Quassy Amusement Park Opens For 105th Season On April 27

March 8, 2013 - PRLog -- MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – The off-season has been anything but quiet at Quassy Amusement Park.

  The lakeside property has been busy with numerous projects during the winter and early spring, preparing for its 105th season which opens on Saturday, April 27.

Quassy will feature its traditional $35 carload weekend special April 27 and 28 to benefit the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund. The price includes all-day ride wristbands from noon to 6 p.m. for up to 10 persons in a vehicle. The parking fee is included. The carload special continues the weekend of May 4 and 5.

All That’s New At Quassy

 Guests visiting during the opening weekends will get a preview of the huge waterpark expansion at Quassy. Three new waterslides plus a children’s splash pad area have been built during the off-season in the water attraction, now known as “Splash Away Bay.” The waterpark, formerly called “Saturation Station,” and Quassy Beach on Lake Quassapaug open May 25 for the summer.

 “The three new waterslides are highly visible as you enter the park as they are directly behind the ticket booth,” noted park President Eric Anderson. “That visibility will certainly generate a lot of interest and anticipation for the coming summer season. In essence, the size of the waterpark has virtually doubled with these new attractions, providing tremendous added value for our guests.”

 Opening day, park visitors will be able to challenge the new “Quassy Quest Laser Maze” in the redemption arcade building. The pay-as-you-go attraction consists of a room filled with crisscrossing green beams of laser light, creating a challenging maze in a race against the clock.  

 “The laser maze will be a fantastic added attraction for children and adults,” Anderson said. “This is a state-of-the-art addition that was showcased at our international convention in Florida where we had a chance to try it firsthand.”

Egg Hunt

 The annual Egg Hunt for Prizes returns to Quassy at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 28. Youngsters are split up into age groups to hunt for candy and eggs in the great lawn area of the park. Toddlers participate in a goody bag version held at the Carousel Theatre stage.

 Quassy will also kick off its annual “Ready To Read” program the first two weekends with meet and greet sessions by young reader favorites “Max” and “Clifford” The Big Red Dog. “Max,” courtesy of the Penguin Group USA, will be on hand at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. April 27 and 28. “Clifford,” courtesy of Scholastic Books, has the same schedule on May 4 and 5.

Coastermania

 In 2011 Quassy Amusement Park introduced its new marquee attraction, the “Wooden Warrior” roller coaster. Since opening in April of that year the ride has received worldwide acclaim from roller coaster and theme park enthusiasts alike.

 “Wooden Warrior” was named Attraction of the Year (2011) in a ballot by Behind the Thrills, a theme park enthusiasts’ Web site. The coaster was also voted “Third Best New Ride” worldwide in the 2011 Golden Ticket awards, presented by industry publication Amusement Today.

 The ride is currently rated 23rd best wooden coaster in the world, according to a poll of theme park and roller coaster experts. More than 150 roller coasters were listed on the 2012 ballot.

 “The interest in our coaster has not diminished,” noted George Frantzis II, a park owner. “The ‘Wooden Warrior’ is a fantastic ride for such a small footprint.”

 The 1,250-foot coaster was designed by The Gravity Group of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is the first “junior coaster” in the firm’s portfolio. In addition, Quassy selected The Gravity Group’s sister firm, Gravitykraft, to provide its unique Timberliner train for the ride. The “Wooden Warrior” is the first new coaster in the United States to feature the sleek train.

 “We have coaster enthusiasts visit from around the world,” Frantzis added. “Not only do we stage an annual ‘Wooden Warrior’ Day in May, but last year we hosted coaster groups from Germany and France during separate visits.”

Rides And More

 Quassy Amusement Park features more than two-dozen rides and attractions including the family “Crazy Cups” ride added for the 2012 season.

 In addition, popular rides in the park include the “Music Fest,” “Free Fall ‘N” drop tower, “Paratrooper,” and “Grand Carousel.” Two Kiddyland areas cater to the tots with a variety of children’s rides.

 In the heart of the park is the “Carousel Theatre” stage with daily entertainment during the height of the season. Popular events at the stage include dance and karate days, an annual school music festival and a regional Irish dance competition.

 Quassy also has a huge redemption arcade, restaurant, games, paddle boat rentals and excursions on Lake Quassapaug aboard the Quassy Queen.

Educational Programs

 Numerous educational programs are underwritten and presented by the park each year. Students can explore the workings of the amusement rides with the “Fun With Physics” booklet, accredited by the American Association of Physics Teachers. It contains more than two-dozen pages of activities that can be completed during a visit to Quassy.

 Behind-the-scenes tours, photography workshops, Art In The Park and roller coaster model competitions are among the other educational offerings.

 Quassy is also the location of choice for birthday parties, catered company outings, family reunions, church picnics, sports team and league banquets and team building events. Catered group outings are held in the privacy of the park’s pavilions or patio area overlooking the lake.

Specials With Families In Mind

Being family-affordable has always been a goal of the locally-owned park. All-day ride and “Splash Away Bay” passes are $20.50 for those under 45 inches tall and $24.50 for 45 inches and taller. Individual ride tickets are also available.

 The best value at Quassy is a family of four season pass for only $250. Included are the rides, “Splash Away Bay,” Quassy Beach and free parking ($6) with each visit. Individual season passes are $75 each. Quassy season pass holders are also entitled to a number of “season pass perks” during the summer.

 Friday evenings starting May 24 feature 50-cent rides, hot dogs and small soft drinks. “50-Cent Fabulous Fridays” will continue through Aug. 30.

 The $35 Saturday night carload special starts May 25 and continues through Aug. 31. For only $35 up to 10 persons in a vehicle receive an evening (after 5 p.m.) wristband, parking included.

 Quassy is located at 2132 Middlebury Road in Middlebury, Conn.

 For more information about Quassy Amusement Park visit www.quassy.com or call 1-800-FOR-PARK.

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