These 17 Photos Show You Connecticut’s Oldest Amusement Park Like You’ve Never Seen It Before

Lake Compounce is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States. Located in Bristol, Connecticut, it originally opened as a picnic park in 1846. The following 17 Lake Compounce photos show what the attraction looked like during its earlier years.

1. During its humble beginning, the lake was the main draw at this attraction. Picnicking, swimming, boat rides, and concerts engaged visitors at Lake Compounce.

2. The Casino, constructed in 1898, was the first permanent building on the property. Public transportation by trolley to the park began the same year.

3. The Carousel, one of the early amusement rides at Lake Compounce, opened to the public on Memorial Day of 1911.

4. The Green Dragon, an electric powered roller coaster, opened for its first public ride in 1914.

5. The Green Dragon was later replaced by the Wild Cat, a wooden roller coaster that was built in 1927 by Philadelphia Toboggan Company. You can still enjoy this historic thrill ride today.

6. In 1929, a Chris Craft was purchased to give park goers an exhilarating ride around the lake. The cost of a boat tour was $0.15. In 1962, speedboats replaced the Chris Craft.

7. Lake Compounce became a thriving destination with the lake at its hub. Musical performances were frequent and added to the jolly atmosphere.

8. In the 1930s, the Casino ballroom was expanded. An enormous dance floor without walls was added so visitors could dance under the stars. A high arched ceiling and windowed walls were added in 1937.

9. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Bathing Beach was a popular place for swimming. This was long before the waterpark was built at Lake Compounce.

10. The amusements at Lake Compounce consumed just a fraction of the space that they do today.

11. More amusements were added to the park over the years, including a miniature golf course and fun house.

12. The midway was much smaller than it is today, but no less crowded on weekends.

13. The park also had its games of skill and chance where you could win prizes.

14. As the decades marched forward, more and more amusement rides were added to the park. Many of them geared towards young children.

15. Each new ride was opened to the delight of kids and adults alike. Even an amusement as timeless as bumper cars looked much different during earlier times.

16. Many of the nostalgic rides have since been removed to make way for thrill rides and the largest waterpark in the state.

17. Although Lake Compounce is now a sprawling amusement park with more rides than you can possibly imagine, the lake itself, the Wild Cat coaster, and the fun-seeking park goers remain constant.

For more information about Lake Compounce, including operating hours and ticket prices, you can view the Lake Componce website or the Lake Compounce Facebook page.

Were you already familiar with the history of Lake Compounce? Do you have any memories of Lake Compounce? If so, please share them with us in the comments below. Also, feel free to share photos with us if you happen to have any.

If you enjoyed these photos that give us a much better understanding of Lake Compounce history, be sure to take a look at these vintage pictures taken during the construction of the Merritt Parkway.