RideZone's Boulder Dash Photo Gallery
The Mountain Coaster at Lake Compounce in Bristol, CT.
May 22, 2000 Photos

by Joel Styer

Note: Due to the large number of photos on this page, it may take a long time to load

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Boulder Dash is a new wood coaster at Lake Compounce. The ride is built on the side of a mountain on top of and around the many boulders that are there. Hence the name Boulder Dash. Very few trees have been cleared as well and it really gives you a high speed, lost in the woods feeling. Flying along at 60MPH over large rocks and around trees has never been so much fun.

This is another CCI masterpiece, loaded with speed and airtime while remaining quite smooth. It has it's little tricks to keep you off guard but still remains well paced. The ride is quite long, running from the (excellent) Skyride to the other end of the park, past Ghost Hunt. One very long and enjoyable ride. Congratulations to Lake Compounce.

Boulder Dash specs:

Designer: Custom Coasters Intl. (CCI)

Type: Wood terrain coaster

Speed: 60 MPH

First Drop: 115 feet

Total drop during ride: 145 feet

Length: 4500 feet

Trains: PTC 2 seat cars, 6 per train, 2 trains total (one red, one yellow)

Cost: Approximately $6 million

Unique points: First coaster to be built completely on a mountainside. Longest and fastest wood coaster on the east coast.

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The Boulder Dash station fits in perfectly with the mountains.

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A quick drop and turn out of the station and up the lift hill.

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The long and steep lifthill appears to go nowhere.

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There is a small straight section before the first drop.

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Top of the first drop.

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Halfway down the first drop.

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After passing the station, the train gets "lost" in the mountain.

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This ride is about hills, in addition to the one it is built on.

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The train briefly re-appears from the trees.

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Those pesky rocks just seem to be in the way all the time.

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The ride is built next to and on top of major rock formations.

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This photo explains why it is named Boulder Dash!

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Getting close to the far turn around but a few more rocks to avoid first.

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When not avoiding rocks, trees are close by.

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Finally we make it to the far turn around - downhill all the way.

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About half way around. The Sky Ride would be just off to the left.

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Now we start the return trip back to the station.

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Notice the trestle like structure of the "outbound" Boulder Dash track

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Still more dips and hills await on the way back to the station.

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A load of ACE members having fun.

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The last drop into the station is larger than the previous few and that is where the on ride photo is taken (you can just see the flash unit above).

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The train hits the brake run with considerable energy left considering the length of the ride.

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Only a small portion of the track is visible here. Note the dip after the brakes as the track enters the station.

Article and pictures are ©2000 by Joel Styer. All photos taken May 22, 2000

© 2000 Joel W Styer. All rights reserved. Updated Tuesday, January 13, 2004
RideZone is not affiliated in any way with the above Amusement Park