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As the oldest amusem*nt park in the US, Lake Compounce has been delighting visitors with its heart-pounding rollercoaster, Boulder Dash, and a host of other attractions. The theme park is actually part of Palace Entertainment (with a portfolio of 7 amusem*nt parks, 6 water parks, and 2 marine animal parks in the US market).
There’s more to this park than just thrills, though; let’s talk about the delicious side of things. Dining at Lake Compounce is an adventure in itself.
Without preparing in advance however, it can be a rather expensive one. If your group isn’t happy with the standard Americana fare, or if you’re looking for healthier options, it can be a real challenge.
In this guide, we’ll uncover the best dining spots, hidden gems, and insider tips to make the most of your time in the park. Our goal here at Theme Park Bites is to help you avoid spending an arm and a leg just to have a fun day out.
So get ready to enjoy one of my personal favorite theme parks, Lake Compounce!
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Table of Contents
Benefits of Being a Lake Compounce Season Pass Holder
Trips to theme parks tend to be expensive and the food is certainly no exception. If you are planning on attending a park more than once in a season, you might want to consider adding a season pass. It isn’t just the savings on admissions that you have to think about, because getting a percentage off of your food and drink purchases can be stupendous. If you have a family of four, lunch might easily cost $70-$80.
Like most theme parks, Lake Compounce has their own season pass, with four (4) tiers in 2024. The highest tier offers up to 20% off food and drink purchases, so the savings can add up quickly. I’ll explain each of the tiers below, but you can also find more information on the Lake Compounce website.
Regular Ticket Prices
To give a sensible comparison of the offerings, we’ll start off with guest day tickets. You can buy tickets one of two ways: online or in the park. Buying them online is the best option as you’ll save money and you’re able to choose which day you’d like to go on beforehand.
Regular adult prices (gate) ≃ $69.99, discounted adult prices (online) ≃ as low as $34.99
Regular junior prices, under 48″ (gate) ≃ $64.99, discounted junior prices (online) ≃ as low as $29.99
Regular senior prices (gate)≃ $64.99, discounted senior prices (online) ≃ as low as $29.99
If you ever end up at the park and forgot to buy tickets online, head online on your phone and purchase them there. It’s not like they can do anything about it.
Season Pass
There are four kinds of season passes at Lake Compounce: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each pass does allow for monthly payments so if you need to take things a little slower you can do that.
Each season pass also comes with different tiers of discounts as well, ranging from 10% to 20% on food and retail. … Except for one.
Bronze Pass
And speaking of the exception, last year this pass was called “Summer Splash,” but it was renamed for 2024 to Bronze Pass.
With the most blackout dates (which isn’t a lot considering all things) of July 13, 20, and 27, this pass is great for those who only want to go to Lake Compounce during the summer. This pass not only does not come with any discounts, but it does not allow you into the park after Labor Day and is simply not worth the money.
Silver Pass
At $120 plus tax, the Silver pass is where you start receiving some perks that can make regular trips to the park a bit less expensive. Firstly, you get three free “bring-a-friend” tickets for the season, as well as 10% off food, beverage, and retail. That may not seem like a lot, but when you’re saving even $5 on a meal for two, you’re putting a little silver back in your pocket each time. ?
While there are no blackout dates, this pass is only good during the summer.
Gold Pass
For $150 plus tax, you could opt for the Gold pass, which is an all-season admission pass. You also get free regular parking ($30 per car), and free soda refills with your supplied souvenir cup. The price tag is high, but you can also save $10 by purchasing online.
You also get three “bring-a-friend” tickets and save 15% on food, beverage, and retail. If you’re going to be visiting the parks more than a couple of times this summer, this pass can really add up to be a great value.
Since this is an all-season pass you also have free admission to any of the holiday events that happen during the off-season.
Platinum Pass
The big one. The Platinum pass comes with a hefty price tag of $190 plus tax, but it comes with all of the perks from Gold, plus a few more. Instead of free regular parking, you get free preferred parking (which costs $40 per car), a fourth ticket for friends, and 20% off food, beverage, and retail purchases.
There’s also the added bonus of free admission for any of their holiday days. This pass also gives you free admission to Palace Entertainment’s other US parks, and you get early admission to Lake Compounce on select days.
This pass is my favorite as it stretches across the many theme park properties in the Palace Entertainment portfolio.
So to sum it up …
Pros of the passes: Practically unlimited access to the parks daily (if you’re returning though, you gotta get your hand stamped, pass or not) and savings on almost every tier for food. At higher tiers, this savings can add up to be fairly substantial.
The pretty obvious cons: The passes are expensive, and if you’re not going to go to the parks often, the benefits aren’t as compelling. Keep in mind that a single day ticket is normally $64.99 + tax, so you don’t have to plan a dozen trips to the park to get your money’s worth. If you’re only planning on going once, however, you’re not going to want to shell out for a season pass.
There is a potential gotcha with the Platinum pass: The free admission you get to other US Palace Entertainment locations does not include any of the other perks associated with your Platinum pass besides free parking. You get no discount on food, drinks, or merchandise, and you also don’t get any of your bring-a-friend tickets at those parks.
This isn’t, in theory, a big deal. It is fine that they only grant these limited perks at the company’s other theme parks, although it does make me wonder why they don’t come out with a “Platinum Plus” pass level. What is a little more of an issue is the fact that this isn’t super clear when you buy the pass.
Our philosophy at Theme Park Bites is that theme parks are expensive enough, you should be able to budget and plan your trip out so that you don’t feel like you’re wasting money. Driving all the way to a theme park with a friend that you thought would also be admitted for free, only to have a park attendant tell you it costs $70 for them to get in, and then you both have to pay full price for food, merchandise, and so on… it’s a bummer, and one that could easily be avoided. (As you can guess, this lesson was hard learned by yours truly.)
But anyway – let’s get into talking about the food!
Exploring Lake Compounce’s Food Situation
Lake Compounce has a lot of great rides and attractions, and it is one of the premier amusem*nt parks for families in the New England area. It’s a very kid-friendly atmosphere without lapsing into “overly kiddie,” and the variety of attractions means that most members of your group or family are going to find something fun to occupy their time.
The food, however, tends to be a little one-note. There are exceptions, but most of it is “classic” Americana fare that doesn’t really cater to your picky eaters or anyone on a diet. Burgers, hot dogs, and pizza abound, and none of it is going to knock your socks off. The children’s dining options seem to be chicken fingers, fries, and mac ‘n cheese.
Let me be clear though, the food quality is not bad. I have definitely had worse. There are also a couple restaurants that have more variety and even offer some gluten-free and vegetarian options. Saving the day for families, however, and for people with specific dietary restrictions, is that Lake Compounce has a relatively friendly policy towards outside food and drinks in the park.
There are also no dining plans for Lake Compounce, so come prepared to spend a lot of money or time in the parking lot with your lunch box!
If you are planning to come with a large group for an event, they do have a dedicated picnic area in the park that provides a catered menu.
Important note: Lake Compounce is a cashless park, therefore you will either need to convert cash in the parks or you’ll need to make sure you have enough money on your credit/debit cards before entering.
Lake Compounce Menu Prices 2024
You’re probably wondering how much is food at Lake Compounce? Well …
These prices have been updated as of August 2023. Since I am currently not in the CT area, I won’t be able to update these prices for a little bit, but the idea is that these prices should be comparable and in line with what 2024 prices should be. Let me know if these need to be changed, thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Compounce cash only?
No, it’s actually cashless. Cash is not accepted inside of the park, but if you happen to bring it in you can convert it to an ATM to a card.
Can I bring food into Lake Compounce?
Yes, you absolutely can. The only stipulation is that it needs to be in a 12 x 12 x 12” soft-sided cooler. You cannot bring rolling or hard-sided coolers like a Coleman as you will be turned away. The upside is that every person in your party is allowed the soft-sided cooler, so go wild and have the baby bring one in, too.
Does Lake Compounce have free drinks?
If you are a Gold or Platinum passholder or have the Souvenir Bottle then yes, you get free refills. As far as I am able to deduce, there are no low-cost refill options if you don’t buy into these perks.
How much is soda at Lake Compounce?
Fair question – thankfully all fountain/bottled drinks at the park are $4.99. Water bottles are $3.99, however, if you buy four (4) at a time you can purchase for $11.99 for savings of $4.
Does Lake Compounce sell beer / alcohol?
Yep! When Crocodile Cove is open there is the Beachfront Bar and the Tiki Bar. During events there are kiosks around the park that will sell beer. Of course, you must be 21+ to buy and imbibe.
Kid-Friendly Options
As Lake Compounce is a family-friendly amusem*nt park, most of its offerings are kid-friendly. The portion sizes, however, may be better suited for the adults in the group. Whether your little ones are picky eaters or have adventurous taste buds, the park offers several options for your aspiring food critics.
The most popular restaurants are Johnny Rockets (best for burgers, fries, and milkshakes), The Pizza Place / Harborside Pizza, The Croc Pot (mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and fries), and The Potato Patch (chicken tenders and fries). However, if you want something a little different for the kids, you can head back to The Croc Pot for sausage and pepper grinders or over to Timberjack Chowhouse if you’re BBQ and pork lovers. However, if you have a tiny vegetarian you can also find the only Veggie Burger option at Timberjack Chowhouse, too.
Dietary-Friendly Options
Lake Compounce isn’t very friendly towards those needing alternative dining options. There seems to be an effort to slowly try to incorporate options for vegetarians, gluten-sensitive eaters, and so on, but that push definitely seems to be in early days. Lake Compounce doesn’t seem to be moving all that quickly to round out this fairly sparse list, but I would encourage any readers with dietary restrictions to reach out to send feedback and ask them to add more options.
They will never invest the money to add new dining options unless they think there is customer demand. In the meantime, for those planning trips to Lake Compounce, I have a few suggestions a few headings below.
Vegetarian Options
There are actually a fair number of vegetarian options in the park. Some, but certainly not all, of these are:
- Mac ‘n Cheese (found at Timberjack Chowhouse and The Croc Pot)
- Veggie Burgers (found at Timberjack Chowhouse)
- French Fries (found at practically every food dining option)
- Grilled Cheese (found at … well, Grilled Cheese)
- Most sweets, snacks, and treats on property
Does Lake Compounce Offer Gluten-Free Options?
Gluten-free options are very limited and must be specifically requested for. There’s no indication that there is a higher fee for gluten-free meals, though. The only place I was able to piece together information about this being a viable option was at The Croc Pot, but there’s a potential for it to also be available at Timberjack Chowhouse and Leo’s Lunch since they’re both newer food spots.
Again, ask before assuming that they will have what you need.
Will Vegans Have Food, Too?
Vegan food options depend on the strictness of the person’s definition of vegan. If you’re following the truest definition, then your choices are restricted. There are a decent selection of sweets in the park (I’m sure you know to always ask just in case), but the food options are limited unless you’re willing to make allowances regarding what types of animal products you may consume.
I’ll be reaching out to Lake Compounce to ask them for a list of their vegan options. At the time of this writing, they have not provided that information, but I’ll update you all once I know more. I reached out to them last year, but they never responded. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you are a strict vegan and planning a trip to Lake Compounce, or if you have other dietary concerns, all hope is not lost. Check out our insider tips to learn more about how you can plan your own delicious day at the park.
Insider Tips for a Great Food Experience
Not everyone has the freedom to spend all the money that they want or if you have a picky eater, food sensitive, dietary specific person in the group, here a few things I’d do prior to entering the park.
Tip #1: Highly suggest bringing food into the parks since that is allowed. Every person is allowed a small 12 x 12 x 12″ soft-sided cooler to bring inside, aside from the backpack (15″ all around) that they are also allowed to have. Have your person pack what they’d like for lunch and there you go. Alcohol and glass containers are not allowed.
Also:
- Walk through the menus on our pages and talk over the options with your picky eater ahead of time so that you’re prepared – and make contingency plans in case that dining option is unavailable upon arrival.
- Take a break mid-day, get your hand stamped for re-entry, and head outside of the park and grab food at an outside food spot.
Tip #2: If you can’t go to a restaurant spot outside of the parks, head to your car and unload the hard-sided cooler with food you’ve prepared. You can also use it as a seat if you want in the parking lot, however, you can also just bring camper chairs.
Tip #3: Typically ideal dining times on the weekends are right before typical lunch and early dinner times in the real world, so, think 11:30 AM or 4 PM. Typical weekday times are less stringent since there are less park attendees, but those rules still tend to apply.
Tip #4: The most crowded places for food are The Croc Pot, The Potato Patch, and Johnny Rockets. Try other food spots if you’re up for it like Leo’s Lunch or Lakeside Cafe (when the waterpark is open).
Events & Festivals
Before I wrap up this guide, I wanted to mention that if you’re a theme park fanatic, you’re bound to have gone to an event or two at your favorite theme park.
Two years ago (2022), Lake Compounce had a Bites & Pints Festival that they ran for a couple of weeks during early summer, but they didn’t bring it back, which was a shame really. However, they did replace it with a full summer of weekly concerts by local or regional artists with their Summer Concert Series.
For the Fall/Halloween season, they have Phantom Fall Fest (2024 dates to be announced). They have limited edition treats and drinks as well, which I’m super excited to try!
For Winter/Holiday season, they host their annual Holiday Lights (2024 dates to be announced). They run a limited number of rides, but the tallest Christmas tree in CT gets lit on opening night.
Food Reviews at Lake Compounce
The Croc Pot and Fried Dough:
What’s it been like to eat at Lake Compounce and what your favorite foods there? Let me know in the comments!
Conclusion
There’s a lot of options at a small park like Lake Compounce. While they may not have something for everyone, there are a decent amount of good quality options. Do I believe that they can do better? Absolutely! Lake Compounce, however, has generally decent food and I have confidence they will continue to improve.
Thank you for taking time to read this guide. If there’s anything I missed, or you need (or want) an answer to something, let me know and I’ll see if it makes sense to add it in.
If you haven’t as of yet, please follow us on our other social media channels (YouTube, Instagram & Tik Tok – @themeparkbites) to stay up to date on food reviews. Thank you for allowing us to be your tasty theme park companion!
