A woodie that’s out of this world

Comet at Great Escape may be under the radar, but it’s over the moon

4.25 (out of 5)

For the December installment of “Rode It! Loved It!” (which is exclusively for paid subscribers), we are heading to one of Six Flags’ smaller parks, Great Escape near Lake George in New York. The park and its marquee ride, Comet, may be relatively under the radar. But in my estimation, the old-school woodie is among the most underrated coasters in the U.S. What’s that you say? You are not a paid subscriber? Come on! Paid subscriptions are my only source of income here at the ad-free About Theme Parks, so your support of quality journalism–and me!–would be greatly appreciated.

Saved from the bulldozer in 1994, Great Escape moved and rebuilt this circa-1948 gem from the shuttered Crystal Beach amusement park in Ontario, Canada. While the classic ride harks back to an earlier era, it remains quite potent–even among modern-day behemoths.

(Arthur Levine)