Great Escape Adding Sasquatch (S&S Drop Tower) for 2009

[GAcoaster]

From PostStar.com

 

Great Escape to add new ride

Winter hours also set for amusement park

By ALYSON MARTIN

Published: Wednesday, July 09, 2008

 

QUEENSBURY - Great Escape will offer thrills -- and chills -- next year, as the amusement park adds both a new ride and a winter event.

 

"We're going to put a major, what I would an iconic ride into this park -- one that's stunning from a thrill standpoint, one that's stunning visually," said Mark Shapiro, chief executive officer of Six Flags, which owns the Queensbury amusement park.

 

Shapiro, who spent part of Tuesday touring the park, wouldn't give any other details, but he said Six Flags will continue to invest in the Great Escape.

 

"This is one of our best-rated parks in the system -- highest guest service scores, ranging from cleanliness to speed and safety," he said. "You will not go a year here where we're not launching a new ride or attraction."

 

Historically, Shapiro said, decisions about larger rides are made in August or September, when staff can see what is working.

When asked if the new ride might be the Serial Thriller, Shapiro said "no comment." The Serial Thriller is a suspended, looping, roller-coaster, which came from the now-defunct Six Flags AstroWorld Theme Park in Houston. The coaster has been stored in pieces on the Great Escape property, visible from Route 9, since late 2005. In a previous interview with Scott Maupin, former president of the Great Escape properties, Maupin said an ongoing power infrastructure upgrade would allow for the coaster to be installed in the future.

 

"We're making a significant investment in the power system to be able to grow in 2008 and beyond," Maupin said last year.

 

Two additions in the past two years in Splashwater Kingdom, the water park portion of the theme park, have been great successes, Shapiro said. Two years ago, the Tornado was added, and this year, the Mega Wedgie has opened to help lure water park enthusiasts. Wiggles World, a children's attracted, debuted this year.

 

The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark, located across Route 9 from the outdoor amusement park, is a blueprint for what Shapiro said he'd like to do in the future. The indoor water park is the only one of its kind within the Six Flags family, he said.

 

Speaking to the rising cost of gas and a dragging economy, Shapiro said Six Flags has positioned itself to be a "value alternative." Six Flags, in general, is hopeful that customers will stay close to home because of the cost of flights and the hassles of flying, he said.

 

"We're very conscious of the economic climate and that's why we're focused on the value," Shapiro said. "We need to be empathetic to what's going on."

 

In recent years, prices at Great Flags have remained consistent while hours and days of operation have been lengthened, he said.

 

To add to the value, Shapiro said Great Escape will be the first Six Flags park on the East Coast to host a "Holiday in the Park" event, a celebration of the different winter holidays that will include a "monstrous Christmas tree" and several shows, Shapiro said.

 

A ride package will be available to patrons, as well as holiday cuisine and storytelling.

 

"It lends itself with all of the storytelling here," Shapiro said. "It lends itself like no other park to an event of that nature."

 

Shapiro said Johnny Rockets, the classic diner-style fast-food restaurant that replaced Trapper's Adirondack Grille, has been an immediate success.

 

"It's erased any memories of that restaurant," Shapiro said.

 

He also spoke about the norovirus strain that affected patrons of the indoor water park in the spring, and the efforts that were made by staff to prevent the spread of the stomach virus, including the installation of hand-sanitizing stations.

 

"It didn't have a negative impact on our business, for the most part," Shapiro said. "Fortunately, I think most of our patrons recognize that it did not originate in the lodge."

 

The state Department of Health, after investigating the indoor park, never determined the site of origin.

 

Within the Six Flags park system, a 17-year-old boy was killed in late June when a roller coaster struck him after he climbed over two fences at Six Flags Over Georgia theme park in Atlanta. Shapiro said he sends out thoughts and prayers to the boy's family, but he reiterated that the teenager did not follow signs warning patrons not to enter the area. The accident had no impact, one way or another, on Six Flags' business, he said.

 

Shapiro, a former ESPN executive who has been CEO of Six Flags for 2-1/2 years, is staying at the indoor water park with his family.

 

He said he will spend part of the day today enjoying some of Great Escape's attractions.

 

I wonder if this is the SLC they got from Astroworld, or The Dark Knight, or something completely new and different, or maybe some combination of those, and finally taking on the Six Flags name officially.

[29yrswithaGApass]

In addtion to Fright Fest and the new Holiday in the Park, Great Escape also has an Oktoberfest event. We need to get some of that late season fun at GA!

 

See Great Escape's Oktoverfest event page HERE.

 

" Throughout Oktoberfest, catch German-inspired shows at the Bavarian Palace including HSV Bavaria-Folk Dancers and German American Dance Band SPITZE! As you make your way through the park, stop in the Beer Garden and listen to the delightful sounds of the authentic Zither-playing of Reinhold Weidemann followed by the Polka and Waltz band Alpine Squeeze, in the Jolly Tree Theater. On September 13 & 14, enjoy Ed Hendela, an internationally recognized accordionist in the Beer Garden. Come back the following weekend, September 20 & 21, and enjoy Jolly Joe and the Bavarians perform their German and Polka inspired music at the Bavarian Palace. "

 

[GAcoaster]

Hmm, it's interesting that they have already started selling 2009 Great Escape passes, but there is still no mention of a Holiday in the Park event for this season.

 

I wonder if the event has been canceled...or moved...

[29yrswithaGApass]

I was checking this out yesterday and also noticed that their packages for the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge just go up to November.

[GAcoaster]

So it looks like the "iconic new attraction" is an S&S combo tower to be called Sasquatch. It seems like it will be the old towers from SF New Orleans moving to Great Escape.

 

And it looks like Holiday in the Park is being postponed until 2009...

[29yrswithaGApass]

It stinks that Great Adventure won't be having Holiday in the Park this year, but it would REALLY suck if they announced we were having it and then postponed it. I feel for all the Great Escape fans.

[GAcoaster]

Press Release from The Great Escape:

 

Sasquatch Sighting At The Great Escape

 

The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom announced today the addition of Sasquatch, a new iconic drop ride coming to The Great Escape for the 2009 season. Also on tap for 2009 —Holiday in the Park, a seasonal event featuring holiday shows, festive food and thousands of twinkling lights; as well as $1 million in upgrades to the Beer Garden in the Fest Area that will create an exciting new family venue offering concerts, shows, dining and a variety of entertainment options.

 

“Six Flags is truly committed to The Great Escape,” said Don McCoy, President of The Great Escape Properties. “In just the last two years, we've added the Tornado, the Mega Wedgie, and Wiggles World. We're now going to provide a thrill ride that's simply stunning. Sasquatch will be equally appealing to teens and tweens and will complement the excitement of the Comet, Steamin' Demon, and Boomerang.”

 

Sasquatch will be made up of two independent steel towers standing 192 feet tall. The drop ride accelerates guests from ground level to the top of the towers in less than 3 seconds. The initial powered blast creates a force on the rider of 4.5 G. Upon reaching the top, guests are rocketed downward with a 2 G-force before enjoying a series of air-cushioned bounces up and down the tower. Sasquatch will be the tallest thrill ride at The Great Escape and promises to become an iconic symbol of the park's growing importance in the North Country.

 

Also for 2009, the Beer Garden in the Fest Area will be re-modeled and transformed into a food and entertainment venue. The current cafeteria-style setting will be replaced with a mini-food court. Guests will be able to dine in air-conditioned comfort while taking in a show or concert.

 

Families will delight in Holiday in the Park, an all-new event for The Great Escape that stretches the season to make it the longest on record. This exciting addition will be a celebration of the different winter holidays featuring holiday-themed shows, traditional food, choirs, carolers, Santa meet-and-greets, and our very own snow hill— for sledding! Guests can make plans now to enjoy Sasquatch, the first-ever Holiday in the Park, as well as the all-new Beer Garden by purchasing a 2009 Season Pass to The Great Escape. 2009 Season Passes are currently available for purchase online at sixflags.com.

 

A Season Pass to The Great Escape is the best entertainment value in the North Country area offering:

 

* Admission to the theme park this Fall during Oktoberfest and Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS®;

* Coupon book with over $300 in real savings & 5 Bring-A-Friend-Free tickets;

* Unlimited visits during our longest season ever in 2009; and

* A Season Pass pays for itself in just two visits.

 

 

And, when purchased before November 2, guests can save $10 — only $69.99.

 

The Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark is conveniently located directly across the street from The Great Escape and provides 200 family-friendly suites. A new Season Pass package is available and combines all the fun and excitement of the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark with season passes to The Great Escape. Packages include a two night stay at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge, admission to White Water Bay indoor waterpark during length of stay, and four 2008 season passes to The Great Escape &

Splashwater Kingdom. Package prices begin at $185 per person, based on four person occupancy. Offer is based on availability. For details, visit SixFlagsGreatEscapeLodge.com or call 888-708-2684.

 

For more information about The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, call 518-792-3500 or log on to sixflags.com.

[CoasterPete]

I have never been to this small park but it seems like this will be a nice fit for the park. I know it's more of a family park with a few thrillers but I think this will be a hit with upstate NYers.

 

Pete