Wildcat (Lake Compounce)
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| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Company | ||||||||
| Type | Wooden | ||||||||
| Propulsion | Chain lift hill | ||||||||
| Height | 85 feet | ||||||||
| Drop | 78 feet | ||||||||
| Top speed | 48 mph | ||||||||
| Length | 2746 feet | ||||||||
| Inversions | 0 | ||||||||
| Duration | 1:15 | ||||||||
| Rolling stock | |||||||||
| Manufacturer | Great Coasters International (2017-present) Philadelphia Toboggan Company (1927-2016) | ||||||||
| Riders per train | 24 | ||||||||
Wildcat is a wooden roller coaster located at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut, USA. Opened in 1927, it is one of the world's oldest operating roller coasters (in operation at the same location). The ride bears a striking resemblance to the now-defunct Wildcat roller coaster that used to reside at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado. Due to its historical significance, Wildcat is a recipient of the ACE Coaster Landmark Award.
History
Wildcat was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and opened in 1927.[1]
In 1985, the park was acquired by Hershey Entertainment, owners of Hersheypark, who subsequently redeveloped the park. This included the complete reconstruction of the Wildcat.
In 2017, portions of the roller coaster were re-tracked and the control system was replaced. This work was carried out by Martin & Vleminckx. The trains were replaced with new rolling stock from Great Coasters International.[2]
On March 3, 2023, Lake Compounce announced that Wildcat would undergo a refurbishment in 2023 and would reopen in 2024.[3] The refurbishment was completed by The Gravity Group, LLC.[4]
Design
Trains
2 trains with 7 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in a single row, for a total of 14 riders per train.
The original trains had three three-bench cars.
Incidents
On September 3, 1927, a rider was thrown approximately 30 feet from the ride while he was standing up in the front row. He suffered two broken ribs and other injuries.[5]
On September 1, 1975, a 16-year-old rider fell approximately 17 feet from the ride. He suffered a head injury, broken left arm, a cut over the right eye, and chest and rib injuries.[6]
On July 19, 1981, a 16-year-old rider fell to her death after standing up during the ride.[7] Park representatives reported that this was the third death to have happened on the roller coaster.[7]
Images
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One of the new trains -
The ACE Coaster Landmark Plaque
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_2016_01.jpg)
References
- ↑ "Lake Compounce To Open For Season On Easter Sunday".
- ↑ "Wildcat At Lake Compounce In Bristol Gets Renovation, Won't Be Ready For Opening Day". Hartford Courant.
- ↑ Hawkins, Rachel (2023-03-03). "Lake Compounce to Restore Wildcat Wooden Coaster". Coaster101. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- ↑ "Wildcat will reopen for the 2024 season with a smoother rider experience". Lake Compounce. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ↑ "Falls From Roller Coaster". New Britain Herald. 1927-09-06. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ "Youth Called 'Fair' After Fall From Ride". Hartford Courant. 1975-09-03. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "16-Year-Old Killed On Roller Coaster". Hartford Courant. 1981-07-20. Retrieved 2025-06-24.
External links
- Wildcat on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
