6/18 Lake Compounce - Finally! Boulder Dash

**Leo C** · #1 06-24-2008, 11:23 PM

After years of driving by it to go to SFNE I finally ended my snubbing of Connecticut. I finally went to Lake Compounce. I made it to the park by quarter to eleven, right at opening. I was happy to finally stop by ESPN Studios to take a pic. I drove by a landfill and incinerator to get to the park. I swear I wasn't in New Jersey either. I didn't know what that weird tower in town was either. I would later find out.

Walking through the Lake Ave. tunnel I was impressed just how the view of the park opened right up. Wildcat looks really cool towering the entry plaze. The Downtime S&S Tower could be seen in the backround. Walking left and around after a few Boulder Dash pictures I went to ride Wildcat first. I had a walk on front row ride. Wildcat was pretty impressive for an old coaster, having nicely banked turns that I may have saw on the Giant Dipper in California but not on other older coasters. It was built into the rolling hills of the park.

Next up was the majestic Boulder Dash. I couldn't believe I was in the company of this legend now. I don't know how I went without visiting this park and coaster for this long but I think it was worth it because in the last few years the coaster got new wood and "new" trains, the former Hersheypark Wildcat trains. The girl operating the coaster looked cute. I took whatever seat, a middle one, that I could get for a first ride. The trees provided a nice cover and as I read on other sites it's awesome how the structure doesn't really leave the surface of the land. The over 100 ft curving drop just suddenly appears. The magic was just getting started. I loved how we darted down and then back up the mountain thoughout the course. Was this the Beast Northeast? Only by the ski lift ride deep down the course did we finally hit a brake/anti roll back strip. The return trip home is where we got the real surprise. The triple up and then the Apollo's Chariot-like big final drop was a big surprise to me. I loved Boulder Dash. What a way to use the uniqueness, terrain of the land and park.

What a great coaster. I made it by the Ferris Wheel and S&S Giant Swing to the Enterprise, a Huss classic I was surely missing at SFGADV. Next I went to Ghost Hunt, the Sally Dark Ride. I got the highest score in my car and had a blast. If LC as a small park could get this ride even why couldn't SFGADV get one? I've been on a Sally ride at KI and SFFT even. I walked by the cool looking Pirate ship over the water to finally ride Zoomerang. I braced myself. I'm really glad they repainted this ride to make it more exciting because the ride experience didn't deliver for me. I felt typical ratcheting in the valley by the loop but in the cobra roll at least one transition had heavy ratcheting going through it. I did not like that. It's a below average boomerang for me. I like the classic car ride they have underneath and around the coaster. Maybe a classic Schwarzkopf or Eurofighter would better serve them.

Next up I investigated the soda in the restaurant. I was impressed that the soda was for free. It was the first time I experienced that. The American Flyers were right next door so I had to do that. It was there I saw a lanky old man with a light green Members Only jacket and a newsboys hat. I think he must have come out of a WB Mason commercial. I rode opposite of him on the flyers. After doing the S&S Thunder and Lightning Giant Swing - especially fun with the air and because it was not upcharge! I found the same old guy at the ferris wheel. Funny that I noticed the Chance nameplate on the ferris wheel because they held the old guy back because he was a single rider. I remember hearing about Hershey and the single rider ban enacted by Chance. I decided to ride with him and so I took the time to ask about the area. He had to be a local. He told me the tower was an OTIS elevator testing tower. Asking about the lookout I saw on the 691 bypass around Hartford he said that was a state park. It was nice to learn about the area and I hope he appreciated the company someone talking to him.

After this neat encounter I went to the kiddie area in the front of the park. James told me I probably wouldn't be able to get on the kiddie coaster. The little girl in line said "You can't go on!" Funny cause I was also denied by the operator. Denied by a little girl! haha I took many pics of the flats. I even saw Garfield dancing. I made it back to the end of the park. I had to get the Trolley ride down. Many old parks were built by trolley lines. In the Philly area Willow Grove Park was one of these parks. It's a mall today so I had to ride an important piece of park history.

Coming back I got on Downtime. The S&S tower was a lot of fun being dropped. It gave me faith that SFGADV doesn't need to go record breaking for tower height. I just want a fun ride. Next I went back on Boulder Dash. Getting a front row seat I felt it fly like a bullet. Definitely a Top 10 woodie for me now. I ended my day at the park with a last row seat. I left the park at 2:20 cause I wanted to get back to Jersey by 7. It looks like I beat the showers that day. I had a blast at the park. I couldn't find a Boulder Dash shirt I liked but driving to SFNE in the future I may feel guilty for driving by Lake Compounce. The LC auto sticker I had to get.