Part Water Park And Part Amusement Park, Six Flags Great Escape Is The Ultimate Summer Day Trip In New York

If you grew up anywhere within two hours or so of Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, New York, then you know that heading there for a summer day was pretty much the most exciting thing in the whole wide world. This is still the case for kids and for people of all ages as this park, which has been open since 1954, gets better and better every year. Thanks to the fact that this amusement park also has a water park attached to it, there's something for everyone here. Going to Six Flags Great Escape is the ultimate summer day trip. Read on to learn more about this park.

Great Escape is easy to find and easy to get to. It's on Route 9 in Queensbury, just a little south of Lake George, and it's just off I-87.

It's only an hour north of Albany, so it's easily accessible from the Capital Region. It's on the southern edge of Adirondack Park, so it's also close for anyone camping up north.

Businessman Charles Wood bought the land this amusement park is on for $75,000 and together, with his wife, opened Storytown USA in 1954. At first, it was only for small children.

Many of the original attractions for little ones are still at the park today. Children can play in the settings of popular children's stories.

However, over time, this amusement park expanded to have rides for older kids and adults, too. The park's first roller coaster, the Steamin' Demon shown here, opened in 1984, just after the park changed its name to The Great Escape.

Today, the park has seven roller coasters and 45 rides overall.

There are still plenty of rides that are appropriate for little ones, though, like this carousel.

Older children will enjoy faster and higher rides like this balloon ride.

There are also plenty of thrill rides for the older and more daring.

This amusement park has several themed areas, including the Ghost Town.

The crown jewel of this park is The Comet. This wooden roller coaster was built in 1953 and was moved to Great Escape in 1994. Roller coaster enthusiasts consider it to be one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world.

The water park opened in 1995. For years, it was called Splashwater Kingdom but it was re-branded as Hurricane Harbor in 2019.

In 1996, Charles Wood sold the park to the company that would later purchase Six Flags; that's how this formerly privately owned park became a Six Flags.

There's a gigantic wave pool for cooling off on a hot day.

There are 10 water rides in Hurricane Harbor. Several allow you to ride with your friends.

Others are single-passenger, but you can race!

While you visit the park, you may even meet some characters and make some new friends.

You'll have a fantastic summer day at Six Flags Great Escape. Whether you spend your whole day in the amusement park or your whole day in the water park, or a little time in both areas, you're sure to have a day to remember. After you go this summer, you might as well make it an annual tradition!

If you're looking for something else to do in Queensbury, check out this attraction that's right down the road: The Massive Indoor Playground In New York With Endless Places To Play