PW OCT08 P32-34v4.qxd 9/24/08 11:31 am Page 34
Park Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
There is an admission charged to go into this
Centennial
state-of-the-art waterpark facility, or it is included
season
in the price of an all-day ride wristband. Building
off the success of Saturation Station, Quassy then
business
added two gigantic Tunnel Twister waterslides from
ProSlide in 2006.
Though Quassy Amusement Park
Now as the temperatures soar in July and
remains open weekends through until August, so does the attendance at Quassy’s re-
October 5, the lakeside property born lakefront attractions. The largest gamble and
officially said goodbye to its 100th
investment in the park’s history has paid dividends.
summer season at closing on Labor
As Quassy Amusement Park enters its second
Day, September 1. Like many other
century of providing “affordable family fun,” the
amusement parks across the United
States, Quassy measures much of its
centennial season was marked with the addition
success on the numbers generated
of a Galleon Pirate Ship from Zamperla and a
from mid-June through Labor Day,
three-lane Children’s slide. On July 19 the park
and this summer’s figures were more
officially celebrated “100 Years of Fun” by staging
than encouraging.
a big band centennial dance at its outdoor
“Our centennial season will go Lakeside Theatre stage. The following day the
down as one of the top years ever park served free ice
for the park,” notes co-owner Eric
cream and cake.
Anderson. “Everyone was concerned
If anything, this
about the economy and what gas
historic property’s
prices were going to do in terms of
travel. For us, when people stay
recent success in a
closer to home because of an
highly-competitive
economic downturn, we generally
market proves that
see an increase in attendance.”
ally to Quassy as there is no general admission Americana is alive and
But high fuel prices took their tool
fee, allowing parents and grandparents alike to be well.
on some potential guests: “Some spectators while the children ride classics like the
school and camp groups had to
Tilt-A-Whirl and Trabant.
because of transportation costs,”
And over the years Friday nights have become a
reveals George Frantzis II. “We still
“non-advertised” family event as Quassy’s rides,
had good numbers, including some
even cotton candy and soda, are only 25 cents
record nights in July and August.
Thankfully our walk-in crowd helped
each. “Everyone knows Fridays are quarter nights
to cushion the softer than expected
at Quassy,” notes John Frantzis, now the patriarch
school and camp outings.”
of the business. Hot dogs will set you back 50
Corporate functions at the park
cents, and up to 4,000 are served on busy Fright
were steady this season too, and
nights in July and August.
Quassy also hosted a number of In recent years, a portion of the lower parking
weddings and high school
lot has been transformed with the addition of
graduation parties. Season pass
rides like the Chance Music Fest, Hrubetz
sales, meanwhile, were at a record
Paratrooper, Monster rollercoaster and bumper
high, confirming that families are
cars.
staying closer to home during the
summer months.
Being a non-gated facility, Quassy
Time To Take The Plunge
is unable to keep an official
While other large parks in the region started
attendance record, but estimates
adding water attractions, until a few years ago
suggest around 225,000 guests
Quassy quietly trudged along the path it had
came to enjoy this very special forged for itself as an “iron” (ride) park, leaving it
season. high and dry on those hot summer days.
“Our beach used to be packed,” John Frantzis
ABOVE RIGHT: The Balloon Ride
recalls, but it got to the point where fewer and
FAR RIGHT: The Allan Herschell
fewer people were coming to the lake to swim.”
Little Dipper BELOW: The Galleon
Pirate Ship, new this season
In 2003 the owners decided it was time to take
a plunge by building a new water attraction. Ron Gustafson has been an
Saturation Station, by SCS Interactive, was the amusement industry
first interactive family water play area of its type. publicist/photographer for
With cascading fountains, water cannons, more than 30 years. He has
waterslides and a huge tipping bucket as a worked in virtually all phases
centrepiece, the multi-tiered attraction was an of the industry and currently
overnight success. serves on the board of
“I believe it saved the park,” John Frantzis says. directors at the New England
He attributes the project’s success to his son-in-law, Association of Amusement
Eric Anderson, who also heads up the park’s Parks and Attractions and on
operations. two IAAPA committees.
34 OCTOBER 2008
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