Quassy Amusement Park Opens For 106th Season On April 26

MIDDLEBURY, Conn. - March 27, 2014 - PRLog -- MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – It was a winter to remember. One filled with bone-chilling cold and some record snowfall, creating an epidemic of cabin fever.

 Families can escape any lingering doldrums on Saturday, April 26, when Quassy Amusement & Waterpark here opens for its 106th season.

  Quassy will feature its traditional $35 carload weekend special April 26 and 27, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting 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.

Weekend Of Entertainment

 A park tradition, opening weekend will feature a variety of entertainment and fun for all ages.

 Clifford The Big Red Dog will meet and greet youngsters both afternoons, courtesy of Scholastic Trade, as Quassy kicks off its 2014 Ready To Read This Summer program. The 1, 3 and 5 p.m. greeting sessions will be held near the Grand Carousel.

 “Spirit Song,” a regional worship team of music ministers and worship leaders from churches throughout the state, will entertain starting at noon, Saturday, April 26, at the Carousel Theatre stage. Other acts during the afternoon will include: The Sunshine Road Show, an award-winning, interactive musical program; Healing Rain Dance Team; and Nik Jericho, a contemporary pop singer.

 The Comedy & Magic With Jim & Sandy Sisti returns to the Carousel Theatre on Sunday, April 27. Jim and Sandy have performed at the park for more than a decade and promise to have new tricks up their sleeves for 2014. A schedule of afternoon shows will kick off at 1 p.m.

 Quassy’s Annual Egg Hunt For Prizes will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Children participating in the event are reminded to bring their own collection article - such as a basket or bag - for the hunt.

Canned Food Drive

 Those attending the park’s opening weekend may also assist Connecticut Food Bank by donating canned food items when entering the park. Quassy will issue a Summer Nights pass, valid for redemption in July and August, to individuals who bring five canned food items to the park on April 26 or 27.

 The park’s traditional amusement rides, including the award-winning Wooden Warrior roller coaster, operate noon to 6 p.m. on opening weekends. The carload special continues the weekend of May 3 and 4. Splash Away Bay waterpark and Quassy Beach both open on Saturday, May 24, for the summer season.

Updates At The Park

 Numerous updates have taken place at the park during the off-season.

 Children will enjoy a new play area called Quassy Zoo, which will make its formal debut on Saturday, May 3. A variety of fiberglass animals will be located in the play area – ideal for children under 8 and their parents.

 A new group sales building has also been constructed adjacent to the main ticket booth, which will help alleviate lines when groups are visiting the park. Season pass photos and other guest services will also be available at the new group sales building.

 Quassy Restaurant and the park’s main restrooms have also been updated during the fall and winter and Quassy will feature Wi-Fi service for visiting guests.

 “We have introduced numerous new attractions in recent years,” Quassy President Eric Anderson commented. “The Wi-Fi service and building updates – we felt – were necessities for this year. Our valued guests can rest assured that we will continue to provide new rides and attractions in the years to come.”

 The redemption arcade and midway games will also incorporate a new swipe card system, allowing guests to use rechargeable plastic cards to participate in their favorite games. The cards will be sold at kiosks in the arcade building.

Waterpark Expansion A Success

 In 2013, Quassy added three new waterslides and a children’s splash pad while rebranding its waterpark, now called Splash Away Bay. In addition the park added a laser maze in the redemption arcade building.

 “All of our additions last year were highly successful and created more value to the guest experience,” the park official noted. “We still offer all of our traditional rides and now a full-fledged waterpark for less than 25 dollars per person. That’s exceptional value in today’s entertainment climate. Our guests have readily identified that (value) as we have seen a marked increase in season pass sales.”

Coastermania

 In 2011 Quassy 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 38th best wooden coaster in the world, according to a 2013 poll of theme park and roller coaster experts. More than 170 roller coasters were listed on the ballot.

 “The interest in our coaster has not diminished,” noted George Frantzis II, a park owner. “Wooden Warrior is a fantastic ride for such a small footprint and we already have a number of groups scheduled – coming to the park just for the coaster.”

 The 1,250-foot ride 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. Wooden Warrior was 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 we will be hosting a coaster group from Great Britain in June.”


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

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

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