Thursday, July 26, 2012
Roadside America- Lake Compounce
Good Morning!
We hope everyone had a great and safe weekend, hopefully involving some amusement park fun! We're back to July's feature where we're touring threw America and the local amusement parks that people go outside of the Industry Giants.
Today's Feature is Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT.
Lake Compounce opened in 1846, which gives it the title of America's Oldest Amusement Park! Lake Compounce has a very odd and unique history, when the Norton Family hired a scientist to do some explosive work. Well while the experiment failed, they noticed how many folks showed up to watch the explosions and then the idea happened. A path was put up and public swimming was allowed, with that Lake Compounce was born.
In 1911 Lake Compounce got their first 'attraction' a custom built carousel, then the building really began. in 1914 the first coaster was built "Green Dragon" has a short life and was torn down in 1926. However it was quickly replaced with "Wildcat" which still operates to this day, a classic wooden coaster. After that the park continued to prosper even threw the hardships of the Great Depression, they kept building up and working into the picturesque park it is today.
Today Lake Compounce is owned by Parques Reunidos, which also owns Kennywood and other local amusement parks across the US.
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