Connecticut Roller Coaster Among Top 50 In World

MIDDLEBURY, Conn. - Sept. 13, 2018 - EntSun -- – Wooden Warrior, the family roller coaster at Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury, Conn., was honored during Amusement Today's (AT) prestigious 2018 Golden Ticket Awards held Saturday at Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, Mo.

   Quassy's marquee thrill ride was rated among the Top 50 Wooden Coasters in the world, the industry publication announced during the gala event attended by park executives and industry suppliers.

  "What makes this accolade special is the fact that Warrior stands out in a crowd of giants," noted George Frantzis II, a Quassy owner. "Most of the coasters on this list are three to four times the size of our attraction.  That says a lot in terms of the experience our ride delivers."

  Wooden Warrior placed 49th on the listing. The Golden Ticket Awards, which are presented annually to the "Best of the Best" in the amusement industry, are calculated from an international poll conducted by Texas-based AT.

 The awards are the result of a detailed survey that is sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world – in balanced geographical regions – asking them to rate the "bests" in 25 categories, according to the publication.

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Since Its Debut

   The Quassy coaster has captured its share of awards since making its debut in 2011. The ride was named "Third Best New Ride" worldwide at The Golden Tickets that year and has remained on the top 50 list despite the addition of new, larger rides each season. In 2014 Warrior made its strongest showing in the polling at 28th place.

 In addition, roller coaster website Coaster Buzz this week ranked Warrior 52nd among the top 100 steel and wooden coasters worldwide.

 Last year Warrior was ranked 30th in a poll conducted online industry magazine ElloCoaster.

 "The ballot showcases the good coasters, just not the well-known ones," ElloCoaster Editor Jim Winslett said of the results. "I've ridden Wooden Warrior and I love that ride."

  Another big honor came in 2012 when Warrior tied for 23rd place in the Best Roller Coaster Poll. The ballot ranked 168 operating wooden coasters at parks around the world. Wisconsin coaster guru Mitch Hawker, who started the poll in 1994, announced his findings tallied from 635 coaster buffs who participated.

 Hawker's 2013 poll put Warrior at 38th spot, keeping it among the top 50 even with a crop of new huge coasters making their debut.

First By Designer

  Wooden Warrior was the first small family coaster in the portfolio of The Gravity Group of Cincinnati, Ohio, designer of the thrill ride.

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  The coaster has a track length of 1,250 feet and a maximum height of 35 feet. Due to the topography at the park, the coaster actually drops more than 40 feet along its course with a number of exciting airtime hills and a tunneled turnaround.

The ride also features a state-of-the-art Timberliner train by Gravitykraft, sister firm of The Gravity Group. Quassy was the first park in the United States to feature the sleek, new train.

About Quassy

 Quassy Amusement Park & Waterpark is in its 110th year and features more than two dozen rides and attractions.

  Rides include the award-winning Wooden Warrior roller coaster, Reverse Time, Frantic, Music Fest, Yo-Yo super swings, Free Fall 'N' Drop Tower, Grand Carousel and more.

 Quassy also features a laser maze attraction in its huge arcade building.

 The park also has a restaurant, redemption arcade, games, live entertainment, waterpark, beach and special events.

 Season passes for 2019 are on sale now at the park office. Company picnics, school fieldtrips and other catered events are also being scheduled through the park office at (203) 758-2913.

 Quassy is located at 2132 Middlebury Road in Middlebury, Conn., on the shores of Lake Quassapaug and is open weekends through Oct. 7. Visit https://www.quassy.com.

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