| |
| Location |  |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | October 6, 1846 |
| Operator | Palace Entertainment (subsidiary of Parques Reunidos) |
| Website | https://lakecompounce.com/ |
Lake Compounce is an amusement park in Bristol, Connecticut, USA.
History
Lake Compounce was first opened to the public on October 6, 1946 when its owners attempted a stunt involving explosives in the lake. While the stunt itself was a failure, the large crowds that it attracted inspired the owners to open the site as a summer resort.[1]
After being put up for sale in the early 1980s, two local automotive dealers and a third company each acquired minority stakes in the property. In 1985, Hershey Entertainment, owners of Hersheypark, acquired 66.5% of the park and it was subsequently renamed Hershey Lake Compounce.[2] The park underwent a redevelopment at a cost of $22 million, which included the reconstruction of the Wildcat roller coaster. Several new rides were installed, including the Saw Mill Plunge, Wave Swinger, and the Pirate Ship.[3] On October 2, 1987, Hershey Entertainment announced that they would no longer operate the park, stating that attendance had been poor and that they had spent over $28 million on the property, $6 million more than anticipated. This decision upset local officials, as the park had received a federal loan and Bristol city had invested in improving the road and sewer networks around the park.[4]
In 1988, Hershey sold its stake in the property to Joseph Entertainment, a concert promoter. Renamed Lake Compounce Festival Park, the park opened in 1988 with a new focus on live music, entertainment, and festivals.[5] However as Joseph Entertainment faced financial difficulties, over half of the concerts planned in 1991 were cancelled. The park also faced noise complaints from residents and was fined after violating noise level agreements.[6]
Joseph Entertainment filed for bankruptcy in January 1992 and the future of the property both as an amusement park and as a concert venue became uncertain. Local officials were keen to keep the park operating to prevent job losses and in the hope of receiving unpaid tax bills. In June, the city reached an agreement with another operator which would reopen the park.[7] However, for the following three seasons, the park only operated for a few days each year.
In 1995, the owners of Lake Compounce reached an agreement with Funtime Parks that saw them operate the park. It reopened in June, but visitor numbers proved disappointing. Funtime, which had recently been acquired by Premier Parks, pulled out of the park later that year.[8]
In April 1996, Kennywood Entertainment entered into a partnership with the park owners which saw the company agree to operate the park, pay unpaid taxes and take on the park's mortgage.[9] In 2008, Kennywood Entertainment was acquired by Parques Reunidos.[10]
Roller coasters
Present (5)
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder Dash | Custom Coasters International, Inc. | Wooden | May 21, 2000 | Operating |
| Kiddie Coaster | Molina & Son's | Kiddie | June 27, 1997 | Operating |
| Phobia Phear Coaster | Premier Rides | Launched | May 7, 2016 | Operating |
| Wildcat | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters | Wooden | 1927 | Standing but not operating |
| Zoomerang | Vekoma | Shuttle | June 27, 1997 | Operating |
Past (2)
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened | Closed | Relocated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Dragon | Bowen & Moore | Wooden | 1914 | 1926 | Unknown |
| Roll in the Dark | Unknown | Enclosed Kiddie |
1979 | 1982 | Unknown |
Attractions
Operating
Closed
| Name | Manufacturer | Type | Opened | Closed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Flyers | Bisch Rocco | Flying Scooters | 1997 | 2000 | Stored |
| Enterprise | HUSS | Enterprise | 1986 | 2015 | Relocated to Kennywood |
| Ferris Wheel | Eli Bridge Company | Ferris Wheel | 1967 | 1985 | Unknown |
| Ghost Hunt | Barbisan | Tracked Dark Ride | 1999 | 2007 | Attraction retained - ride system replaced |
| Laff In The Dark | R.E. Chambers | Tracked Dark Ride | 1938 | 1978 | Parts sold |
| Musik Express | Mack Rides | Superbob/Musik Express | 1985 | 2008 | Unknown |
| Roto-Jet | Kaspar Klaus | Jets | 1955 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Rotor | Chance Rides | Rotor | 1997 | 2010 | Scrapped |
| Sky Ride | CTEC | Ropeway | 1997 | 2017 | Scrapped |
| Top Spin | HUSS | Top Spin | 1997 | 2002 | Relocated to Kennywood |
References
- ↑ Goddard, Eleanor (1965-07-02). "Lake Compounce offers Indian lore". The Journal. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
- ↑ "A Connecticut Park Amuses Young and Old". Daily News.
- ↑ "Amusement Park Prepares for Its 140th Year". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ "Hershey to pull out of amusement park at Lake Compounce". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ "Letter signed for Lake Compounce sale". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ "Festival park found in contempt". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ "Lake Compounce gets clearance for concerts". The Berkshire Eagle.
- ↑ "Lake Compounce owner optimistic about expansion". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ "New team sees big things for old park". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced - Kennywood Entertainment (Wayback Archive)
External links
- Lake Compounce on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
