Lake Compounce....worth it???

Over the summer I'll be heading on a coaster trip. During the trip, I will go to Sfgadv and Sfne. But After I hit Sfgadv, and before I hit Sfne, I was thinking about going to Lake Compounce. The only problem is, the only thing I want to do there is ride Boulder Dash, and from what I see on their site, they don't have ride tickets...it's just $30 to get in. That seems a little steep for a small park like that...to me atleast.

So I ask....Is the admission for Compounce really worth it? Is there more to the park than Boulder Dash. From what I've seen it doesn't look like it that much. I wish they would just have ride tickets because I only want to stay at the park for about 2-3 hours before I hit Sfne.

Any answers or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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"Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you've never known before. But the ride always ends, and you end up feeling lonely and bitter. Wait. It's not love I'm describing. I'm thinking of a monorail" -Jack Handey
*** This post was edited by coastingohio 5/13/2003 5:22:24 PM ***

There's more than just Boulder Dash, but it alone is worth much more than $30

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Two words....... FREE SODA! I love the atmosphere of LC, it's such a relief from the crowded and hectic midways of so many parks out there. Like Peabody said, Boulder Dash is DEFINATELY worth the $30 alone, and you'll likely get MANY re-rides if you go on a weekday. If you go, definately hit up the Ghost Hunt, it's a lot of fun. Overall, I love this park, and can never go to sfne without making a stop here on the way there or on the way back. GO!

Funny, I always want it the other way around: 2-3 hours at SFNE and the rest of the day at Compounce!

To answer your question it really depends on what kind of park you prefer. If you're looking for a crowded park with lots of coasters and flats like a typical Six Flags park [with typical Six Flags operations] you'll be disappointed in Compounce. If you prefer traditional, clean, well-run parks with friendly ride-ops and a laid-back atmosphere, like Knoebels, Kennywood, and Holiday World, than you'll *love* Compounce!

Some Compounce hints: Their Sally dark ride, Ghosthunt, is very popular and lines get long quicky. I suggest putting your urge to ride coasters aside and hit that first. Boulderdash, like any woodie, needs some time to warm up. Best rides will be later in the day, and nights rides are outta this world. Take their steam train to the other side of the lake and walk back to the park, hitting their rapids and sky ride. Or you can take the yellow Trolley instead of the train. The skyride takes 30 minutes round trip but the views are breathtaking.

Other parks in the area: if you want 2 quick, easy credits Quassy Amusement Park is nearby, about a 20-30 min drive one-way. You wouldn't need more than 60-90 minutes at the park. FYI, they require 2 riders on their mouse. Just noth of NYC on the coast is Rye Playland. Rye is an awesome nighttime park with tons of atmosphere. They have an excellent Old Mill, Derby Racer [a-la Cedar Downs], outstanding Whip and Bumpercars, and a few fun dark rides. Their wooden Dragon Coaster is the last remaining Scenic Railway coaster in the US. It's fun but don't expect massive amounts of airtime.

Awesome hotel deal: The Centennial Inn, in nearby Farmington, has a great deal on a room and tickets to the park. I will be staying there with a group of friends on our ACE Con trip and when you back-out the $30 ticket to the park from the total cost of the room, the room is only $18/person, and that also includes a continental breakfast!

Depending on the time of year you're travelling and the park operating hours you could easily spend a full day at SFNE, then hit LC the next day from opening until 6pm including a short side-trip at Quassy at lunchtime, then drive down and finish the night at Rye, which typically closes at midnight.

mOOSH

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"I don't like poop singers." Peabody, discussing American Idol.

*** This post was edited by Mamoosh 5/13/2003 5:49:06 PM ***

Very much worth it - I did SFNE and LC in one day (only S:ROS, B:TDK and Cyclone at SFNE), and I wish I had another day @ LC. The park is awesome. Free soda, and Boulderdash is in my top tier of coasters.

Mike

Lake Compounce, as a park, is well worth the admission. Having said that, if you are pre-determined to only want to enjoy Bolder Dash then you may find the cost of admission steep for just one ride (though it is one of the best wooden coasters).

Lake Compounce is one of America's finest traditional parks, and it's strong point is it's charm and the management's attention to customer satisfaction. The atmosphere of the park invites you to slow down and enjoy time with your family and friends rather than feeling pushed along among the crowds of bigger parks. I enjoy my visitis to Lake Compounce much more than my visits to SFNE because I feel that Lake Compounce cares about me as a customer. The staff is friendly and helpful, the grounds and attractions are well maintained, the food is of good quality and reasonably priced, and the park never feels too crowded.

Aside from Bolder Dash, other great rides are Wildcat (classic wooden coaster), Thunder Rapids (raft ride), Ghost Hunt (interactive dark ride), the Compounce Mountain Skyride, and a beautiful antique carousel with a real antique band organ. Lake Compounce also features a nice family oriented waterpark and many fun flat rides. Last year's Chinese Acrobat show was impressive and the new acrobat show this year should be great as well.

So, yes Lake Compounce is worth the price of admission, but you should spend more than the couple of hours you have planned because the charming atmosphere of Lake Compounce is worth it.

So....do ya think we all made out point clear? LOL! ;)

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"I don't like poop singers." Peabody, discussing American Idol.

Lake Compounce deserves a whole day. The park has lots of charm as many people have said, and you should definately take time for the chairlift ride up the mountain, that alone is worth 30 bucks.

Incidentaly, does anyone know what the park's hours are during October? On their website, it just says that the park opens at 5:00 pm for the haunted graveyard. Is it still open during the day as well or just during the halloween event? Also, what time does the park usually stay open until during this? Thanks!

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

Well clearly you guys have made your point, lol. I forgot to mention I'm going with my family (lol) and not alone, so I think after hearing about how nice Compounce really is, we may just stay a whole day.

There are some things that we need to sort out though. We were actually going to get a hotel around Springfield/Agawam and check in/ ride at Sfne for the rest of that day after we went to Compounce for a little bit. We actually wanted to visit the NCAA Bball Hall of Fame for the rest of that day.

Now though, since the place sounds so nice [FREE POP! (im from the midwest so I say pop, lol)] I think a full day would probably be amazing there.

Heres a question though......To anyone who's been to the Basketball Hall of Fame...how long should someone spend there, is the that place worth a whole day??? Because if possible, I think we wanted to split that day between Lake Compounce and the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Any other suggestions for this. Moosh's hotel offer looks pretty darn nice too...but how good was that place, we are looking for 2 star- 3 star hotels throughout the whole trip.

Im contradicting myself a little here but there is so many options for this portion of our trip and I want it to turn out right. The three parts we are definately including are:

Lake Compounce

NCAA (isnt it the NCAA? or is it just all basketball? Our family just can't get enough of Bball so we're going here no matter what!) Basketball Hall of Fame

& Six Flags New England
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"Love can sweep you off your feet and carry you along in a way you've never known before. But the ride always ends, and you end up feeling lonely and bitter. Wait. It's not love I'm describing. I'm thinking of a monorail" -Jack Handey
*** This post was edited by coastingohio 5/13/2003 8:30:35 PM ***

C-Ohio - I can't answer your question about the Centennial Inn...I'm staying there for the first time this June 11th. I've rented a 5-person, 2 level suite with two full baths and a kitchen....doesn't sound like your run-o-the mill hotel to me!

Moosh

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"I don't like poop singers." Peabody, discussing American Idol.

I'm a bit late into the topic, but yet it's worth it.

Boulder Dash alone is worth the admission price and the trip.

But they do offer a bunch of other stuff. The Sky Ride is *amazing*, I love that thing. They have several flat rides and their Boomerang isn't bad. Overall the park has a lot of charm and atmosphere. Do visit.

The Lake is not very big. A half day should be enough.

And (as if it hasn't already been said) it out-classes SFNE leaps and bounds. The only reason you'd have to spend a whole day at SFNE is to wait in line for coasters running half capacity.

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

C'mon guys. SFNE isn't that great in the service department, and I did like LC (Dash was incredible, especially at night), but just to offer the different opinion:

if you get a light day at SFNE, power riding S:RoS is quite possibly the most fun thing you can do at any park anywhere.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I think Lake Compounce is a big rip-off. $30 to ride Boulder Dash is a lot of money, especially when on somedays the park's hours are pityful - 4pm close!!!

I went into 2001 and it was like $27.95, plus $5 to park and I was in the park for 1 hour 30 minutes. Boulder Dash was fast and smooth with great terrain but devoid of any airtime and laterals in morning, and there was nothing else for me (a coaster enthusaist who doesn't care for flats or water rides) to do. I'd rather travel and get some more parks in than hang around in boredome.

I don't care if SFNE is crowded and runs one train, it is a stacks better park, great theming, and the world's best steel coaster. And with a seasons pass, far better value than Lake Compounce could ever be. Want cheap soda, go buy a six pack from 7/11.

The Lake is not in the same league as Knoebels or Holiday World. They are both cheaper, (with free parking) and have two awesome coasters, instead of one that runs average early in the day. I have no doubt it's better later at night, but with the 4pm close on the day that I could visit it in 2003, I's rather stay in SFNE.

Well, I guess I'm uniquely qualified to answer your Hall of Fame question. I played basketball from third grade through college (Kentucky), have been a head coach at five high schools and an assistant at three colleges, and maintain season, state tournament and NCAA ticket priorities. But I also teach courses in The Amusement Park in American Society, and visit a dozen parks a year, either with family or student groups.
There is no truer basketball fanatic than I am. However, every time I have visited that basketball hall of fame I have come away distinctly disappointed. It's worth a visit, don't get me wrong. But it does not support a very long one. I'm not sure it alone is worth a two day trip. If you are in the area on vacation, it should be one of the stops. But I would not count on it taking up a whole day. The basketball museums in Chapel Hill and Lexington don't take a day to thoroughly experience either.
I would spend the first half of the day at the Hall of Fame, and the second half at Compounce. That lets you ride Boulder Dash after it has warmed up, and see the park as the sun goes down, which seems to me to be its most charming ambience.
And if your kids do find the basketball museum especially fascinating, you can just prolong your visit there. Since all you want at Compounce is to ride BD, it wouldn't be a tragedy if you didn't get there until late afternoon.

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Grant said:
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I think Lake Compounce is a big rip-off.

...for me (a coaster enthusaist who doesn't care for flats or water rides) ...

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I can understand how Lake Compounce may not be the best park for someone who is exclusively a coaster enthusiast, though Bolder Dash is by far my all-time favorite wooden coaster. However, Lake Compounce is one of the best parks for someone who appreciates the overall classic park experience. My family enjoyed a full day there, and there was enough to entertain myself, my siblings, my parents, and my 83 year old grandmother. I think that says a lot for any park to be able to cater to such a wide range of ages and interests. Grandma especially enjoyed the raft ride and the log flume.

My comments are coming from someone who appreciates companies that provide quality experiences worth repeating, not poorly run companies that have awesome but poorly run coasters.
*** This post was edited by gardener14 5/14/2003 8:30:05 AM ***

I guess it bears pointing out that if your family loves basketball. . . Lake Compounce is right by ESPN headquarters.

I don't believe they have tours of the place, but you will drive right by it as you turn in towards the Lake Compounce parking lot.

My only visit was in 2001 and my family enjoyed the place even BEFORE the free soda policy that was rolled out in 2002. From the amazing Boulder Dash to the life-affirming Wildcat (the boomerang was down the day I was there) to a modest collection of flats but some of the coolest transportation rides (the train is fine, but the sky ride is great and there's even a trolley to take you from the rapids-train station back to the main part of the park -- even though you can outwalk the trolley if you wanted to).

"...their Boomerang isn't bad."

I've ridden a *ton* of Boomerangs both in the US and Mexico. Lake Compounce's Zoomerang is by far the smoothest, best maintained and operated 'Rang I've ever ridden.

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"I don't like poop singers." Peabody, discussing American Idol.

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Paris said:

...and there's even a trolley to take you from the rapids-train station back to the main part of the park -- even though you can outwalk the trolley if you wanted to).

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I love that trolley ride. On my visit the trolley ran at lightning speed and it was quite fun as we flew by the lake and passed quickly by Bolder Dash's train flying in the opposite direction..