{"id":38947,"date":"2026-03-17T12:10:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?p=38947"},"modified":"2026-03-17T12:10:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:10:36","slug":"great-escape-included-in-331-million-sale-of-six-flags-theme-park-portfolio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2026\/03\/great-escape-included-in-331-million-sale-of-six-flags-theme-park-portfolio\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Escape Included In $331 Million Sale Of Six Flags Theme Park Portfolio"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Great Escape has six roller coasters including the Bobcat, which opened in 2024. Six Flags has sold the Queensbury amusement park to Kansas City-based EPR Properties.
Courtesy Paul Post<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Paul Post<\/p>\n

Great Escape, one of the area\u2019s oldest tourist attractions and largest seasonal employers, is expected to maintain regular operations following its sale to Kansas City-based EPR Properties.<\/p>\n

The $331 Million deal includes six other Six Flags theme parks in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n

Founded as Storytown USA by the late Charles R. Wood in 1954, the amusement center was renamed Great Escape in 1983. Thirteen years later, Wood sold it to Premier Parks, which later purchased Six Flags and adopted its name.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis move allows Six Flags to concentrate on the parks that we believe offer the greatest opportunities for growth and long-term success,\u201d company President and CEO John Reilly said. \u201cSince joining the company, I have been clear that Six Flags\u2019 earnings power has been under-realized. This transaction will simplify our portfolio, strengthen our balance sheet and position us to execute with greater clarity and discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter.<\/p>\n

Great Escape will maintain the Six Flags brand in 2026 and honor all season passes sold, including multi-park pass privileges at other parks within the Six Flags portfolio.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b>\u201cFrom a regional tourism perspective, we are confident that the park will continue to operate successfully and remain a vital attraction for families visiting the Lake George area,\u201d said Gina Mintzer, executive director of the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce. \u201cThe new ownership group already has a presence in New York\u2019s attractions industry through Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe this experience positions them well to operate the park with energy and enthusiasm,\u201d she said. \u201cGreat Escape has long been a cornerstone of our region, and we expect it will continue to deliver the high-quality guest experiences visitors enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it first opened, Storytown primarily catered to young children with themed attractions such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Mother Goose. Ghost Town and Sheriff \u201cWindy\u201d Bill McKay entertained generations of families.<\/p>\n

As it evolved, the center added a large wave pool, water park and six roller coasters including the Bobcat, a wooden coaster introduced two years ago.<\/p>\n

Great Escape employs about 1,500 people each summer in addition to year-round staff. The sale includes Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Water Park.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe current staff includes many long-time employees with deep roots and a strong commitment to the property\u2019s legacy,\u201d Mintzer said. \u201cIn this economic climate, many companies acquire businesses specifically for the talent involved. Knowing the market is essential and the team being acquired is just as important as the brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Founded in 1997, EPR Properties is a real estate investment trust that operates amusement parks, movie theaters and ski resorts in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n

The other Six Flags parks it purchased are Schlitterbahn Galveston, Six Flags St. Louis, Michigan\u2019s Adventure, Valleyfair in Minnesota, World of Fun in Kansas City and La Ronde in Montreal.<\/p>\n

Charlotte, N.C.-based Six Flags will continue to operate another 34 parks in 23 locations throughout North America. It also manages an amusement park in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

The company has made a concerted effort to streamline operations following its 2024 merger with Cedar Fair L.P.<\/p>\n

\u201cSix Flags Great Escape significantly contributes to our local economy, employing a large seasonal workforce of both local residents and international students,\u201d Mintzer said. \u201cEach year, the park hires hundreds of employees across operations, food service and entertainment, particularly during the peak summer season and Fright Fest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe look forward to continuing our collaborative work with the park\u2019s leadership to ensure it remains a strong contributor to tourism, employment and the overall visitor experience in the Lake George region,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Paul Post Great Escape, one of the area\u2019s oldest tourist attractions and largest seasonal employers, is expected to maintain regular operations following its sale to Kansas City-based EPR Properties. The $331 Million deal includes six other Six Flags theme parks in the U.S. and Canada. Founded as Storytown USA by the late Charles R. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":38948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\nGreat Escape Included In $331 Million Sale Of Six Flags Theme Park Portfolio - Glens Falls Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2026\/03\/great-escape-included-in-331-million-sale-of-six-flags-theme-park-portfolio\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Great Escape Included In $331 Million Sale Of Six Flags Theme Park Portfolio - Glens Falls Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Paul Post Great Escape, one of the area\u2019s oldest tourist attractions and largest seasonal employers, is expected to maintain regular operations following its sale to Kansas City-based EPR Properties. 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