing operation through the 2026 season.
- 2024
The Bobcat family wooden roller coaster opens[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Great Escape introduced The Bobcat, a family-oriented wooden roller coaster.
- 2020
Great Escape remains closed for the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
The park announced that it would not open for the 2020 season. Existing season passes and tickets were carried forward to the 2021 season.
Planned return to the Great Escape name after the Six Flags license expires[1]
Leadership change · Other
The Six Flags naming license was reported to be scheduled to expire at the beginning of the 2027 season, after which the park was expected to operate as Great Escape under Enchanted Parks.
Sources4 sources
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