originally posted on 9/12/2022
Photo: S. Madonna Horcher. View full-sized image.
Photo: Adrian Lloyd. View full-sized image.
Easily the perfect centerpiece for America's oldest amusement park is its oldest roller coaster. Standing tall above the Lake Compounce midway is Wildcat, whose stunning white structure makes an impression as guests approach the ticket booth. As they get to know the attraction, perhaps they are reminded of a simpler time before computer-aided design and the more intricate maneuvers we take for granted on today's coasters.
Photo: Allan Reid. View full-sized image.
Photo: Allan Reid. View full-sized image.
Although the coaster features a basic layout by today's standards, its hills and turns were impressive for their time. When it was built in 1927, Wildcat's maximum height of 85 feet made it one of the taller coasters that could be ridden, since it was only 25 feet shy of the world record. Also worth noting were the trains' upstop wheels, which were situated below the rails and kept trains from jumping the track while rolling over smaller hills. Back then, the invention was fairly new, only being in use for less than a decade, but it is now the standard for most coasters.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Even though Wildcat still retains its classic feel, it has undergone a few changes in recent decades. All of the original structure and track have been replaced, and the train is now sleeker and more flexible than the original, part of which still remains at the coaster's entrance. The original ride experience is now a memory, but these modifications are meant to increase Wildcat's lifespan, allowing for even more memories to be made.
In 2000, Lake Compounce opened Boulder Dash, a modern woodie on the mountainside with more extreme elements. While this coaster is what draws many enthusiasts to the park, they cannot deny that the coasters complement each other. Wildcat is less mysterious, being more photogenic and easier to examine from the midway.
Photo: Allan Reid. View full-sized image.
Photo: Howard Gillooly. View full-sized image.
Owing to its modern trains, Wildcat does not qualify for ACE's Coaster Classic status, but it is celebrated as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark. This distinction is reserved for coasters of historical significance. The coaster is a throwback to an era dominated by the prolific Herbert Schmeck, whose creations have become increasingly rare. Not to mention, the coaster has operated every year since opening, allowing it to spend a few decades as the only wood coaster in Connecticut. While everyone can appreciate Wildcat's classic design, advancements in coaster technology allow it to serve as a living piece of state history, and even after 95 years, it still looks marvelous. Hopefully, this feline has many more of its nine lives remaining.
— Julian Dale
American Coaster Enthusiasts is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion, appreciation and safe enjoyment of roller coasters. With 6,000 members worldwide, ACE is the largest and longest-running enthusiast organization in the world. Members of ACE receive exclusive park benefits, newsletters, magazines and the opportunity to attend national, local and even international tours at parks. You can enjoy the benefits of members today! Join at join.aceonline.org.
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