The Great Escape (TGE) Discussion Thread

[Twisterfan1995]

On 10/5/2023 at 6:25 PM, MoreyMan said:

Great Escape has their planning board meeting for Bobcat on 10/17. Here's a rendering they submitted. They'll be reusing the Bobsled station, but demolishing the current entrance and queue and relocating them. The queue will now run underneath the Bobcat lift into a new switchback. Reconfigured ramps for the entrance/exit as well.

Here's one of the site plans as well. Their submitted documents say there will be lights on the handrails on the lift and drop as well so that will be a nice addition. Increased landscaping too.

Hopefully the entrance actually comes close to the rendering - if so, this should look really nice. Seems like it will be a nice addition to the park. One that's long overdue.

If anyone wants to peel through all the documents, here's the link: https://laserfiche.queensbury.net/WebLink/browse.aspx?id=785660&dbid=0&repo=TownOfQueensbury

Not bad. Theming looks a bit simple but nice. Only wish would be that they made it more Bavarian/Alpine themed - but it should fit into the area reasonably well. 

[CNYCoasterguy11]

18 hours ago, Twisterfan1995 said:

Not bad. Theming looks a bit simple but nice. Only wish would be that they made it more Bavarian/Alpine themed - but it should fit into the area reasonably well. 

I think it works well for the area it is in, yes its the "Fest Area" but outside of the fest house there really isn't any theming to that. And with the Rapids ride getting an overhaul, it will fit in very nicely as they added more animal statues and Adirondack theming to it. This will look nice complementing that.

[abovethesink]

They revealed the front car for The Bobcat and it is beautiful. Personally I would have put a Bobcat on it instead of whatever that weird hybrid cat is, but it is still an awesome front car regardless. Again they exceed my expectations with what the chain would ever do at Great Escape.

 

[CNYCoasterguy11]

On 11/28/2023 at 8:58 AM, abovethesink said:

They revealed the front car for The Bobcat and it is beautiful. Personally I would have put a Bobcat on it instead of whatever that weird hybrid cat is, but it is still an awesome front car regardless. Again they exceed my expectations with what the chain would ever do at Great Escape.

 

 

That is a bobcat

 

[abovethesink]

Haha yeah, I was being facetious. Obviously it is a stylized, cartoony Bobcat. They just don't have stripes like that all the way through their outside of their fur. Just hints of them as you can see from your picture. They also aren't orange. They basically hybridized a Bobcat and an exotic cat like a Leopard/Jaguar/Tiger/whatever for effect. 

[DannySixFlags]

Comet was my first big kid coaster in 2015. I rerode it in 2021 and it still delivers.

[CNYCoasterguy11]

Visited today for opening weekend and I have to say, easily one of the worst openings we have ever done. We've been coming for years and it's one of our home parks but we barely stayed more than 3 hours. Many major rides were not open. I expect the log flume and rapids to be open later but Condor, Eagles Flight, Pandemonium and the Comet were all closed for the day with no notices ahead. I knew Comet was getting some track work but most guests would have no idea.

I also knew the Bobcat would not be ready which is understandable. However several other rides also broke down for significant issues (Flashback, Blizzard and Canyon Blaster broke a wheel off). Hopefully they can get their act together or they will lose a lot of business. I can't remember the last time so many rides were down or closed at one time. 

[abovethesink]

14 hours ago, CNYCoasterguy11 said:

Visited today for opening weekend and I have to say, easily one of the worst openings we have ever done. We've been coming for years and it's one of our home parks but we barely stayed more than 3 hours. Many major rides were not open. I expect the log flume and rapids to be open later but Condor, Eagles Flight, Pandemonium and the Comet were all closed for the day with no notices ahead. I knew Comet was getting some track work but most guests would have no idea.

I also knew the Bobcat would not be ready which is understandable. However several other rides also broke down for significant issues (Flashback, Blizzard and Canyon Blaster broke a wheel off). Hopefully they can get their act together or they will lose a lot of business. I can't remember the last time so many rides were down or closed at one time. 

That's too bad! Bummer. Great Escape is usually pretty good at delivering what the park has to offer, old ripped out Bobsled not withstanding.

Anyway, I remember the original target for The Bobcat was Memorial Weekend, which is next weekend. Have we seen any indicators that this is still on the table? We are only a few days out. 

[CNYCoasterguy11]

On 5/20/2024 at 7:45 AM, abovethesink said:

That's too bad! Bummer. Great Escape is usually pretty good at delivering what the park has to offer, old ripped out Bobsled not withstanding.

Anyway, I remember the original target for The Bobcat was Memorial Weekend, which is next weekend. Have we seen any indicators that this is still on the table? We are only a few days out. 

Some have been saying the first weekend of June which would be the following week, that honestly seems generous but I do not know what kind of testing needs to be done before opening. It should be good to go by the end of school season though.

[COMET FAN]

ACE New England  posted a call for riders on The Bobcat for a video shoot on May 29 so I would think it would be opening soon

[abovethesink]

June 1st will officially be the opening day of The Bobcat.

Also, there is no cat on the front car in any of the pictures. 

[MoreyMan]

Bobcat soft opened last night - they were letting people on later in the day and sounds like that will continue for the rest of the weekend. Sheesh, that was a quick test period. 

The cats have also been mounted to the trains. I’ll be interested to hear what people think of the ride. 

[ricklap77]

Great news!! I can't wait to catch a ride on it in a few weeks.  Such a wonderful family woodie and the best choice for a new coaster IMO for Great Escape.  I hope other parks will notice and do the same.