Comet (Great Escape)
| The Comet | |
|---|---|
Station and lift hill of the Comet.
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| Great Escape | |
| Park section | Fest Area |
| Coordinates | 43°21′4.91″N 73°41′6.23″W / 43.3513639°N 73.6850639°WCoordinates: 43°21′4.91″N 73°41′6.23″W / 43.3513639°N 73.6850639°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | June 25, 1994 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | Herbert Paul Schmeck |
| Model | Wooden track coaster |
| Track layout | Double Out and Back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Drop | 87 ft (27 m) |
| Length | 4,197 ft (1,279 m) |
| Speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Capacity | 720 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
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The Comet at RCDB Pictures of The Comet at RCDB |
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The Comet is a wooden roller coaster located at Great Escape in Queensbury, New York, in the United States.
Originally known as the Crystal Beach Cyclone and rebuilt into the Crystal Beach Comet, the Comet was resurrected and re-opened by the Great Escape in 1994. Often rated one of the top roller coasters in the world in the 90s, the Comet features a 2-minute ride over several hills. The first and largest hill contains a drop of 87 feet (27 m) and brings riders to a maximum speed of 55 mph (89 km/h). For the 2007 season, the Comet celebrated its 80th Anniversary.
The coaster started its existence at Crystal Beach (an amusement park near Fort Erie, Ontario) as a ride known as the Cyclone in 1927. The Cyclone was known as a fearsome coaster. Its metal support structure was torn down and rebuilt as the Comet in 1947. The ride was saved shortly after the park closed down forever after the 1989 season. Charlie Woods, the owner of The Great Escape in Queensbury, New York successfully bid for The Comet and it sat in storage for a few years in Fantasy Island before making its way to the park in Queensbury where it began service again. The ride was constructed by Martin & Vleminckx at Great Escape.
Roller coaster enthusiasts recognize it as one of the best wooden roller coasters in North America because of its historical significance, elements of hills and drops, and terrific "air" time giving riders the sensation of floating out of their seats. The coaster operates two trains, one red and one blue, each one capable of carrying twenty four riders in four cars in three rows, two across. Minimum height requirement is 48 inches (1,200 mm) to ride.
Owing to its location at the back of the park and simple queue maze, wait time for the Comet is usually under ten minutes; wait time generally only exceeds this if the queue line overflows the maze. If both trains are running on days of low attendance it is possible to move through the queue line in less than five minutes. Park regulars know that heading directly to the back of the park when the main gates open can assure guests of three or four uninterrupted rides before the queue line grows appreciably. Oftentimes early in the day and late at night park guests can reride without having to move from their seat.
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Wikipedia