The Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor

Previously known as Storytown USA, The Great Escape Fun Park, The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom'
Location	89 Six Flags Dr, Queensbury, New York, U.S.
Coordinates	43°21′04″N 73°41′24″W / 43.350991°N 73.690112°W / 43.350991; -73.690112
Opened	1954
Owner	Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Operating season	May through October
Area	351 acres (142 ha)
Attractions
Total	35 (excluding water park) 45 (including water park) 3 (upcharge)
Roller coasters	6
Water rides	10
Website	Great Escape

The Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor is a fun amusement park and water park. It is owned by Six Flags, a big company known for its parks. You can find it about 60 miles (97 km) north of Albany, in Queensbury, New York. This park is special because it's one of the few Six Flags parks that doesn't have "Six Flags" in its name.

History of The Great Escape

Great Escape logo used until 2012

The Great Escape first opened in 1954. Back then, it was called Storytown USA. It was a park based on Mother Goose stories and characters. A businessman named Charles Wood bought the land for $75,000 to create it.

In 1957, the park added a new area called "Ghosttown." This was the first of many themed areas to open. It helped the park appeal to more than just very young children. For a while, the park even put bumper stickers on cars in the parking lot to get the word out!

In 1983, the park officially changed its name to The Great Escape. A year later, in 1984, the park got its first big roller coaster, the Steamin' Demon.

One of the most famous rides at the park is The Comet roller coaster. It's a wooden coaster that first opened in 1943 at another park called Crystal Beach. When that park closed, Charles Wood saved The Comet. He brought it to The Great Escape, and it reopened in 1994. Many roller coaster fans think it's one of the best wooden coasters in North America!

In 2006, something new and exciting opened: the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark. This huge indoor waterpark is just for guests staying at the lodge. It was the first indoor waterpark in New York State!

Over the years, the park has added many new rides and features. They've had character greetings, new shows, and even changed some restaurants.

Key Moments in Park History

• 1954 — Charles Wood opens Storytown USA.
• 1957 — The "Ghosttown" section opens.
• 1967 — The Alice in Wonderland walk-through adventure opens.
• 1983 — The park changes its name to The Great Escape Fun Park.
• 1984 — Steamin' Demon, a roller coaster with three inversions, is added.
• 1994 — The famous wooden roller coaster, Comet, opens at the park.
• 1995 — The park opens its own water park, called Splashwater Kingdom.
• 1996 — Six Flags buys the park.
• 1997 — Boomerang: Coast to Coaster is added. It's still the tallest roller coaster there!
• 2003 — Canyon Blaster, a mine train roller coaster, arrives from another park.
• 2005 — A new kids' area called Looney Tunes National Park opens. It has eight new rides, including the park's seventh roller coaster, Road Runner Express.
• 2007 — The "Tornado" water slide opens in Splashwater Kingdom.
• 2009 — Sasquatch, a tall drop and launch tower ride, is added.
• 2010 — Some classic Storytown USA features, like PoPo the Purple Cow, are brought back.
• 2011 — The park changes the names of its themed areas. Looney Tunes National Park becomes Timbertown.
• 2012 — Alpine Freefalls water slides open in Splashwater Kingdom.
• 2015 — Buccaneer Beach, a pirate-themed water play area for kids, is added.
• 2019 — Splashwater Kingdom gets a big makeover and is renamed Hurricane Harbor. It adds two new attractions: Bucket Blasters and Shipwreck Cove.
• 2020 — The park stays closed for the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rides and Attractions

The Great Escape has different themed areas, each with its own unique feel and rides.

Themed Areas

Fest Area Rides

This area often plays German-style music and has food stands selling treats like funnel cakes.

Name	Picture	Type	Year Opened	Cool Facts
Alpine Bobsled		Bobsled roller coaster	1998	Each bobsled car is decorated with a flag from a different country.
Comet		Wooden Coaster	1994	This classic roller coaster is known for its big drops and long ride.
Giant Wheel		Ferris wheel	1989	It's 90-foot (27 m) tall and gives you amazing views of the park!
Raging River		White Water Rapids	1986	Ride in a round boat through exciting "white water rapids."
Screamin' Eagles		Flying Scooters	2013	This family ride lets you control how high your eagle flies.
Extreme Supernova		Midi Discovery	2014	This ride swings you high into the air.

Ghosttown Rides

This area makes you feel like you're in an old Western town!

Marshal McKay before his daily show.

Name	Picture	Type	Year Opened	Cool Facts
Canyon Blaster		Mine Train roller coaster	2003	This roller coaster used to be at another park called Opryland USA.
Desperado Plunge		Water flume ride	1979	Ride in a log-shaped boat on this fun water ride.
Steamin' Demon		Corkscrew coaster	1984	This is the oldest roller coaster at the park.

International Village, Storytown, and Hot Rod USA Rides

This area mixes classic Storytown charm with a cool 1950s hot rod theme.

A girl and Cinderella getting out of her pumpkin coach.

Name	Picture	Type	Year Opened	Cool Facts
Flashback		Boomerang	1997	This steel coaster goes forward and then backward through loops!
Cinderella Coach			1954	You can take pictures with Cinderella and her pumpkin coach here.
Grand Carousel		Carousel	1989	A classic merry-go-round with horses and other fantasy creatures.
Greezed Lightnin'		Giant Loop	2016	A large loop ride that spins you around.
Storytown Train		Train ride	1956	Enjoy a scenic train ride through Storytown and Timbertown.
Sasquatch		Combo Tower	2009	This ride has both a drop tower and a launch tower for double the fun!

Timbertown Rides

This section is perfect for younger adventurers and families.

Name	Picture	Type	Year Opened	Cool Facts
Frankie’s Mine Train		Steel Kiddie Coaster	2005	A fun roller coaster just for kids!
Hootie’s Treehouse		Drop tower	2005	A mini drop tower ride for kids.
Rocky’s Ranger Planes		Revolving Planes	2005	Spin around in your own plane!

Hurricane Harbor Water Park

Lumberjack Splash wave pool in use.

This water park is part of The Great Escape, so you don't need a separate ticket!

Extra Fun (Upcharge Attractions)

These rides cost a little extra, but they offer unique thrills!

Other Attractions

• Alice in Wonderland - A walk-through adventure based on the classic story, opened in 1967. It's located in the Fest Area.

Special Events

After Labor Day, The Great Escape hosts two special events before closing for the winter.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest happens on weekends in September. It's a celebration with special foods, music, dancing, and other fun activities.

Fright Fest

Fright Fest takes place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October. The whole park is decorated for Halloween! Many shows change to Halloween themes. You can even go trick-or-treating in the miniature houses in Ghosttown. There are also haunted houses for those who like a good scare!

In 2009, the park tried a "Holiday in the Park" event for Christmas. It had holiday shows, lights, and even a sledding hill!

Defunct Rides and Attractions

Pieces of the former Rainbow ride stored away

Over the years, some rides have left the park to make way for new ones. Here are a few notable ones: