Lake Compounce Announces Major Improvements to Historic Roller Coaster

By Nancy Sasso Janis

Thrill and chills are taking center stage at Lake Compounce. Lake Compounce, America's first amusement park, has announced enhancements to the experience of their guests through upgrades on an iconic part of The Lake’s history, the Wildcat Roller Coaster, and the reintroduction of the Halloween event, Phantom Fall Fest.

The park has a new General Manager, Doug Hemphill at its helm. Hemphill came on the job four months ago, but has 40 years experience in this industry. He is leading the charge as the park reopens this fall and gets ready for the 2024 season, when the classic wooden coaster will be reintroduced after a multi-year restoration project.

Hemphill told me that throughout the project, the 96-year-old coaster will maintain its integrity as a classic wooden coaster thanks to new technology from Gravity Group, an industry leader in producing and maintaining the highest-rated wooden attractions in the world. Throughout this process, the coaster will be re-tracked with a vertically stacked track, ultimately creating a smoother ride while maintaining its classic appeal.

This fall season Phantom Fall Fest returns to the park with new next-level haunted experiences, more scare actors, more effects and more terrifying bites. New for 2023, brave guests can expect some new scary elements.

mAlice in Wonderland is back this year with some upgrades. Down the rabbit hole thrill seekers go into a completely reimagined experience that will leave them wondering if they are as mad as a hatter. Next-level mayhem awaits them at tea time as they enter the Red Queen’s new castle.

For Deadsville, where once stood a quaint Main Street has now been overtaken by an unforgiving zombie virus. As day turns to night, unsuspecting park-goers must pass through this nightmarish realm and meet the undead awaiting them.

An ominous feeling awaits unsuspecting party guests as they enter Sinister Circus, a newly transformed bar. Greeted by horrifying jesters, visitors 21 plus can indulge in blood bag cocktails, Jell-O shot syringes and craniums cocktails so long as they can brave the evil jokers awaiting them. The other scare zones are Monster Hunters and Witches Revenge.

I got to walk through The Root of All Evil, Spirits of the Swamp and MediEvil walk-through mazes. Hemphill told me that additional costumes had to be purchased for the fifty actors that now make up the cast, some summer employees augmented with those who came out to audition.

“We have listened to our guests' feedback and amped up the frights for Phantom Fall Fest this year,” said Hemphill. “We are upgrading our food locations, we are adding even more scares across the park and have a renewed focus on our attractions, ensuring they will all be safely reopened to guests and ready to ride this Halloween season.”

Phantom Fall Fest will also include a variety of daytime entertainment including trick-or-treating, costume contests, a dog-friendly day and more. Then, at 6 p.m. the fear kicks into gear as scare actors emerge from the shadows.

“No Boo” signs will be available for less-brave guests. The event will run Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 23-Oct. 29 from 12 p.m.-10 p.m. and Fridays, Oct. 6-27 from 6 p.m-10 p.m.

From coasters to creepers, thrill seekers are invited to play all day and fright all night during Lake Compounce’s second annual Phantom Fall Fest. Horror takes center stage beginning Sept. 23, as America’s First Amusement Park takes screams to the extreme with all-new haunted attractions providing more terrifying happenings to unexpecting guests than ever before. The second year of the event will feature four scare zones and four haunted houses plus day and night rides, including the classic Ghost Hunt, that are all included for free with park admission.

To experience Phantom Fall Fest and to be among the first to ride Wildcat in 2024, guests can purchase a 2024 Season Pass now and save up to $60. For more information on Phantom Fall Fest, the return of Wildcat and to purchase Season Passes, visit LakeCompounce.com.