Lake Compounce Help

I am running out of new parks that are within a days drive from my NEPA area, and have really started to look for new places. I have heard much about the Boulder Dash coaster at Lake Compounce, and have checked out the sight, but nothing is as good as an enthusiats testimonial. I know to check at the local supermarkets for cheaper admissions, since I really don't see paying $32, but it looks like a charming little park. Is the 2 1/2 hour drive to CT really worth it?

Charming is the right word for Lake Compounce. It has a wonderful, old fashioned, family friendly atmosphere..."charming." Yes it is worth the 2 1/2 hour drive. I drive that far from northeastern Massachusetts to Lake Compounce, and it's well worth it. Boulderdash is a world classs newer wood coaster. Wildcat is a classic, fun 1927 wood coaster. Zoomerang is one of the smoothest boomerang coasters I've ridden. Down Time is an exciting 185 foot S&S drop tower. Thunder Rapids is an awesome raft ride on a turbulent river with great splashing waves. The Skyride is a nearly 30 minute chairlift to the summit of a Compounce Mountain with impressive views and a peaceful setting.

These high points and many other classic flat rides and an attractive water park make for a great park alone. However, it is the people that make Lake Compounce great. The management is top notch and always present to greet guests, help in daily routines, or just to say goodnight and thank you as guests exit the park. The staff is friendly, polite, and efficient.

Several good shows perform in the newly renovated Starlight Theatre including magic, music, acrobat, and variety shows. Food is of good quality and reasonably priced, and...get this...Pepsi and other Pepsi producs are free for the taking at any time.

So, yes Phoenixphan, you should have a great time at The Lake. I hope you get the opportunity to visit soon.

Definitely a great park, esp. if you're a Knoebel's fan (as I assume from your SN). Very charming and lots to do for a smaller park. It's owned by KW Inc. and it definitely has the same charm.

As for Boudler Dash, you have to ride it to believe it. And at night, you might ride it and not belive it. ;)

Is there really free Pepsi or is that just if you get a season pass?

Free soft drinks with any admission. There are kiosks throughout the park and at all the food stands. It works almost as well as it does at HW.

If you are into water parks, LC's is small but quite good and it's been getting some really nice investments in terms of expansions. It does get very busy though.

The park also has an ok Sally interactive dark ride, a very nice carousel, and a very good Rotor ride.

Hope you make effort to get to the Lake!

Jim 'jimvid' McDonnell

...and let me just add...

Boulder Dash is an excellent but sometimes moody wooden coaster. Best to hit it at night when the park is open late.

^Perhaps, but a moody Boulderdash beats most other coasters anyday. It's like what they say about a bad day of fishing.

It is definitely worth the trip just to ride Boulder Dash it's not the #1 woodie for no reason. You can get discounted coupons from Stop&shops in CT. here is a website for more information www.Lakecompounce.org

Yes, gardener...I didn't mean to infer it wasn't a good ride all the time.

jimvid - I'm sorry but the LC rotor is run horribly. I had rug burns on my elbows for 10 days (insert laughter here) from sliding down the wall when the floor dropped. no one, absolutely no one, on my ride cycle stuck to the wall, we all slid and burned.

I also agree on some days Boulder Dash takes some time to get warmed up. I didn't seem as crazy earlier in the day.

Thanks for the help guys. Some day I will have to make it up there, but this past Sunday we drove right by, opting to head up to SFNE. We have our season passes there, and I have to say even though we ended up paying more buying the QBot Gold, I think it was money well spent. When I have a weekday off I think we will definately go to LC though.

jim..."an OK Sally interactive?"

Ghost Hunt is right up there with Den of Lost Thieves and The Great Pistolero Round Up...:)

HW learned something from LC this time....Sally interactives are THE DEAL! :)

bill, headed to LC to give B-Dash another shot....I expect to like it MUCH more this time around!

Having spent all day yesterday at Lake Compounce -- my second visit ever, mind you -- I can absolutely attest to the fact that it is worth the drive (2 hours from where I am in NJ). The park IS small, but my friends and I were able to cram in a ton of rides on Boulder Dash, DownTime, and the abundantly awesome flats, though only one lap on Ghost Hunt because the capacity leaves a bit to be desired, and spend almost the entire day there -- and we never even set foot in the water park.

The key is to not go into the park expecting something fantastically huge and incredible: it is a very small, very humble park, but worth the trip. Make sure not to just spend the entire day on just the coasters or you'll miss out on some pretty spectacular flats and shows. And while the admission might seem a bit steep for such a small park, it's easy to get your money's worth -- especially if you go on a hot day when everyone rushes to the water park and the lines in the main park are nonexistent.

If you wanna get a better idea of what the park is like, give me a couple days to post my TR and give a read -- but having made the trek twice, and planning on making it again in the future, I give it two very enthusiastic thumbs up (take that for what you think it's worth). :)

It's only 2 hrs. from here Dave? Damn, I should get there more often.

Andy...I think he's traveling "at the speed of Ka"...;)

Wrong gator...I'm not standing still, am I? ;)

Andy, I don't know if you know this, but I'm in North Jersey, between Great Adventure and Compounce. So south to SFGAdv usually runs me about 1:15-1:30, and north to Compounce usually runs me around 2:00.