The Great Charlie Wood Escapes... into eternity

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6150671/

Charlie Wood, founder of Storytown USA, which later became The Great Escape, has died at the age of 90.

Wood, for those who don't know, was a great pioneer in the family theme park business in New York state, owning such parks as Fantasy Island in Grand Island, NY, Gaslight Village in Lake George Village, NY and of course The Great Escape, which was later sold off to Premier Parks.

He really was a pioneer of the Amusement Park business as he bought The Comet rollercoaster from the defunct Crystal Beach (for a price of $400,000) & kept it in storage until he assembled it (not himself, of course) at The Great Escape.

He will definately be missed, but not forgotten!

Another sad day for the entire industry as well as those who knew him. My condolences go out to his family.

Wood Coaster Fan Club - Sharing a Passion For the Classics

Ouch. He was an industry leader and great visionary. He will be missed.

He spent his own money. God bless him.

And most of his purchases were well worth the money spent!

my thoughts and prayers are with his family...he was definitely a great man. he will be greatly missed.

ill be goin to Great Escape for the first time in a few weeks...im really stoked!!

still trying to think of a good signature...