What do you get when you put more than 140,000 board feet of lumber, 200,000 nails and 35,000 nuts and bolts all together?

  In this instance, a wooden roller coaster.

  Quassy Amusement Park is celebrating the year of the “Wooden Warrior” in 2011 as the 103-year-old park ushers in its new marquee attraction.

   In the planning stages for several years, the park started construction of the manmade marvel last August and crews continued work throughout the winter in anticipation of the park’s April 23 opening. (April 23 and 24 the park will host the annual Greater Waterbury Campership Fund $35 carload weekend to help send underprivileged children to summer camp.)

   Designed by The Gravity Group of Cincinnati, Ohio, the ride is more than 1,200 feet long and towers 35 feet into the air. With the natural topography of the park playing into the blueprints, the ride drops more than 40 feet overall and crosses over the park’s miniature railroad twice, adding additional thrills for riders on both attractions.

Not Since The 1930s

    The last wooden roller coaster to operate in the Waterbury, Conn., area was located at the city’s Lakewood Park. Built in 1930, the coaster lasted only a few years before being dismantled and moved to Canobie Lake Park in Salem, N.H. for the 1936 season. The ride continues to operate in New Hampshire today.

  “Our new roller coaster is a family ride – one parents and grandparents alike can ride with children,” park owner George Frantzis II asserted. “It will not be an extreme or white-knuckle experience – that is not who and what we are.”

   The ride will obtain a maximum speed of 35 mph with one six-car train, with a capacity of 12 persons, running the course.

  The coaster’s station is located near the “Big Flush” ride with the incline constructed on the old entrance road to the park. The coaster drops into the lawn area behind the “Grand Carousel” where it makes its turnaround in a tunnel and heads up and over the park’s train tracks.

   “It’s a family coaster, but will be an exciting ride,” park President Eric Anderson said of the thrill machine. “Adding to the excitement will be two crossovers on the train tracks, plus a series of airtime hops. This will be a great modern replacement for the steel coaster (“Mad Mouse”) we closed last year.”

  The roller coaster has been constructed of all treated lumber and features a state-of-the-art Timberliner train from The Gravity Group’s sister company, Gravitykraft Corp.

    A number of other coaster manufacturers from around the world presented proposals to Quassy.

  “They (Gravity Group) came in with a couple of designs that immediately caught our eye,” Anderson noted. “These engineers have a real passion for their trade and The Gravity Group has designed and built some of the best rides of the genre.”

Community Service Event And Schools

  Quassy staged an auction for the first official public ride on the new roller coaster during the winter months. Beneficiaries of the coaster auction are Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut and the Connecticut Food Bank.

  “Part of our strategy since we started talking about the coaster project several years ago was to have an auction for the first ride,” Frantzis said. “Our initiative will support these great organizations which serve the communities that support the park.”

  In addition, Quassy held a “Name The Roller Coaster” contest among local and area schools. More than 90 entries were received last fall and park managers voted for their favorite names on the list of submissions. The “Wooden Warrior” was the standout selection following the first ballot and was embraced as the official name.

     Surprisingly, two classes from two separate schools nominated the “Wooden Warrior.” The winning classrooms are: Mrs. Barbara Minutillo’s fourth grade, Middlebury Elementary School, Middlebury, Conn.; and Miss Lauren Zafrin’s fifth grade, R.M.T. Johnson Elementary School, Bethel, Conn.

  Both classes will be honored this spring by the park and a plaque naming the schools and students will be placed at the new ride.

Laser Show And More

  Quassy will also usher in the summer of  its new marquee ride by staging the “Rock ‘N Roll ‘R Coaster” laser light spectacular on May 27 and 28. The outdoor laser light show will take place in the great lawn area of the park after dark. Canned food donations will be accepted as admission to the show area in support of the Connecticut Food Bank.

  The park will be staging a variety of other special events and live entertainment, including the African Acrobats International July 2 – Aug. 12 at the Silverleaf Resorts Carousel Theatre. See the complete schedule of special events.

Economic Impact

  Quassy’s multi-year improvement plan, which includes the new roller coaster, is expected to have positive economic impact throughout the area as well. In 2010 the park added the “Free Fall ‘N” drop tower ride and will expand its popular “Saturation Station” waterpark in coming years.

 “Regional accommodations that package vacation stays with us realize the value of having modern attractions nearby,” Frantzis explained. “These partnerships have grown extensively over the past couple of years, and much of that can be attributed to the park’s progressive nature in updating, yet preserving a family atmosphere.”

  “The impact tourist attractions have on the business climate locally is very substantial,” the park owner added. “Visitors not only pay for accommodations, but also meals at restaurants, gasoline and a variety of other goods and services. We’re happy to recommend to our guests local places to go out to dinner and other places of interest – we do that on virtually a daily basis when we’re open.”

  “The unique thing here is that we have been careful to preserve the nostalgia of Quassy while making essential updates,” Anderson interjected. “Change has been necessary – especially over the past few years – to remain competitive. At the same time, we’ve continued with a good balance of the old and the new. Every day we hear guests comment about the classic rides like the ‘Tilt-A-Whirl’ and ‘Little Dipper’ coaster, and at the same time compliment us for having the initiative to build ‘Saturation Station.’”

  “The improvements have also increased the value of the property, and that weighs heavily into tax dollars we provide to the town and state,” Frantzis added. “We also employ hundreds of students during the summer, which also feeds the local economy.”

About The Park

  Quassy Amusement Park features more than two-dozen rides and attractions, beach, “Saturation Station” interactive family water play area, redemption arcade and restaurant.

  All-day wristbands or individual ride tickets are available. There is no general admission fee to walk around the amusement park, but guests must have an all-day wristband or pay a fee to enter the beach and waterpark area. Parking is $5 on weekdays and $6 on weekends. July 4 parking is $7.

  The park is open weekends through mid-June and then operates daily through Labor Day, before returning to a weekend schedule to close out the season.