The Comet - The Great Escape, Queensbury, NY
Posted by: 
Vermontish
N 43° 21.077 W 073° 41.112
18T E 606555 N 4800664
An ACE Roller Coaster Landmark
Waymark Code: WM90A2
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 06/08/2010
Views: 8
Enthusiasts call it one of the best rides in North America. Billed as wooden, it is technically a hydrid: a steel frame with rails on a wooden bed.
Originally constructed in 1927 at Crystal Beach near Fort Erie, Ontario, it operated as The Cyclone until its metal support structure was torn down and rebuilt as The Comet in 1947, operating as such until the park closed in 1989. Charlie Wood (then owner of The Great Escape) was the high bidder at auction to acquire the ride; it was moved to his park near Lake George, NY and officially opened for service in June of 1994.
In 2009, American Coaster Enthusiasts recognized The Comet as an American Roller Coaster Landmark.
We visited The Great Escape as part of my son's sixth grade graduation field trip this past weekend. It was raining on and off all day, but the kids didn't mind getting a little wet: there was hardly anyone else in the park, and they were able to ride as much as they wanted without waiting in line.