Lake Compounce history

In 1847, the "Southern method" of cooking lamb was introduced by Lake Compounce to families, groups and organizations and the long and profitable tradition of summer barbecues began.

In 1851, Isaac Pierce, a successful "California Gold Rush 49er," joined forces with Norton and the firm of Pierce and Norton was established.

In 1873, the Bristol Press published its first notice of Lake Compounce with an article describing the property as a "a convenient and delightful little seaside of their own for the people of Bristol."

The Casino, the first permanent building on the property, was built in 1895 with a restaurant downstairs and a ballroom upstairs.

Kennywood Entertainment CEO Harry Henninger's grandfather purchased Kennywood Amusement Park, just outside Pittsburgh, in 1906.

Lake Compounce purchased it for $10,000 and opened to the public on Memorial Day, 1911.

In 1914, the park added a carousel and its first electric roller coaster.

As mass culture continued to develop, Lake Compounce fared well, with its success peaking in the 1920s.

Built in 1927, the Wildcat is one of the world’s oldest operating roller coasters.

The first of three Chris Craft speedboats was purchased in May, 1929, for $2,800.

The 1930's brought more growth.

The Casino ballroom was expanded to include an enormous dance floor without walls, so that people could dance "under the stars." Huge windowed walls and a high arched ceiling were added in 1937.

The all time attendance record of 5,000 dancers was set in spring, 1941, when Tommy Dorsey's reorganized band featured a young, up and coming vocalist, Frank Sinatra.

In 1943, Lake Compounce purchased a miniature steam railroad designed and built by British actor William Gillette, portrayer of Sherlock Holmes.

In 1966, Edward G. Pierce, Isaac Pierce’s grandson, sold his interests back to the Norton family, and the park remained under their control for the next 19 years.

In 1985, the Norton family sold Lake Compounce, and the decade that followed was the worst in the park’s history.

In 1996, Kennywood Entertainment, a family-owned company that already operated three parks in Pennsylvania, purchased Lake Compounce.

The Boulder Dash, built in 2000, uses the natural terrain in the Lake Compounce area to provide a thrill.

In 2009, Lake Compounce was acquired by Palace Entertainment, along with the other previous Kennywood Entertainment parks.