QUEENSBURY — Great Escape’s beloved trackless rollercoaster, the Alpine Bobsled, will be bidding farewell after 25 years of operation, according to an announcement made on Friday.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Mance expressed gratitude for the 25 years that the attraction has been available to visitors but acknowledged the challenges it has faced. The ride has had to close in even the smallest amounts of rain and high humidity, making it difficult to operate consistently.
The Alpine Bobsled was inspired by the bobsledder’s race in the 1980 Winter Olympics held in Lake Placid. With its bright white route and bobsleds adorned with decorations representing different international teams, the rollercoaster provided an immersive experience for riders. Originally built in 1984 at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey and later moved to Six Flags Great America in Chicago from 1989 to 1995, it found its permanent home at Great Escape in 1998.
Standing at 64 feet high and reaching speeds of up to 35 mph, the Alpine Bobsled offered an exhilarating ride down its 1,500-foot course. Its journey took approximately 90 seconds.
Now, Great Escape is considering new possibilities for the space previously occupied by the Alpine Bobsled. While spokeswoman Jennifer Mance remained tight-lipped about future plans, she promised exciting developments on the horizon. Whether a new ride will be part of these developments is yet to be disclosed.
Retiring a ride that frequently closes down presents a challenge, but Great Escape has retired other attractions in the past to make way for exciting additions. Factors such as attraction age, popularity, and location play a role in the decision-making process, according to Mance.
Popularity plays a significant role in determining whether an old attraction will be retired. This year, Great Escape revitalized the castle and child-sized houses and furniture from the park’s Storytown era. These nostalgic structures continue to be a hit among young visitors.
Furthermore, Great Escape pays homage to retired rides by memorializing them on gravestones in the park every October. The Alpine Bobsled will join the Big Wheel and other retired attractions in this annual tradition.
Rebecca Wood, the Park President, acknowledged the difficulty of bidding farewell to a beloved attraction like the Alpine Bobsled. However, she emphasized the park’s commitment to finding new ways to thrill guests and the necessity of retiring older attractions to make room for innovative experiences. The space once occupied by the Alpine Bobsled will be carefully evaluated for future enhancements that are sure to captivate park-goers.
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