Vintage 1970s Video Shows ‘Glory Years’ of Lake George, NY

An old home video from the 1970s shows amusement park life in Lake George during much simpler times. See it below!

It's Labor Day weekend, and many of us are gassing up the rides (if it doesn't completely break the bank), heading to the ADKs, and perhaps even visiting the Great Escape.

But eons before the Adirondack Outlaw and decades before the Steamin' Demon, Lake George was home to Gaslight Village, Storytown USA, and much simpler times.

These were the days of bumper stickers, Jungleland, Ferris wheels, and tilt-a-whirls. I'm all for whatever the public demands (and business owners decide to build), so I have zero problems with what has transformed over the last 40 years in Lake George. That said, it was nice to check out this rare home video of some pretty cool Lake George attractions that no longer exist and some that still do, all captured with vintage 70s charm.

I remember my sister and me hoping in the back of Dad's old Buick Regal and heading up to Lake George on a warm, sunny Saturday morning to have a little family fun. Sometimes, we did the theme parks, but most times, we skipped the parks entirely and just strolled around Lake George Village. We played video games in the arcades, watched the Minne Ha Ha out on the lake, and took in an ice cream cone (with sprinkles) while we window-shopped the souvenir stores near Frankenstein's Wax Museum.

I was born in 1973, and the video was taken back in 1977. Before it became the Great Escape, I didn't have too many memories of Gaslight Village or Storytown USA, but after watching this video, many things came back to life, and some stood out.

Gaslight Village no longer exists, and Storytown, USA, became the Great Escape in 1983.

Something else I seem to have missed from childhood: Dolphins!

Storytown USA used to train dolphins in the old high-dive pool. Either I was too young to remember that, or somehow, after watching Blackfish, I mentally suppressed any feelings about intelligent aquatic life held in captivity for our amusement.

Either way, take this 7-minute journey through the old Lake George.  The video came from Paul and Betty Zito's personal home video collection and was generously shared with GNA.  We hope it brings back as many memories for you as it did for me.