Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce

Lake Compounce, that is.

Did anyone attend last year? The prospect of being able to ride Boulder Dash at night sounds worth the effort alone! Does it get crowded, or are crowds pretty light, considering that it'll probably be cold and all?

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Rich and I go there a couple times each October. The line for the Haunted Graveyard is almost always insane. If you get there at opening, you should get some decent riding in. BD usually does get a decent line though and is almost always one train operation.

If you're interested, there's an ACE event there on 10/25. I think the price is in the low $20's which includes an hour ERT on BD, park admission, and Haunted Graveyard admission.

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Sue Barry
CoasterSue@aol.com

I just attended the Haunted Graveyard this past Sunday after the PPP and had a blast. The crowds were very light but it was only the first weekend. The line for Boulder Dash was only probably a one or two train wait and they let you stay on or fill in if there was nobody in line behind you. The night rides were spectacular and Boulder Dash is now one of my top wood coasters. The Haunted Graveyard was awesome. Definitely one of the better events that I've been to. It takes about 40-45 minutes to walk through and is done really well. They allow a good amount of time in between the groups going through. This coupled with the great interaction between yourself and the actors allows for a very personal feeling walkthrough of the event. Definitely check it out if you get a chance.

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G's! They're what's for dinner!

Too bad we'll be in FL for that ACE event on the 25th, it sounds like a good idea.

The one major complaint I have in regard to LC is the fact that they almost always run one train on BD, even when it could use two. When that is your only main draw, you should make every effort possible to get as many people on... its not like there are a dozen major rides to spread the crowds out. I've only seen two-train operation once, and it was heaven!

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

The only time I saw two trains was on a busy, beautiful (weather-wise) Saturday. Any other times have been one train operation. I don't understand why the park choses to do that when they know how popular the ride is. They have to know that is the reason why the park gets all those guests!

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Some of you who are talking about why LC generally runs one train on BD should write to Tom Wages, the general manager, and see what he thinks. I wrote him once and received a nicely written response which addressed my comments directly. He is always visable when I visit the Lake, and he seems to take great care in how he oversees the park. I think he would be interested in your comments, or at least he would give you some explanation.

A lot of the folks who work at Haunted Graveyard are volunteers from FIRST Robotics Competition team #237 from Connecticut.

Their team receives funding from the event, so go support their efforts :)
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--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?
Hot stuff.

I know of plenty of instances when people have gone to the park and complained in person. I'm not doubting that Tom cares, as I'm sure that he does, but this seems to be an ongoing complaint, as after four seasons, one-train operation is still the norm.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Gardener14: Rich and I happen to be very good friends with Tom Wages and we've given him our compliments and/or complaints in person many times.

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Sue Barry
CoasterSue@aol.com

I spent an evening there last year, and camped out on BD for a dozen rides, did the rest of the park including 3 spins on the Top Spin with no one else aboard, and then did another dozen rides on BD.

Yep. It was a good time. Put it this way - they did not need two trains.

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

Sue said:
Gardener14: Rich and I happen to be very good friends with Tom Wages and we've given him our compliments and/or complaints in person many times.

That's nice to hear. So, what does he have to say about the one train operation on BD. Does the park have a reasonable explanation?

Not sure, but I could guess that they would cite maintenance concerns or understaffing. I never understood why two ore three ride ops can't handle two trains, as they just stand there for two minutes while the ride does its thing.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Boulder Dash just about always runs 2 trains during the season on the weekends, including Fridays. That's why I always recommend that people go on the weekends (even when at first they think I'm loony.)

I would contest though that the main draw is the water park and family atmosphere over all at The Lake and not neccesarily Boulder Dash (although of course, that is what put the park on the map in many people's minds). I would guess that a huge portion of their attendance comes from folks living less than an hour away. Unlike the park a few minutes north which draws big crowds from New York State, Boston, Worcester, Rhode Island, Maine, etc....

BTW...anybody that cites staffing issues for not running "X" amount of trains is giving you the run around, or doesn't know what they are talking about (except maybe staffing issues in the mantinence department.) All wooden coasters I have been familar with need the same amount of attendants no matter how many trains are running.

Boulder Dash tracks so well, I would guess, because it runs one train most of the time. Its no coincedence that woodies that run 2 trains all the time or 3 trains have a lot more tracking and mantinence issues. Just going from one train to two trains on the weekends makes for twice as much work for the mantience guys Monday morning. Look at all the other great woodies in the world that rarely run more than one train....
*** This post was edited by matt. 10/9/2003 2:18:01 PM ***