New Mountain Coaster at Lake Compounce Gets a Name

Bristol/Southington, CT -- The fretting, the fussing, the agonizing and hand-wrenching name search is finally over. The newest addition at Lake Compounce Theme Park, a one-of-a-kind wooden roller coaster being constructed on the mountainside, has been named Boulder Dash.

Park General Manager Tom Wages said more than a thousand suggestions were received by the park and selecting a name was "much more difficult than I ever imagined it would be." The ultimate name --- Boulder Dash --- was first suggested by a seasonal team member about five months ago. "We believe this name works because it best describes the unique terrain on which the mountain coaster is being built as well as the speed of the coaster."

According to Wages, what convinced him and other park officials of the coaster's name were the numerous trips up and down the mountainside. "As we walked the path of the new mountain coaster, we were dazzled and wowed by the boulders we saw. We realized they were the most prominent feature of the landscape."

"Boulder Dash will be the longest wooden coaster on the East Coast and is destined to be our signature ride at Lake Compounce," Wages added. The initial drop will be 115 feet while the overall vertical drop will be 140 feet. Boulder Dash will begin in the north end of the park and wind its way along rugged mountain terrain to the Compounce Mountain Sky Ride at the south end of the park.

Custom Coasters International began construction of the new mountain coaster in early June and Boulder Dash is scheduled to be completed for the 2000 season.

"Not only will Boulder Dash prove to be a fast, white knuckle coaster ride, but dashing past the boulders, rock cliffs and trees on the mountainside will make this coaster a truly unique experience," Wages concluded.

Boulder Dash Mountain Coaster Statistics and Information

Type of Construction: Wooden Track on Wooden Structure
Length: 4500 feet long
Height of First Drop: 115 feet
Total Drop throughout ride: 145 feet
Fastest Speed: 60 mph
Time of Ride: 2 1/2 minutes
Number of Trains: Two
Estimated Cost: $6 million
Engineering & Construction: Custon Coasters International
Schedule: Construction began June 1999; Completion scheduled for May 2000

Unusual Characteristics

1.The first coaster to be built entirely on the side of a mountain.

2.The coaster will be the longest wooden coaster on the East Coast.

3.The coaster will be built on rugged terrin beneath the canopy of trees, among boulders and rock face along the mountainside.

4.The ride is engineered to maintain a higher than average rate of speed. The train will travel closer to the ground and closer to natural features then any other coaster. This will enhance the sense of speed and "thrill" factor for the coaster.

5.During construction all efforts will be made to minimize disturbance of the natural environment. Few trees will be cut and the coaster will be anchored to natural rock on the mountainside whenever possible.

6.Moving construction equipment along the mountainside will be challenging. It will be accomplished by using cables and pulleys anchored to mountain trees.

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Lake Compounce Unveils New Mountain Coaster March 25, 1999