One More Summer for the Memory Books: Looking Back at Quassy’s 118th Season

What do 118 seasons of summer memories look like?

Sometimes, they look like an old photograph pulled from a family album. Sometimes, it’s a child working up the courage to ride a waterslide for the first time. It might be the sound of the Quassy Fun Bell at the end of the day, a favorite carousel horse or a parent realizing that the tradition they grew up with now belongs to their children, too.

As another season begins to wind down at Quassy Amusement Park, we find ourselves looking back at the moments that made our 118th season so memorable.

There were celebrations, surprises and plenty of summer weather to keep us on our toes. With just two weekends remaining before our final operating day on Sunday, Sept. 27, we wanted to take a moment to remember some of the people and experiences that shaped another unforgettable summer at our family amusement park in Connecticut.

The Memories That Bring Families Back

At the beginning of the season, we invited our guests to share their favorite Quassy photos, traditions and stories through the Quassy Memories Photo Contest. What followed was much more than we could have asked for.

We heard about a lifelong love of carousels that began with one special horse, childhood photos recreated decades later and families returning to the same rides they enjoyed together in the 1980s and 1990s. Some guests remembered growing up at Quassy before introducing the park to their children. Others shared how a favorite ride, song or summer tradition continues to hold meaning today.

Throughout the summer, we had the privilege of revisiting those moments as we paired photographs with the stories behind them. Each submission reminded us that while Quassy provides the setting, it is our guests who make the memories.

Thank you to everyone who trusted us with your stories and allowed the entire Quassy community to enjoy them.

Quassy Earns National Recognition for Affordability

This season, our historic Connecticut amusement park received national attention when HomeToGo named Quassy the most affordable theme park in the United States.

The study compared 40 popular amusement parks across 20 states, and Quassy came out on top for affordability. The recognition led to media coverage across the country, introducing even more families to the classic charm of our lakeside park in Middlebury, Connecticut.

For more than a century, Quassy has worked to offer families a full day of fun without the cost or complications of a major theme park vacation. Being recognized as the country’s most affordable theme park was an exciting honor, but it also confirmed something our longtime guests have known for years: Some of the best family attractions in Connecticut can be found right here at home.

We may be a small park, but this year, our little Connecticut tradition made national news.

Celebrating the Magic of Jim Sisti

The magic on the Quassy Carousel Theatre stage became part of a national celebration this year when longtime Quassy performer Jim Sisti received an honor from the Milbourne Christopher Foundation for excellence in close-up magic.

Jim and his wife, Sandi, have entertained Quassy guests for more than two decades. Their performances have become a beloved part of the park experience, bringing laughter, wonder and plenty of surprises to generations of families.

We were thrilled to celebrate Jim’s recognition and even happier that he and Sandi continue to be part of our family tradition. Their dedication to their craft and connection with our guests represent the kind of timeless entertainment that makes Quassy so special.

A Fourth of July We Will Not Soon Forget

Of course, not every memorable moment arrives exactly as planned.

No recap of the 2026 season would be complete without mentioning the Fourth of July storm that arrived just hours before our annual fireworks celebration. What began as an ordinary summer day changed quickly as severe weather approached Middlebury, forcing the park to move the fireworks display to an earlier time and begin clearing the property so guests and employees could seek shelter.

For many families, the day still included rides, food, time together and a lakeside celebration. The storm changed the ending, but it did not erase all the good moments that came before it.

We are so grateful to our guests and team members for responding quickly during an unexpected situation. Between the fireworks and the storm, the day certainly went out with a bang.

Wooden Warrior Celebrates 15 Years

One of the happiest milestones of the season belonged to Wooden Warrior, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in August.

When Wooden Warrior opened in 2011, it represented a major investment and a leap of faith for a family-owned Connecticut amusement park. The result was a compact wooden roller coaster that surprised riders with its speed, smoothness and unexpected airtime.

We used the anniversary to give back to our coaster community by supporting the preservation of amusement park history, with a portion of National Roller Coaster Day sales benefiting the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives.

For enthusiasts, Wooden Warrior is an award-winning example of thoughtful coaster design. For families, it is often the ride that marks a child’s growing confidence and willingness to try something new.

Discover more about the attraction’s history with 15 surprising facts from Wooden Warrior’s first 15 years.

There Is Still Time to Make One More Quassy Memory

The final days of a Quassy season are always bittersweet.

Soon, the rides will quiet down, the midway will empty and another summer beside Lake Quassapaug will officially become part of the park’s history. But if the stories shared with us this year prove anything, it’s that those memories never really end. They live on in family photo albums, are recreated decades later in new photos and videos, and return with every tradition passed down to the next generation.

There are still two weekends left to add another memory before Quassy Amusement Park closes for the season on Sunday, Sept. 27. Check the park calendar and join us for one final ride or begin planning for next summer.

Quassy season passes for 2027 are now available, and new 2027 passholders can enjoy the remaining days of the 2026 season.

Thank You for an Unforgettable 118th Season

The most important part of every Quassy season remains the same: YOU.

Thank you to every guest, season passholder, employee, performer, creator and community partner who helped make 2026 special. We are proud to have been part of your summers for 118 seasons, and we cannot wait to see what memories we create together next.