Boulder Dash (roller coaster) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Boulder Dash
Lake Compounce
Location	Lake Compounce
Coordinates	41°38′21″N 72°55′28″W / 41.639187°N 72.924540°W / 41.639187; -72.924540
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 21, 2000 (2000-05-21)
Cost	US$6,000,000
General statistics
Type	Wood
Manufacturer	Custom Coasters International
Designer	Dennis McNulty Larry Bill
Track layout	Terrain
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	110 ft (34 m)
Drop	115 ft (35 m)
Length	4,725 ft (1,440 m)
Speed	60 mph (97 km/h)
Duration	2:30
Max vertical angle	59°
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Boulder Dash at RCDB

Boulder Dash is an exciting wooden roller coaster you can find at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut. This amazing ride was built by Custom Coasters International. Construction started in June 1999 and the coaster opened in May 2000.

Boulder Dash has been recognized as one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world. It was ranked the number one wooden coaster by the Golden Ticket Awards in 2004, and again from 2013 to 2016! The special trains for the ride were made by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters.

Discover Boulder Dash: A Unique Ride

This awesome wooden roller coaster is 4,672 feet long. It uses the natural hills and trees of Lake Compounce's mountainside. Imagine riding a coaster that feels like it's part of the forest!

The Ride Experience

When you start, the coaster's lift hill takes you up the mountainside. It then disappears from view, adding to the suspense. Suddenly, it reappears after a thrilling 115-foot drop! You'll be zooming at sixty miles per hour. The ride crosses over itself and flies right over the station.

Much of the first part of the ride is hidden. You'll climb and drop along the mountainside, surrounded by nature. On the very last drop, a camera takes your picture. You can see and buy these fun photos at the photo booth near the exit.

Keeping the Ride Smooth

To keep Boulder Dash running great, parts of the track are updated regularly. In 2007 and 2008, much of the track was replaced. For the 2008 season, Lake Compounce even bought new trains. These trains came from Hersheypark's Wildcat coaster.

In 2017, the ride got another big update by Martin & Vleminckx. This helped make the ride smoother and replaced any old wood. They also changed a "triple-up hill" near the end of the ride into a "double-up hill."

How Boulder Dash Was Designed

The design of Boulder Dash was inspired by another wooden coaster. It's called the Rollo Coaster and is at Idlewild Park. Both Lake Compounce and Idlewild Park are owned by the same company, Parques Reunidos.

Awards and Top Rankings

Boulder Dash has won many awards and is often ranked as one of the best wooden roller coasters.

Top Coaster Awards

The National Amusement Park Historical Association voted Boulder Dash the world's number one wooden roller coaster in 2001 and 2004. It has also taken the top spot in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards five times since 2004. Since 2001, it has always been ranked as one of the top 5 wooden roller coasters. It's also the longest wooden coaster on the East Coast!