| Charles Reeves Wood
1914-2004 |
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| But the crowds came, and the park grew steadily larger and more popular. Every year, inspired by his worldwide travels, Charley added major attractions like Jungleland, International Village and Ghost Town (to entertain the men who waited for their families outside the gate). In 1982, he renamed the park The Great Escape. | |||
| In the 1990s - with Charley approaching his eighties - The Great Escape expansion continued with the addition of water attractions, including Noah's Sprayground in 1992. Next came the Comet, one of the world's Top Ten roller coasters. Charley purchased the legendary wooden roller coaster from Crystal Beach in Canada, then orchestrated its complex installation, including transport in 49 tractor-trailer loads and reassembly at The Great Escape. | 
Charley in front of the Comet. |
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| By then, the irrepressible Charley had also dotted the Lake George region with hotels, restaurants and other imaginative attractions, including Gaslight Village, Waxlife USA and Cavalcade of Cars (built around his own collection of storied, vintage automobiles). | |||
| As a businessman, Charley was astute, nimble and always ahead of the curve -- sensing cultural and economic shifts, floating new concepts and, when the time was right, buying and selling properties. In 1989 he sold the Great Escape and his 1982 acquisition, Fantasy Island near Buffalo, to International Broadcasting Corp., the owner of the Ice Capades and Harlem globetrotters. | |||
| When that company declared bankruptcy, Charley reclaimed the Great Escape, then sold it again in 1996 to Premier Parks (now Six Flags). The transaction, though profitable, was bittersweet for Charley, who said, "I'm sorry everyday of my life I've sold it. I miss it like hell." | |||
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"Steamin' Demon" Roller Coaster
Swan boats in front of the
Gingerbread House.
Charlene Wood on carousel.
