Great Escape by Enchanted Parks, also known as Great Escape Resort, is an amusement and water park located in Queensbury, New York. Operated by Enchanted Parks, the park features 34 attractions, a water park named Hurricane Harbor, and a hotel named Great Escape Lodge.
The park originally opened in 1954 as Storytown USA. It was acquired by Premier Parks (later Six Flags) in 1996 and adopted the Six Flags brand in 2019 when it was renamed Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor. Six Flags sold the park to EPR Properties in April 2026, and rebranded itself to simply Great Escape soon after.
History
The park opened in 1954 as Storytown USA, a Mother Goose-themed amusement park owned by businessman Charles Wood, who bought the land with his wife for $75,000. In 1957, after realizing that the park was lacking in attractions appealing to older children, the Ghost Town area was added, the first of many themed areas opened in the park's history. In 1960, another themed area would be added in the form of Jungleland. In 1971, the park opened its first roller coaster.
In 1983, the park changed its name from Storytown USA to The Great Escape Fun Park.
In 1984, the park introduced Steamin' Demon. In 1994, the park would open another roller coaster, The Comet. The Comet already had a 41-year history of operation at Crystal Beach Park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. After the park's closure, Charles Wood, the owner of The Great Escape Fun Park and Fantasy Island in Grand Island, New York, successfully bid for The Comet. It sat in storage for a few years at Fantasy Island before making its way to The Great Escape Fun Park.
In 1995, the park's water park, then known as Splashwater Kingdom, was introduced. In 1996, Charles Wood sold the park to Premier Parks, who would later go on to purchase the Six Flags company. Unlike most of the other parks owned by the company, Great Escape was not rebranded as a Six Flags park immediately following this purchase, and would not take on the Six Flags name until 2019.
In 2005 and 2006, Looney Tunes and DC branding would be brought into the park, respectively. In February 2006, The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark opened. The lodge includes a water park exclusively for lodge guests. In 2009, the park hosted Holiday in the Park for a single season. In 2010, the park would reintroduce some of the Mother Goose themes that existed when the park was first created.
On September 11, 2020, the park announced that it would remain closed for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All season passes and tickets were carried over to the 2021 season. In 2024, the park introduced The Bobcat, a family wooden roller coaster.
On March 5, 2026, it was announced that Six Flags Great Escape, alongside several other Six Flags parks, would be sold to EPR Properties. The sale was completed on April 6, 2026, though the park will retain the Six Flags brand for the 2026 season.
In addition to amusement rides, the park offers a variety of live shows. Current attractions
Themed areas Fest Area – Bavarian-themed Ghost Town – Old West-themed. Opened in 1957. Storytown – Mother Goose-themed. Opened in 2010. Hot Rod USA – Race car-themed. Opened in 2016. Timbertown – A children's area. Themed as Jungleland from 1960 to 2004, and as Looney Tunes National Park from 2005 to 2010. Hurricane Harbor – A water park. Formerly called Splashwater Kingdom. Entrance to Hurricane Harbor is included with general admission to the dry park.
Roller coasters Name Area Picture Manufacturer Type Year opened NotesCanyon BlasterGhost TownArrow DevelopmentSteel mine train coaster2003Originally located at Opryland USA from 1972 to 1997FlashbackHot Rod USAVekomaSteel shuttle coaster (Boomerang)1997Originally called Boomerang: Coast to CoasterFrankie's Mine TrainTimbertownZamperlaSteel children's coaster2005Known as Road Runner Express from 2005 to 2010Steamin' DemonGhost TownArrow DevelopmentSteel coaster1984Originally located at Pontchartrain Beach as Ragin' Cajun from 1978 to 1983The BobcatFest AreaThe Gravity GroupWooden coaster2024The CometFest AreaPhiladelphia Toboggan CoastersOut-and-back wooden coaster1994Originally located at Crystal Beach Park from 1948 to 1989
Family rides Name Area Manufacturer Type Year opened NotesAlice in WonderlandFest AreaUnknownWalkthrough1967A walkthrough themed to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.Balloon RaceFest AreaZamperla Balloon Race1989BlizzardFest AreaEli Bridge Company Scrambler1971Enclosed in a building. Originally called Chipper's Magical Mystery Tour.Cannonball ExpressFest AreaMack Rides Music Express1985Grand CarouselStorytownChanceCarousel1989Features horses and fantasy creaturesMarshal's Stampede Indoor Bumper CarsGhost TownMac DuceBumper cars1985Screamin' EaglesFest AreaLarson InternationalFlying Scooters2013Sky RideFest AreaUniversal Design Ltd.Chairlift1960sStorytown HousesStorytownUnknownPlay areaUnknownStorytown TrainStorytownChance RidesRideable miniature railway1956Swan BoatsStorytownAdventureglassPaddleboats1950sRefurbished in 2024Thunder AlleyStorytownArrow DevelopmentTurnpike cars1970s
Thrill rides Name Area Manufacturer Model Year opened NotesAdirondack OutlawGhost TownFuntimeVomatron2021CondorGhost TownHUSS Park AttractionsCondor1990Extreme SupernovaFest AreaZamperla Pendulum2014Previously operated as Eclipse at Luna Park from 2010 to 2013PandemoniumFest AreaChance Rides Wipeout2018Greezed Lightnin'Hot Rod USALarson InternationalFire Ball2016SasquatchHot Rod USAS&S PowerTurbo Drop / Space Shot drop tower2009Includes a drop tower and a launch tower side. The ride was originally located at Six Flags New Orleans, where it was named Bayou Blaster and Sonic Slam. In 2017, a VR experience was temporarily added to the attraction.
Upcharge rides Name Area Manufacturer Model Year opened NotesDare Devil DiveFest AreaSkycoaster, Inc.Skycoaster2001Formerly called SkycoasterOlympiad Grand Prix Go-CartsFest AreaJ&J AmusementsGo-karts
Water rides +NameAreaManufacturerModelYear openedNotesDesperado PlungeGhost TownArrow DevelopmentLog flume1979Relocated from Busch Gardens Van Nuys after the park closed in 1979Raging RiverFest AreaIntaminRiver rapids1986
Children's rides Name Area Manufacturer Type Year opened NotesConvoyFest AreaZamperlaTruck ride1987Hootie's TreehouseTimbertownZamperlaMiniature drop tower2005Known as Tweety Treehouse from 2005 to 2010Oakley's Honey SwingsTimbertownZamperlaSwing ride2005Known as Taz Twister from 2005 to 2010Ranger Randy's Scenic RailwayTimbertownZamperlaMiniature train2005Known as Elmer Fudd Scenic Railway from 2005 to 2010Sheldon's SpeedwayTimbertownZamperlaRace car track2005Known as Speedy Gonzales Camptown Racers from 2005 to 2010. Relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure.Spruce's Wilderness Bus ToursTimbertownZamperlaCrazy Bus2005Known as Daffy Duck Wilderness Bus Tour from 2005 to 2010
Hurricane Harbor
NameOpenedDescriptionAdventure River1995Lazy river. Previously called Capt'n Hook's Adventure River from 1995 to 2018.Alpine Freefalls2012Slide complex featuring Wahoo Racer (ProSlide Technology KrakenRacer) and Paradise Plunge (ProSlide Technology trapdoor slide). Previously called Twisted Racer and Cliffhanger.Bamboo Shoots1995Three thrilling water slides including (Twister Falls, Banshee Plunge & Blue Typhoon). Previously called Kingdom CascadesBig Kahuna2008ProSlide Technology CannonBOWL slide. Previously called Mega Wedgie.Bonzai Pipelines2017Body slide complexBuccaneer Beach2015Water play area with small slides and water features. Previously called Noah's Sprayground.Bucket Blasters2019Zamperla WatermaniaHurricane Bay1997Wave pool. Previously called Lumberjack Splash.Island Air Adventures2008Spinning plane ride. Previously known as Big Red Planes (2008 to 2010) and ZoomJets (2011 to 2018). Was originally part of the dry park, but now operates as part of the water park.Shipwreck Cove2019Water play areaSplashwater Island1997A water play area featuring five body slides and several water features. Previously called Paul Bunyan's Bucket Brigade from 1997 to 2018.Tornado2007ProSlide Technology Tornado slideTyphoon Twister1995A pair of enclosed raft water slides. Previously called Black Cobra.
Former attractions RideYear openedYear closedDescription99 TrainsUnknown2006Children's trainAlpine Bobsled19982023Intamin bobsled roller coasterAstroWheel19691992Chance Rides AstroWheelBalloon Ferris Wheel1980s2014Ferris wheelBucky's Shore Patrol20052014Spinning boat ride. Previously known as Yosemite Sam Shore Patrol from 2005 to 2010.Carousel19651989Carousel. Originally operated at Freedomland U.S.A.Cinderella Coach1954UnknownWhile the coach is no longer pulled by live horses, it is still available for stationary pictures with CinderellaCinema 180UnknownLate 1990sTheatre later converted to an arcade then used for storageDanny the Dragon19651996Arrow Development scenic ride with dragon-shaped cars. Originally operated at Freedomland U.S.A.Dragon RideUnknown2009Children's dragon rideFlying Bobs19931998MatterhornFlying Trapeze19932022Chance Rides swing rideGhost Town Railroad19572002Arrow Development trainGiant Wheel19892019Chance Rides Ferris wheelKrazy Kars20082018Car ride. Previously called Big Red Cars from 2008 to 2010. Closed in 2018 with the rest of Kidzopolis to make way for the Hurricane Harbor water park expansion.Krazy Kups20082018Teacups ride. Previously called Dorothy's Rosy Red Tea Cups from 2008 to 2010. Closed in 2018 with the rest of Kidzopolis to make way for the Hurricane Harbor water park expansion.MotorcyclesUnknown2009Children's motorcycle rideNightmare at Crack Axle Canyon19992006Indoor roller coaster located in Ghost Town. The building still stands and is used as a haunted house during Fright Fest. Previously operated at Beech Bend (Jet Star, 1968 to 1984), Noble Park Funland (Jet Star, 1985 to 1986), Kentucky Kingdom (Starchaser, 1987 to 1995), and Six Flags Darien Lake (Nightmare At Phantom Cave, 1996 to 1998).Noah's ArkUnknown2009Children's swinging shipOctopusUnknownEarly 90sEyerly Aircraft Company OctopusPetting Zoo19542010Petting zooPirate Ship19952013HUSS Park Attractions Pirate shipRainbow19822007HUSS Park Attractions Rainbow. Previously known as Screamer from 1982 to 1986, when it was a Ranger. Modified in 1987 to become a Rainbow.Rocky's Ranger Planes20052025Chance Rides spinning plane ride, relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure. Known as Bugs Bunny Ranger Pilots from 2005 to 2010. Removed from the park at the end of the 2025 season.Rotor19832001RotorSea Dragon19801994Swinging shipSkylab19862000HUSS Park Attractions SkylabSplish Splash Zone20082018Water play area. Previously called S.S. Feathersword's Playship from 2008 to 2010. Closed in 2018 with the rest of Kidzopolis to make way for the Hurricane Harbor water park expansion.Starship KaleidoscopeUnknownUnknownTeacupsTip Top UnknownUnknownTornado19672002Dark ride that took riders through the eye of a tornado in the Midwest. Originally operated at Freedomland U.S.A., and later at Kennywood.Trabant19692010Chance Rides TrabantTumble Weed19791988Chance Rides Skydiver
References
External links
Official Great Escape Website