Before The Great Escape: Rare Storytown USA Postcards From 1961

Fairy Tales and Family Fun

Long before dinosaurs roared in Lake George and decades before the Steamin’ Demon, there was Storytown USA,  a magical Upstate New York destination filled with fairy tales and family fun.

We’re lucky to share a collection of rare, vintage Storytown USA postcards dating back to 1961, just a few years after the beloved park first opened. These nostalgic snapshots take us back to a simpler time of Mother Goose, Ghost Town, Windy Bill McKay, bumper stickers, Ferris wheels, and classic tilt-a-whirls.

Lake George "Back in the Day"

For many Capital Region families, a trip to Lake George meant piling into the car on a sunny summer morning and heading north for a day of adventure. Sometimes it was all about the rides, but just as often it meant strolling through Lake George Village — playing arcade games, watching the Minne Ha Ha cruise by, grabbing ice cream, and browsing the souvenir shops near Frankenstein’s Wax Museum.

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Storytown USA opened in 1954 and became one of America’s most cherished amusement parks. In 1983, new ownership introduced larger thrill rides and renamed the park The Great Escape.

See The Vintage Postcards

I was born in 1973, so I missed the Storytown era — but many of you remember it well. These vintage postcards might bring back some amazing childhood memories. And if you’re too young to remember? No worries — this is a fun look at a nostalgic piece of Upstate New York history.

Either way, enjoy these incredible vintage postcards from Storytown USA from more than 60 years ago!