Lake Compounce-POTENTIAL!!!!
I was at Lake Compounce today and I really see some potential in this park! I'm surprised nobody noticed this, what if:
Kennywood bought the Lake a B&M Invert and Intamin junior-hyper. Build the junior hyper lift parellel to the lake, and one or 2 hills directly after that, a helix turn around near the waterpark slides, and camelbacks leading back to the station with a twister finale. Now that would compete with S:RoS! Then, build a small B&M Invert where Haunted Graveyard is and move the haunted graveyard out past the picnic area in the woods. Kennywood has the money, no? I would love to see this happen, how about yourselves??
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Make it to SFNE for S:Ros and BDK!!!!
Lake Compounce owns the lake and the hills, they also have a train that encircles the entire lake, a cable car that goes to the other end of the lake, water slides that go into the lake, and recieved much of the water parks water from this little pumping station the park has on the lake. Wasn't that enough to tell you that they own the lake? Well, yes they are allowed to build on it.
The Haunted Graveyard is also where ESPN(which is headquartered right across the street) hold a lot of their events including the X-Games last summer. The park pulls quite a bit of money from those and I would never think they move that.
Also, you have houses surrounding the lake, and what people enjoy is the classic cable car rides down the lakeside and the peaceful train ride around the lake. Why do you think Lake Compounce has one of the best family amotspheres? If I were riding the a calm ride over the mountain on the eSkyride, I wouldn't want an Intiman hyper screaming at 70 mph right next to me. That's another reason why they should expand more on the mountain, build a freefall that drops into one of the hills or if you want something real good, do an inverted like Nemesis on one of the mainy hillsides they own. Lake Compounce has plenty of land(actually, the actual park only uses 1/4 of the owned land), it's just not your flat or gently sloping landscape. You have a big lake to the left, a mountain in front of you, a forest in the back, and a bunch of rolling hills on the right.
All I want to see for 2003 is bring back that layed off wild mouse, though the new interactive dark ride, Ghost Hunt, was a better investment, I still think they should get the wild mouse that they planned as well. The other thing, TOSS THE DARN DANCING DOG SHOW!!! The dogs deserve the right to walk on all four paws for once, the annoucer has bad breath, tell the trainer that the beauty saloon is three blocks down and get rid of those cheap costumes. Other than that and one modern flat ride, I'm fine with the park. Though the park could use a second major coaster to partner with Boulder Dash, but nothing giantic nomore bigger than say SLC unless it's a terrain coaster. Holiday World and Lake Compounce are probably the only two parks in the world I don't want to see a giant exspansion on (like a giant steel moster) because the atmosphere is already so sweet and friendly and something like that could really damage it.
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Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean
*** This post was edited by Vertigo on 5/19/2002. ***
CoasterGuy said:
Kennywood has the money, no?
I don't know Kennywood's finances, but I would wager "no". Kennywood is a small company that tries to keep expenses down -- witness the revamping of the Steel Phantom into Phantom's Revenge, rather than just buying an all-new coaster.
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--Greg
"Are you justified in taking life to save life?" -- The Great Debate, Dream Theater
My page
*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 5/19/2002. ***
NITROman said:
Actually the X-Games were in Philadelphia last year Vertigo.
The Big Bash and the kick off party weren't, those were at Compounce. Also, all those breaks where they left Philly and went back to Connecticut, they were shooting from Lake Compounce Amusement Park, and in some shots you could see Wildcat and the Ferris Wheel. They also turned the entire Huanted Graveyard area into a skate park and had X-Games booths and posters and gear everywhere. You could even have won free X-Games stuff if you went to the amusement parks on the right day.
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Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean
I was also there today(my first time). I enjoyed the park very much, and what it lacks in size, it makes up for in charm. I don't see them wanting to change that. I think that if they could incorporate another coaster into the natural landscape as they did Boulder Dash, maybe.
As for Boulder Dash, what a ride. This just knocked Ghostrider out of the #1 spot for me. I could not get enough of this coaster and I look forward to my next visit.
This is why I'm so glad the Kennywood folks bought this park...so they WOULDN'T doink it all up into some goofy me-too 'Cedar Flags' corporate dump.
It is a classic park with soul and atmosphere and an environent that you just can't create out of tens of millions of dollars.
It's a laid-back little wonderland where you don't feel pressured to run through the whole park. It's got classic rides, affordable food and personality galore.
I visited an empty LC the Satruday after Labor Day and didn't want to leave. I live 20 minutes from a park with a hyper and a PT and I'd trade you for LC in a New York minute. It had everything I don't get from CP or DP or VF or SFGAM or any of the many-coastered parks I usually visit.
Don't get me wrong....I'm not saying the park should never expand. I wouldn't mind a compact B&M with a layoyut like Georgia Scorcher or SFNE's BDK as long as they hide the thing. Don't mar the natural landscape with it.
But otherwise, I'd just hike up to SFNE to stand in line all day and visit LC to relax.
-'Playa
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Coming 6/6/02--the CoastaPlaya 100!
Check Meeting Calendar for details...
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--Greg
"Are you justified in taking life to save life?" -- The Great Debate, Dream Theater
My page
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Don't forget "Operation Graduation" June 1st @ SRM - bring Pat Koch a graduation card! See Coasterbuzz News for details.
I'll agree that it doesn't need something big, but nice sized steel coaster would compliment its collection, and with Kennywood's record, I really doubt they would just put one anywhere, its just not their style.
I really don't believe in that opinion that a decent-sized steel coaster would ruin the traditional feel. Atleast if proper care was taken, it won't.
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Jim Hansen
Number of coasters ridden: 138
Steel Force said:
I'll be going to LC for the first time this year. As a huge dark ride fan what is Ghost hunt like?
It's an interactive dark ride. A ride through huanted house where you and your friends shoot at the monsters. At the end of the ride, they give your final score on a board that is on top of the exit, btu you can see if you're doing better than your friend by checking the light up score board in front of you. It not too short, but don't expect to get scared out of your pants, because Ghost Hunt was designed for friends and family but there are some great twists and suprises like misty tunnels, an unexpected exit above the midway, and the little bats that fly over you. The lines should never be too long and is good to ride in the evening when the outdoor effects are on aswell.
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Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean
NITROman said:
Actually the X-Games were in Philadelphia last year Vertigo.
Yes, but both parties are right on this one. While the X-games proper was in Philly last year, ESPN had the eastern US qualifer at the field located between the main ESPN studios and Lake Compounce.
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Make it to SFNE for S:Ros and BDK!!!!
CoasterGuy said:
Why do you people want it to stay a little rinky-dink park? Your'e almost contradicting yourselves. I'm surpirsed you already aren't complaining due to the expansion w/ Zoomerang, Boulder Dash, and the many flat rides they have gotten since Six Flags moved into the area. The park has expanded nicely since 1995 and has still remained a nice, small park, so why can't it after adding something substantial to the park? Also, if this hyper or looper were to be built, their location would be so out-of-the-way from the main midways, it wouldn't matter. Plus, wouldn't a Stengel-drop Intamin junior hyper look absolutely beautiful next to the lake itself? Just my two cents, I see that their expansion from 1995 hasn't ruined the park, and I don't think future expansion would ruin it either.-----------------
Make it to SFNE for S:Ros and BDK!!!!
Main midway? Have you been there? The park is so small that there is no main midway unless you'd consider that the front entrance. Since Boulder Dash was built the same year that Riverside became Six Flags New England, so I really don't think it had that much to do with competition. Zoomerang was here before Six Flags New England was even a thought. The only thing they've added since Six Flags New England came was Mamooth Falls, which is in the water park. No flat rides have been added since Six Flags has come, and we still enjoy the classics that Lake Compounce has. Parks like Holiday World, Lake Compounce, and Knobel's Grove are not the places that you want to become a megatropolis, for it's the the classic rides, friendly atmosphere, lush landscape and scenery, thick forest, and terrain woodies.
If an Intiman mega coaster was placed next to the lake, it would tower over Splash Harbor , the classic cable car ride, and one of the park’s most prized attractions, the train ride around the lake. Sitting down in front of the lake to eat lunch or shop, relaxing in the water park and riding the slides into the lake, catching the night show next to the sparkling lake, and Boulder Dash run by the lake to the station are all some of the favorite parts of Lake Compounce. Those would all be over shadowed and ruined by a giant hyper coaster next to the lake.
If this park is such a little rinky-dinky park then don’t bother coming. That will just make it more peaceful for me. The park’s classics have been enjoyed for over a 100 years. People must enjoy how the park is if it’s been able to maintain the record of being the oldest operating park in the country.
Lake Compounce Timeline
1996-Splash Harbor added to water park
1997-Zoomerang, Kiddie Coaster
1998-Sky Coaster or Top Spin(which was it?)
1999-Ghost Hunt
2000-Boulder Dash
---------------------Six Flags New England comes in 2000
2001-Mamooth Falls
2002-Freee sunscreen and sodas throughout the park :)
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Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean
*** This post was edited by Vertigo on 5/22/2002. ***
I'm all for The Lake retaining its traditional look and feel... so few amusement parks have that certain charm and I think that it should be preserved. What the area does NOT need is another Six Flags park. However...
LC does need another major attraction or two, whether it be a coaster or a tower or something else just as substantial. A number of people who posted about the park noted that the park was empty... truly a beautiful thing for those hoping to marathon on Boulder Dash, but a terrible thing for the park's owners who want the park to draw crowds and make money. With SFNE in the immediate area and a number of other major parks within half a day's drive, Compounce will have to compete in order to survive and prosper.
That's why I feel that something like a small "hyper" coaster or a modest-sized B&M (Talon, Scorcher etc.) would fit in rather well... something that doesn't ruin the ambiance of the park, yet something significant enough to get people to sit up and take notice of the place just like Boulder Dash did in 2000. Then again, maybe a Crazy Mouse or a Roller Soaker-type attraction and another woodie could be the answer, depending on which type of crowd The Lake wants to go after.
I agree with Rob A.
VERTIGO- I never said I wanted it to be a Six Flags-like park. You an I both know that a park operated by Kennywood would NEVER be like that. I myself love the classic feel of the park. I love how lush and scenic it is. I love the blend of ride genres. Yes, I see what you are saying now. A hyper coaster would be too drastic, but a LITTLE expansion wouldn't be that bad, right?
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Make it to SFNE for S:Ros and BDK!!!!
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