America’s oldest theme park lies in Bristol, Connecticut. 

Starting out as a lakeside picnic park with stunning views, the space has evolved into a theme park housing over 35 rides and attractions. 

Lake Compounce is named the oldest amusement park in the United States by the National Amusement Park Historical Association and the oldest continuously operating amusement park, according to the Library of Congress. 

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The National Amusement Park Historical Association recognizes the theme park as the fifth-oldest in the world. 

Those that come before it are Bakken in Klampenborg, Denmark, Prater in Vienna, Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, and Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Lake Compounce first opened its doors to the public in 1846 as a park. 

On Oct. 6, 1846, Samuel Botsford, a Bristol scientist, successfully persuaded property owner Gad Norton to allow him to hold “a series of beautiful experiments in electricity,” according to the theme park’s website. This display ended up drawing thousands of people to Lake Compounce.

Theme parks such as Lake Compounce provide fun for the whole family. (iStock)

In 1895, the first permanent building, a casino with a restaurant on the lower floor and a ballroom on the upper was built, according to the source, with dinner costing 50 cents at the time.

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It was 1914 when the first electric-powered roller coaster opened to the public, it was called the Green Dragon.

Lake Compounce’s carousel (not pictured) was originally built in 1898. (iStock)

This ride ended up being replaced by the Wildcat coaster in 1914, which guests can still take a thrilling journey on today. That particular ride did undergo restoration, providing a smoother ride for guests. 

Another famed wooden roller coaster at Lake Compounce is Boulder Dash, which first opened in 2000.

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This ride has been named the best wooden roller coaster by Amusement Today five times. 

Although the park has gone through changes since its inception, like being acquired by Palace Entertainment in 2009, the historical atmosphere can still be felt throughout the park. 

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For example, the carousel that kids and adults alike adore was first built in 1898 and was brought to the theme park in 1911. 

Families, couples and friends will all find something they enjoy at Lake Compounce. (iStock)

Also part of Lake Compounce is Connecticut’s largest water park. Admission to Crocodile Cove is included in every ticket purchase.

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Lake Compounce contains a good balance of rides ideal for children and adults with plenty of coasters and kid-friendly rides for a full day of fun.

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A New York man was in custody Monday after police say he tried to drown his twins at a beach in Connecticut over the weekend.

At 2:30 a.m. Saturday, patrol officers approached a parked SUV at the beach in West Haven and, shortly afterward, heard screaming coming from the water, authorities said. 

The patrol officers followed the screams and found an “adult male and two small children” in the water. As the officers entered the water, police say, the man yelled, “Stay back.” Officials said that is when it was clear the man was “deliberately drowning his children.”

Additional officers and rescue boats arrived and entered the water almost 100 yards away from shore. A human chain was formed to get the children to shore, and life-saving measures were performed.

The children, who are under 3 years old, were at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital in critical condition in the intensive care unit, but said to be improving. Authorities say the children are twins — a boy and a girl.

Later Sunday evening, Borer posted on Facebook that the kids were both under pediatric critical care and making slight progress, with one of the twins taken off intubation.

Three police officers were also treated for minor injuries.

Romney Desronvil, 41, of New York, was taken into custody and charged with two counts each of attempted homicide and risk of injury.

The children’s mother was in New York at the time of the incident but has since arrived in New Haven, Connecticut, to be with her children.

At a press conference Saturday evening, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer praised the officers and fire department members for their quick action. 

“The seconds and the timing of the police officers that just happened to be driving by when this incident was occurring, it’s really remarkable,” she said. 

Borer said when she met with the mother at the hospital to provide any support she needed.

West Shore Fire Chief Stephen Scafariello said first responders are getting peer support and help from the employee assistance program to deal with trauma after the incident. 

“Years ago, we had to keep everything bottled up inside,” he said. “It didn’t work very well for all of us, so we’re encouraging them to talk to someone, share your emotions.” 

This particular case hits home even harder, he said, seeing as it concerned children so young.

“All of our police officers, our firefighters, they’re dedicated,” he said. “To have that helpless feeling, to not be able to help a child is terrible.” 

(WJW) – A man was taken into police custody after investigators say he was caught trying to drown his children on a beach in Connecticut early Saturday morning.

A police officer was patrolling near Ocean Avenue and Dawson Avenue when he noticed an SUV on the beach just after 2:30 a.m. in West Haven, according to the police department.

As he walked closer, the officer reported hearing screams nearby. Investigators say the officer then noticed a man and two young children in the water.

According to West Haven police, as the officer stepped into the water, the man “continued to drift further away with the children all while screaming at the responding officer to ‘stay back.’”

Officers believed the man, later identified as 41-year-old Romney Desronvil of Queens, New York, was intentionally trying to drown the kids.

Other officers and firefighters with the West Shore Fire Department also got into the water to help. Investigators say the first officer on the scene was able to reach the children and Desronvil was arrested.

First responders performed life-saving measures on the children, who were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. In a social media post Saturday morning, West Haven police said both kids were still in the ICU.

During a press conference Saturday afternoon, according to reports from the New Haven Register, the children, both under 3 years old, were improving but still in critical condition.

Investigators say Desronvil remains in police custody at this time. As reported by the New Haven Register, officials say he is expected to face two counts of attempted murder and two counts of risk of injury.

“It is without a doubt the swift response by our patrol officers saved the lives of these children,” West Haven police said on Facebook. “The communication and collaborative efforts made by the West Shore Fire Department and eventually the New Haven Police Department allowed for immediate medical aid and also the apprehension of Desronvil.”

The case remains under investigation at this time.