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Lake Compounce is an amusement park located in Bristol, Connecticut. Originally, it began as a lakeside picnic park and was transformed into an amusement park in the late 19th century. Opened in 1846, it is the oldest amusement park in America. In fact, Lake Compounce is the first amusement park in North America.
The National Amusement Park Historical Association recognizes Lake Compounce as America's oldest amusement park and the fifth oldest in the world. The U.S. National Park Service describes it as the nation's oldest amusement park. The Library Of Congress defines it as the oldest continuously-operating amusement park in the United States.
Lake Compounce is also Connecticut's largest water theme park. It spans 332 acres, which includes a beach and a water park called Crocodile Cove included in the price of admission. The name Lake Compounce is derived from John Compound, a Mattatuck/Tunxis Native American Chieftain. On December 2, 1684, his wife and several tribal members affixed their waxed fingertip "marks" to a deed that conveyed the "Compound's Lake" to a group of white settlers who had migrated to central Connecticut from Massachusetts.
Legend has it that shortly thereafter, Chief Compound drowned in the lake while trying to cross it in a large brass kettle. On October 6, 1846, Samuel Botsford, an influential Bristol scientist, persuaded property owner Gad Norton, an original settler descendant, to let him conduct "a series of beautiful experiments in electricity."
Well publicized, the event drew thousands of spectators who witnessed the demonstration amidst the beauty of the woods and water. Although the final experiment of "blowing up from shore, two huge jugs of gunpowder tied under a raft in the middle of the lake" failed, it did inspire Mr. Norton to action. He put a path around the lake, set up picnic tables, allowed public swimming and rowing on the lake and built a gazebo for lakeside band concerts.
Latin America’s number one tourist rated adventure park
Lake Compounce had officially opened to the public as a picturesque "picnic" park. Today, this oldest amusement park in America offers more than 50 rides, the largest water park in the state, live shows, and many other forms of entertainment. It is home to Boulder Dash, which has been voted the world’s #1 wooden roller coaster.
In 1895, a railway company added a station at Lake Compounce. It is one of a handful of remaining trolley parks, so named because streetcar operators placed the parks at the end of their lines to boost weekend business. This oldest amusement park in the US has had millions invested in rides and attractions during the recent years, and today is more beautiful than ever.
In April 1996, The Kennywood Entertainment Company, a family-owned company that operated three parks in western Pennsylvania, became the new managing partner of Lake Compounce. From 1997 through 2008, $20 million was spent to rejuvenate the park and restore its luster. In total, nearly $50 million had been invested in new rides, attractions, and physical improvements.
In 2009, Lake Compounce was acquired by Palace Entertainment, along with the other previous Kennywood Entertainment parks. Palace Entertainment is the country's largest operator some of the top theme parks, water parks and family entertainment centers, featuring 40 parks entertaining 14 million visitors per year.
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