Six Flags Schuyler Lake/History

Pre-SAI (1913-1961)
The park opened in May the 14th of 1913 as "Schuyler Lake" by the Schuyler family as a zoo and picnic grove. The only attraction from opening day remaining is the antique carousel.

In 1920, the Bird Garden opened along with the park's first coaster. In 1923, Ye Old Mill opened. In 1924, Thunderbolt opened, which started a direction in the park to build the most intense coasters they could. In 1928, Jack Rabbit and The Whip opened to the public.

Entering the 1930s, in 1930, Pippin the Zippin opened. In 1936, Whip Jr. opened. In 1939, Noah's Ark opened.

In the 1940s, due to World War II, saw less growth than other decades, with the first attraction of the decade being 1943's Little Chariots. In 1946, Torpedo opened to the public and finally, in 1949, Steeplechase opened.

In 1950, Turtle Pond opened. In 1955, Little Lake Railroad opened. In 1957, the Carousel was repainted. In 1959, two new rides, Scrambler and Wild Mouse, opened to the public, marking the first time since 1928 that two additions were built in a single year. This would arguably start their Golden Age.

Starting off the 1960s was the addition of Rotor, which was installed in 1960, In 1961, marking the first time three years in a row with consecutive attractions, the Dolphin Discovery opened.

Schuyler Amusements, Inc. (1962-1983)
Schuyler Amusements, Inc. (SAI) was founded in 1962. In 1978, SAI had plans to build a sister amusement park to Schuyler Lake in Corfu, New York called "Darien Lake" which opened in 1981.

With the new brand, came a new foundation for the park, changing this rather small-town feeling park into a Disneyland-style park, with themed lands, along with a proper railroad, the first time two coasters were installed within a single year - Golden Comet and Comet Jr. and 9 new flat rides, with two of them, Metro Express and Schuyler Skyway, being direct inspirations from Disney. Another new ride, Space Point, was the world's tallest observation tower when it opened, at 400 feet high. It was a double-deck observation tower, with one of the decks later being converted into a revolving restaurant in 1991. In 1963, Lakeside Turnpike opened. In 1966, after a couple years of no new rides, Trabant was added. In 1969, after another traditional three-year-drought, three new rides were added - Calypso, The Loop and Professor Burpo's Soda Pop Factory, this would also unintentionally be the last season Jack Rabbit would operate, as the coaster would be struck by lightning and burnt down during the off-season.

In 1970, Haunted Manor and Jack Rabbit II opened to the public. Haunted Manor was another ride that was a direct inspiration from Disney (Interestingly, the ride started construction before the ride it was based on even opened to the public), and Jack Rabbit II was a rebuilding from Jack Rabbit from scratch. In 1971, Shogun Palace opened. In 1972, The Loop closed due to safety concerns. In 1973, Bumper Cars and the Super Wheel opened. In 1974, Bayern Kurve opened while Ye Old Mill closed. In 1975, Firecracker, Wildcat and Space Chute opened, while Comet Jr. closed. In 1976, Beastie and Kiddie Bumper Cars opened, along with the Bicentennial celebration. In 1977, the "Ride Roundup" happened, adding six new rides in a single year, including Corkscrew, an Arrow coaster. In 1978, Blackbeard's Ship opened. In 1979, to cap off the decade, Whirlwind opened.

In 1980, Typhoon Spinnaker opened, In 1981, Bear's Den opened, marking the end of the Golden Age that's been here since 1959 and the start of the Silver Age, mainly due to attention being focused on Darien Lake, In 1982, Lumberjack, Deer Forest, Fireball, Rainbow Worm, Robin Hood and Little Lumberjack opened, marking "Attraction Roundup", In 1983, Himalaya, Flying Dragons, Kiddie Pirate and Creature Cavern opened. The Loop was scrapped after being SBNO for years to make way for a new large scale roller coaster.

In 1982, a water park area was added to the park.

Kings Entertainment Company era (1984-1990)
In 1984, SAI became a wholly owned subsidiary of KECO. Also, Hanna-Barbera Land opened, along with Lake Monster and many new flat rides.

In 1985, Sonic Boomerang opened as the first Boomerang layout coaster in the US, however, due to Vekoma's US offices working on too much projects at the time, Arrow built it instead. In 1986, Arctic Run opened to the public, expanding the Mount Schuyler Valley area and theme even more, It also saw the debut of Viper, a TOGO standup, and two new animal exhibits - Tiger Tales and Winter Garden. In 1987, Matrix opened as "New York's Most Advanced Roller Coaster". In 1988, Steel Beast opened as the World's First Hyper-Coaster, although unlike modern hyper coasters, would focus on inversions rather than airtime, the ride would be placed in the front of the park, requiring the removal of two other coasters.

First Six Flags era (1991-2010)
In 1991, SAI was acquired by Six Flags from KECO. Along with that, Big New Yorker, Revolution and Action Mountain opened to the public. Schuyler Lake became known as "Six Flags Schuyler Lake". Some of the park's areas were rename and the water park area was renamed Shores of Schuyler Lake (now Harborside) with some new slides and became included with park admission. The park expanded its operations to weekends in the fall with Oktoberfest on the Lake event that featured a kids trick or treat trail and costume show, hayrides, a pop-up pumpkin patch, and an extra charge haunted house maze called "Nightmares" for guest 13 years of age and older.

In 1992, Starlight Mini Golf and WOKR-TV News Source 13 Live at Six Flags Schuyler Lake opened to the public.

In 1993, Batman: The Ride opened to the public. The park also celebrated its 80th anniversary that year.

In 1995, Six Flags phased out the Schuyler Amusements subsidiary, and Big Apple Turnover and the short-lived Ninja roller coaster opened to the public.

In 1997, Boardwalk Flyers opened, being advertised at the time as the first flying coaster in North America.

In 1999, several rides including Goliath, Chaos, and XTR: Xtreme Thrill Ride opened to the public. An incident also occurred at the Tiger Tales attraction that year, in which a trainer was attacked by Bengal tigers during a show. While the trainer survived, they required finger prosthetics as a result of the attack, while Tiger Tales was shut down for the rest of the season. Ranger also closed that same year. The park replaced its Oktoberfeast on the Lake event with Fright Fest in order to put more focus Halloween haunts.

In 2000, Superman: Ride of Steel and Vulcan's Hammer opened, the latter replacing Ranger.

In 2001, V2: Vertical Velocity (currently The Flash: Vertical Velocity) opened to the public.

In 2002, Medusa (currently Bizarro) opened to the public.

EPR/Carwardnie Parks era (2011-2015)
In 2011, EPR Properties bought the park from Six Flags, and hired Carwardine Parks to operate it.

In 2013, the Schuyler Gardens main entrance area was remodeled into Centennial Plaza with an Islands of Adventure Port of Entry inspired look and a museum showcasing the park's history for its 100th anniversary.

Second Six Flags era (2016-present)
In 2016, Carwardine Parks sold their operating rights for the park to Six Flags.

In 2017, the Six Flags branding returned to Schuyler Lake including the Looney Tunes and DC Comics licenses.

In 2021, Action Mountain closed and the ride was removed from Mount Schuyler during the off season.

In 2022, the infamous Ninja roller coaster was demolished after being SBNO for over 25 years to make way for FLX Racers which opened in 2023.

In 2024, a new roller coaster will be built in the Mount Schuyler area where Action Mountain was.