Quassy's New Entrance Takes Shape

Constructing a new main entrance and ticket booth with the intent of streamlining the admissions process and increasing guest satisfaction is a good thing in and of itself. But Quassy Amusement Park decided to go the extra mile and throw a little nostalgia into the mix. The park's new entrance structure, which is now nearing completion, was designed to resemble Lake Quassapaug Station, the trolley station which serviced the park during its earliest days of operation.

� 2009 Quassy Amusement Park

Looking good! The official sign has yet to be placed on the roof, but these service windows look just about ready to welcome their first guests.

� 2009 Quassy Amusement Park

An accompanying information kiosk, still under construction in this photo, will feature park literature, pricing information, height requirements, and the park's entertainment schedule.

The blueprints for the new entrance were created by Andrew Peklo III of Peklo Design & Joinery P.C., who based his design on vintage postcard images of the original Lake Quassapaug Station. For comparison, below is one of the original renderings. Looks like the construction crew did a beautiful job of bringing this design to life!

� 2009 Quassy Amusement Park

The new structure is located adjacent to the parking lot, whereas the former ticketing area was located within the park near the Grand Carousel. This location, combined with the myriad services the new entrance will offer, should make for a very smooth experience for park guests. And you won't have to wait long to see it in person: Quassy opens for the 2009 season on April 25, just a little over a week from today!

Quassy Prepares for 101st Season

Quassy Amusement Park kicks off its 101st season of operation on April 25, and the park's staff is working hard to ensure that this happy occasion will be properly commemorated. Throughout opening weekend (April 25-26), the park will offer a $30 carload special whereby you can load the family truckster with up to 10 people and all members of your party will receive an all-day ride wristband for only $30, TOTAL! (And by the way, that includes parking!) The best part about this special offer is that it will benefit the Greater Waterbury Campership Fund, which helps send underprivileged children to summer camps.

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But the opening day festivities don't end at the front gate. Once inside the park, patrons will be treated to live entertainment, "meet and greet" sessions with Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Quassy's annual Egg Hunt (which will take place on Sunday, April 26). The kiddos also will be thrilled to see that Quassy's ever popular Playport (pictured above) has received a facelift during the off-season and now features even more play elements. The Paratrooper and train ride have been extensively refurbished during the winter months as well.

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Even the front gate itself is receiving the star treatment for the 2009 season, as Quassy will debut a brand new main entrance which has been designed to resemble the trolley station where guests used to disembark during the early days of this "trolley park". Don't let the nostalgia fool you, though--This new entrance will be fully functional and a big improvement over its predecessor. It will feature an information kiosk, numerous service windows for purchasing wristbands and ride tickets, and express lines for guests who have pre-purchased their tickets online or via group sales. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Sabrina's Brochure Spotlight: Quassy Amusement Park 2003

Long before the "theme park", the "chain park", and even the magnificent Gravity Group junior woodie which may someday plant itself in the front yard, Lake Quassapaug--lovingly nicknamed "Quassy" by the locals--was luring vacationers to its shores. Let's take a look back at how far the park had come by 2003!

The year 2003 saw the debut of Saturation Station, the first interactive water play area of its type in the world. This installation marked a significant departure from Quassy's previous position as a "rides only" park, but it proved to be a wise departure. John Frantzis, whose family has owned a stake in Quassy for more than 70 years, has been quoted as saying, "I believe it saved the park." Apparently we live in an era where a lake just isn't a lake without some water cannons and tipping buckets!

Also new in 2003 was The Extreme Zone, an upcharge attraction featuring a 24-foot rock climbing wall designed to accommodate a broad range of age groups and skill levels. This attraction has since been removed to make way for new rides.

Yes, you read that correctly: It says 95 years! This, of course, means that 2009 will be Quassy's 101st season. Time flies when you're having fun! This collage features just a smattering of all that Quassy has to offer. It's too bad the Titanic Super Slide is no longer around because it looks like one heck of a unique attraction! [In case you're having a hard time finding it among these images, the "Titanic Super Slide" would be the slide which looks like the Titanic...]

To this day, Quassy Amusement Park does not charge a gate admission. But as if that weren't good enough, the park offers a plethora of special deals on ride passes to help you get even more bang for your buck. Combine those with all the special events and shows which take place at Quassy every year, and you've got yourself quite a bargain! Here is what the park had to offer in 2003.

Last but not least, the 2003 calendar and pricing at a glance. Quassy's 2009 schedule looks quite similar, with the park scheduled to open on April 25th this year. If you happen to be passing through New England this summer, be sure to stop by and help this unique "trolley park"--one of the last of its kind--celebrate 101 years of family fun!